Swiss expert contests French finding that Arafat not poisoned
GENEVA (Reuters) – A Swiss scientist who examined samples from the body of former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat said French experts had made weak arguments in concluding that he could not have died of poisoning in 2004.
U.S. eyes sea trials of gear that may destroy Syria chemical arms
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States will conduct a sea test this month of equipment that could be used to neutralize Syria’s most deadly chemical weapons at sea, U.S. defense officials said on Thursday.
Al Qaeda linked group says it attacked Iraqi mall, police HQ-SITE
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – A group linked to al Qaeda said it was behind suicide attacks on an Iraqi police intelligence headquarters and shopping mall in the northern city of Kirkuk, the SITE monitoring group said on Thursday, citing a communique.
U.S. repatriates Algerian Guantanamo detainees who fear going home
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States has repatriated two Algerians held at the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for more than a decade, the Pentagon said on Thursday, in what the men’s attorneys described as an involuntary transfer that ig…
U.S. charges 49 Russian diplomats with healthcare fraud
NEW YORK (Reuters) – U.S. prosecutors have charged 49 current and former Russian diplomats and their family members with participating in a scheme to get health benefits intended for the poor by lying about their income.
Russian force training to counter militants from Syria: Chechen leader
MOSCOW (Reuters) – A unit of the Russian security forces is training to counter Islamist militants amid fears fighters in Syria will return to join insurgents in the North Caucasus, Chechnya’s Kremlin-backed leader said.
Toronto mayor denies he tried to buy ‘crack video’
TORONTO (Reuters) – Toronto Mayor Rob Ford called allegations he may have tried to buy a video that apparently showed him using crack cocaine “an outright lie” in a sports radio interview on Thursday.
Sweden key partner for U.S. spying on Russia: TV
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) – Sweden has been a key partner for the United States in spying on Russia, Swedish television reported on Thursday, citing leaked documents from the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA).
Hague court judges reject Kenyatta’s bid to stop trial
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – Judges rejected Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta’s bid to halt his trial on crimes against humanity, saying his accusations that prosecution witnesses colluded to mislead the court were not serious enough to prejudice proceedings.
Brazil’s plan for Indian-farmer land disputes faces opposition
SAO PAULO (Reuters) – The Brazilian government’s plan to resolve widespread land disputes between farmers and Indians is meeting opposition from both sides, increasing tensions in South America’s bread basket.
