Exclusive: U.S., Russia see Syrian chemical disarmament overrunning
BEIRUT (Reuters) – The United States and Russia want Syria to ship its deadly chemical agents out of the country by the end of the year but expect a mid-2014 target for their final destruction to be missed, according to a draft document.
China to loan Pacific island nations $1 billion
BEIJING (Reuters) – China will provide a concessionary loan of up to $1 billion to Pacific island nations to support construction projects, state media on Friday cited Vice Premier Wang Yang as saying, a part of the world where Beijing and Taiwan compe…
Fasting Austrian politician challenges stodgy status quo
VIENNA (Reuters) – A neophyte politician who summons up energy by fasting alone for days in the Vienna Woods hopes to help crack the stodgy crust of postwar Austrian politics after leading his new centrist Neos party into parliament.
UK spy chiefs emerge from shadows to blast Edward Snowden
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s intelligence chiefs used their first ever joint public appearance to complain that documents leaked by former U.S. intelligence operative Edward Snowden had put secret operations at risk and were being “lapped up” by al Qae…
Police detain man over bombings in north China city
BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese police have detained a man suspected of setting off several small bombs in front of a Communist Party building in the northern Chinese city of Taiyuan this week because he wanted “revenge on society”, state media reported on…
Thai Senate delays debate on controversial amnesty bill
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand’s Senate on Friday delayed debate on a government-backed amnesty bill that has sparked mass protests, in a decision that could prolong political unrest.
Egypt to hold parliamentary vote in Feb/March: foreign minister
MADRID (Reuters) – Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy said on Friday Egypt would hold parliamentary elections between February and March, followed by presidential polls in early summer, and that the political arm of ousted President Mohamed Mursi’s banned Mu…
Ukraine acts to prepare anti-corruption agreement, says EBRD
KIEV (Reuters) – Ukraine has renewed a push for agreement with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to fight corruption after President Viktor Yanukovich’s commitment to improving the business climate was criticized, a bank official sai…
Malawian police arrest ex-minister for attempted murder
LILONGWE (Reuters) – Police in Malawi arrested a former justice minister on Friday in connection with the attempted murder of a budget official whose shooting helped expose a multi-million-dollar corruption scandal.
Sri Lanka denies refusing visas to rights delegation
COLOMBO (Reuters) – Sri Lanka on Friday denied refusing visas to a delegation from an international human rights group ahead of a Commonwealth summit in Colombo, saying its permission had not been sought for the overseas visitors.
