U.N. inspectors arrive at military hospital in Damascus
BEIRUT (Reuters) – United Nations inspectors arrived at a military hospital in a government-held area of Damascus on Friday to visit soldiers affected by an apparent chemical attack, a Reuters witness said.
South Africa gold producers say strike to start from Tuesday
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South Africa’s gold producers said on Friday they had received a 48-hour strike notice from the National Union of Mineworkers and expected the strike to take effect from the night shift on Tuesday.
Hagel assures Philippines no new permanent U.S. bases
MANILA (Reuters) – U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel assured the Philippines on Friday that Washington had no intention of re-establishing permanent military bases despite plans to boost the U.S. presence in its former colony.
France: UK vote does not change will to act on Syria
PARIS (Reuters) – French President Francois Hollande said a British parliamentary vote against taking military action in Syria would not affect France’s will to act to punish Bashar al-Assad’s government for an apparent chemical weapons attack on civil…
Volatile Tajikistan sets presidential election for November 6
DUSHANBE (Reuters) – Tajikistan’s parliament on Friday called a presidential election for November 6 which is expected to extend President Imomali Rakhmon’s more than two-decade rule over the Central Asia country until 2020.
Iraq war ghosts end UK plans to take part in Syria action
LONDON (Reuters) – Prime Minister David Cameron’s plans to join a potential military strike on Syria were thwarted on Thursday night when Britain’s parliament narrowly voted against a government motion to authorize such action in principle.
Uganda denies deal over migrants deported from Israel
KAMPALA (Reuters) – The Ugandan government denied on Friday that it would accept African migrants deported from Israel after Israeli officials said they would soon send these people back to the African continent via Uganda.
Japan seeks biggest defense budget rise in 22 years
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s Defense Ministry said on Friday it was seeking a three percent increase in next year’s budget allocation, the biggest rise in 22 years, with most of the growth linked to revised personnel costs and equipment imports made more …
Al Qaeda claims responsibility for Iraq bombings
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – An al Qaeda affiliate claimed responsibility for a series of bombings in Baghdad and other areas of Iraq in retaliation for the execution of Sunni Muslim prisoners, according to an Internet statement on Friday.
Afghanistan suicide attack kills Kunduz district governor, civilians
KUNDUZ, Afghanistan (Reuters) – A suicide attack in Afghanistan’s northern Kunduz province killed a district governor, one of his bodyguards and 10 civilians at a memorial service at a mosque on Friday, government officials said.
