Assad’s forces make further gains around Damascus
AMMAN (Reuters) – Forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad captured the southern Damascus suburb of Hujaira on Wednesday, part of a broader advance that has brought him major gains south of the capital before proposed international peace talks.
NATO builds $1 billion HQ as allies cut military spending
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – NATO is building a new, state-of-the-art headquarters in Brussels, but critics say the $1 billion project seems extravagant at a time when austerity is forcing many alliance members to slash military spending.
Former UK editor Brooks was hacking victim, court hears
LONDON (Reuters) – Rebekah Brooks, a former editor of Britain’s News of the World on trial for phone-hacking, had her own voicemail repeatedly targeted by the private investigator working for her newspaper, a court in London heard on Wednesday.
Hollande, Obama say guarantees needed on Iran nuclear plans
PARIS (Reuters) – French President Francois Hollande and U.S. President Barack Obama are both determined to obtain guarantees from Iran that it will not seek to develop a nuclear weapon, Hollande’s office said on Wednesday.
Mursi says he was kidnapped before being removed by army
CAIRO (Reuters) – Deposed Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi said on Wednesday he was kidnapped by the Republican Guard the day before the army announced his removal and was later held at a naval base for four months.
No big change in Iran nuclear work under Rouhani: IAEA
VIENNA (Reuters) – The head of the U.N. nuclear agency said on Wednesday he saw “no radical change” in Iran’s nuclear program in the past three months, roughly since President Hassan Rouhani replaced his combative predecessor.
Bosnia’s U.S. Embassy attacker says sorry, rejects radical Islam
SARAJEVO (Reuters) – A man being re-tried for attacking the U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo in 2011 apologized for his “stupid act” on Wednesday and told the court he had been manipulated and then abandoned by his radical Islamist mentors.
Qaeda man linked to Mali journalist killings: Paris prosecutor
PARIS (Reuters) – Baye Ag Bakabo, a Touareg rebel and drug trafficker linked to al Qaeda’s north African wing, is a suspect in the killings this month of two French journalists in northern Mali, a Paris prosecutor said on Wednesday .
Czech party leader says government can be formed by year-end
PRAGUE (Reuters) – The leader of the Czech Republic’s Social Democratic Party, Bohuslav Sobotka, said on Wednesday he believed a coalition government could be formed by the end of the year.
Nigeria offensive drives 40,000 refugees into Niger: U.N.
NIAMEY (Reuters) – Nigeria’s army offensive against Islamist militants has pushed nearly 40,000 refugees over its northern border into Niger, a U.N. agency said, in a drive that is straining food supplies in the drought-prone country.
