Top aide under reformist ex-president named Iran security body chief
DUBAI (Reuters) – Former defense minister Ali Shamkhani was appointed head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Iranian news agencies reported on Tuesday, in a further sign of a shift towards relative moderation under new President Hassan Rouha…
Thailand doubles rubber subsidy, farmers yet to cancel weekend protest
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand’s government doubled its offer of subsidy to help rubber farmers on Tuesday but protesting growers insisted it should meet other demands before they consider cancelling demonstrations planned for the weekend.
Gulf Arab states still want deterrent action against Syria
DUBAI (Reuters) – Gulf Arab states renewed their demands on Tuesday for the United Nations Security Council to take deterrent measures against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government over a chemical weapons attack that killed hundreds of people.
Greens dream of power fading as German election nears
BERLIN (Reuters) – Sven Suska looked like a typical Greens voter as he sat in his sandals and shorts in the Berlin sun eating a fruit salad, but the computer programmer is abandoning the party he says is now too much part of the establishment.
Iraq closes airport in second largest city, no explanation
MOSUL, Iraq (Reuters) – Iraq closed the international airport in its second largest city Mosul on Tuesday, grounding all flights without giving any explanation, air industry and security sources said.
Austria checks suspected WMD proliferation cases
VIENNA (Reuters) – Austria is checking dozens of cases in which foreign countries may have tried to obtain technology that can be used to make weapons of mass destruction, it said on Tuesday.
Egypt bans mosque preachers in crackdown on Islamists
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egyptian authorities will bar 55,000 unlicensed clerics from preaching in mosques in the latest move against sympathizers of deposed Islamist President Mohamed Mursi, the minister of religious endowments said on Tuesday.
Syrian PM says Damascus supports Russian initiative
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syrian Prime Minister Wael al-Halki said on Tuesday his country supported a Russian proposal for Damascus to give up chemical weapons to avoid a possible U.S. military strike.
Macedonian truckers block border with Kosovo over trade spat
BLACE, Macedonia (Reuters) – Macedonian truck drivers blocked the main border crossing with Kosovo on Tuesday in a deepening trade row between the Balkan neighbors that is hurting Macedonian producers in one of their biggest markets.
French pension protests cause little disruption, trains run
PARIS (Reuters) – French trade union strikes against pension reforms won only limited support on Tuesday, with most trains running in a sign President Francois Hollande’s modest proposals were unlikely to stir broad opposition.
