Putin names new envoy for far east region after floods
VLADIVOSTOK, Russia (Reuters) – President Vladimir Putin on Saturday named a new envoy to oversee Russia’s far eastern region, yet denied the switch was linked to his call for an inquiry into local officials’ handling of serious floods there.
Pope names diplomat as chief aide, changing tone at Vatican
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Pope Francis attempted to set a new tone for a Vatican beset by scandals on Saturday by naming a veteran diplomat as secretary of state, a role often called the “deputy pope”.
Putin says would be ‘utter nonsense’ for Assad to use chemical arms
VLADIVOSTOK, Russia (Reuters) – Russia’s President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday it would be “utter nonsense” for the Syrian government to use chemical weapons when it was winning its war with rebels, and urged U.S. President Barack Obama not to atta…
Syrian rebels plan raids to exploit Western strikes: commander
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Opposition fighters across Syria are preparing to launch attacks that exploit anticipated U.S.-led military strikes, but there are no plans to coordinate with Western forces, a Syrian rebel commander said on Saturday.
Ammonia leak at Shanghai refrigeration plant kills 15, injures 26
SHANGHAI (Reuters) – A liquid ammonia leak from a refrigeration unit at a cold storage facility in Shanghai on Saturday has killed 15 people and injured 26 others, local authorities said.
Russia says U.S. threat of force against Syria unacceptable
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia said U.S. threats to use military force against Syria were unacceptable and that Washington would be violating international law if it acted without the approval of the U.N. Security Council.
Al Qaeda affiliate urges attacks on Egyptian army
DUBAI (Reuters) – One of al Qaeda’s most militant affiliates has called on Egyptians to take up arms against their army, saying a bloody crackdown on Islamist protesters showed peaceful methods were futile, according to an Internet statement posted on …
Most French oppose attack on Syria and don’t trust Hollande to do it: poll
PARIS (Reuters) – Most French people do not want France to take part in military action on Syria and most do not trust French President Francois Hollande to do so, a poll showed on Saturday.
U.N. rights chief says Sri Lanka heading in ‘authoritarian direction’
COLOMBO (Reuters) – U.N. human rights chief Navi Pillay hit out against the Sri Lanka government on Saturday, saying that four years after the end of civil war people were still suffering amid signs the country was headed in an authoritarian direction….
Mandela still in hospital, not discharged: South Africa government
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – Former South African President Nelson Mandela, who has been receiving medical treatment for three months for a lung ailment, is still in hospital in Pretoria in a critical but stable condition, the government said on Saturday.
