Ex-Taliban leader in Pakistan’s Peshawar ahead of talks: sources
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, a former Taliban second-in-command held in Pakistan, has been moved to the city of Peshawar near the Afghan border as part of preparations for talks with the Afghan Taliban, security sources said on Thu…
France military eyes 2014 cuts, far-right seeks to benefit
PARIS (Reuters) – France’s military will cut about 7,500 jobs next year, a defense ministry source said on Thursday, detailing government belt-tightening plans that the far-right hopes will deliver it votes at municipal elections in 2014.
Leader of Greece’s far-right Golden Dawn jailed before trial
ATHENS (Reuters) – The leader of Greece’s far-right Golden Dawn party was sent to jail on Thursday pending trial on criminal charges, the first time an elected party chief has been put behind bars since a military coup nearly five decades ago.
Indonesia president under pressure as top judge arrested for graft
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesia’s anti-corruption agency has arrested the chief justice and head of the Constitutional Court, the latest in a string of scandals coming to light in President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s attempts to crack down on graft.
China’s Xi sidesteps SE Asia pressure over South China Sea disputes
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Chinese President Xi Jinping showed no sign of bending to Southeast Asian pressure to resolve increasingly irascible territorial disputes over the South China Sea on Thursday, simply repeating calls for dialogue.
Putin, Obama may discuss Syria next week in Bali: Kremlin
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Barack Obama may discuss the Syria crisis on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific summit next week in Bali, a Kremlin aide said on Thursday.
Government ally jailed as India finally gets tough on graft
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – – An Indian court sentenced a powerful ally of the ruling Congress party to five years in jail on Thursday for siphoning off state funds, underlining that a wave of public disgust with rampant corruption is finally catching up wit…
Pakistan, with thousands on death row, rules against death penalty
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistan has scrapped plans to reinstate the death penalty, the government said on Thursday, following threats by Taliban militants to step up attacks in retaliation.
Slovenia PM threatens to quit over party leadership challenge
LJUBLJANA (Reuters) – Slovenian Prime Minister Alenka Bratusek said on Thursday she would quit the government if she loses a party leadership battle on October 19, in what would mark a blow to the country’s bid to avert an international bailout.
Death toll in Sicily migrant boat sinking reaches 42: coastguard
ROME (Reuters) – The death toll after a migrant boat sank off the coast of Sicily has risen to at least 42, with rescue operations continuing, an official from the Italian coastguard said on Thursday.
