France’s Hollande optimistic over 2014 growth
PARIS (Reuters) – President Francois Hollande indicated he was more optimistic over France’s economic outlook next year, though he stopped short of committing his government to a new target.
U.S. says 1,429 Syrian citizens killed in August 21 chemical weapons attack
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A Syrian chemical weapons attack on August 21 killed 1,429 Syrian civilians, including 426 children, an unclassified U.S. intelligence report concluded on Friday.
Berlusconi left off list awarded Italian life senator honor
ROME (Reuters) – Silvio Berlusconi’s allies reacted angrily on Friday after Italian President Giorgio Napolitano left the center-right leader, who risks being ejected from parliament after a tax fraud conviction, off a list of new lifetime senators.
Colombian president orders military patrols in Bogota
BOGOTA (Reuters) – Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos sent troops to patrol the streets of Bogota on Friday after violent protests caused havoc across the capital, killing two people and leaving parts of the city in shambles.
South Africa’s waning gold industry braces for more strikes
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South African gold miners plan to strike for higher pay from Tuesday, inflicting more damage on an industry that has produced a third of the bullion ever pulled from the earth but is now in rapid decline.
Sri Lankans think U.N. is biased, president tells rights chief
COLOMBO (Reuters) – Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa told the United Nations human rights chief on Friday that his people believe the U.N. is a biased organization, and a report she is due to release next month has already prejudged the country.
Car bombs kill 11 in northern Iraq
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Two car bombs killed 12 people and injured 10 in the northern Iraqi town of Tuz Khurmato on Friday, police and medical sources said.
Greece civil servants call strike for September 18, 19
ATHENS (Reuters) – Greece’s umbrella trade union for the public sector called on Friday a 48-hour strike for the middle of next month to protest planned civil sector firings and transfers that form part of the country’s international bailout.
Russia escalates dispute with Belarus after CEO’s arrest
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia banned pork imports from Belarus on Friday, stepping up a diplomatic and trade war over the arrest of a Russian businessman and threatening to deepen the isolation of its former Soviet ally.
Ghana court rejects request to extradite Ivorian fugitive
ACCRA (Reuters) – A court in Ghana on Friday rejected a request to extradite a senior ally of former Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo, saying the warrant issued by Ivorian authorities was politically motivated.
