U.N. probing more Syria chemical attacks, inspections to start
BEIRUT (Reuters) – U.N. chemical weapons inspectors in Syria are investigating seven cases of alleged chemical or biological weapons use, including three incidents around Damascus after the August 21 attack which almost triggered U.S. air strikes.
Russia’s jailed punk band member hospitalized, husband says
MOSCOW (Reuters) – A jailed member of Russian punk band Pussy Riot was hospitalized on Friday after going on a hunger strike to protest prison conditions, her husband said, but her condition was not clear.
Maldives cancels presidential run-off election
MALE (Reuters) – The Maldives has cancelled a presidential run-off election that was due to take place on Saturday after the Supreme Court ordered officials to postpone it.
Life in limbo for the displaced of Damascus
DAMASCUS (Reuters) – Last winter Abu Bassim fled with his wife and four children from heavy fighting in the southeastern suburbs of Damascus to seek refuge in his sister’s house on the other side of the capital.
Iran, U.N. nuclear agency to meet again after ‘constructive’ talks
VIENNA (Reuters) – Iran and the U.N. nuclear agency held “constructive” talks on Friday and said they would meet again in a month’s time, signaling hope of finding an end to nearly two years of deadlock over Tehran’s atomic program.
Refugee boat sinks on way to Australia, 21 dead: Indonesian police
JAKARTA (Reuters) – A boat carrying migrants to Australia sank off the Indonesian coast on Friday, killing at least 21 people, Indonesian police said.
Chinese firm under U.S. sanctions wins Turkish missile deal
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – NATO member Turkey announced on Thursday it had agreed a $4 billion co-production deal for a long-range air and missile defense system with a Chinese firm hit by U.S. sanctions, rejecting rival bids from Russian, U.S. and European …
Majority of SPD members oppose coalition with Merkel: poll
BERLIN (Reuters) – Two in three members of Germany’s Social Democrats (SPD) oppose joining a ‘grand coalition’ with Angela Merkel’s conservatives, according to a poll on Friday that underlined the dilemma facing the centre-left opposition party.
Bus blast kills 17 government employees in northwest Pakistan
PESHAWAR, Pakistan (Reuters) – At least 17 people were killed on Friday when a remote-controlled bomb exploded on a bus carrying government officials in the Pakistani city of Peshawar, officials said.
Egyptian policeman killed in Sinai, clashes in Alexandria
CAIRO (Reuters) – Unidentified gunmen shot dead an Egyptian policeman on Friday in the city of El-Arish in North Sinai, near the border with the Palestinian Gaza Strip and Israel, state television reported.
