Gabon investigation unmasks 3,000 fake government employees
LIBREVILLE (Reuters) – A corruption investigation in Gabon has revealed the existence of about 3,000 fake civil servants who receive monthly government salaries despite holding no official positions, officials said.
Tunisia’s opposition threatens protests after talks fail
TUNIS (Reuters) – Tunisia’s secular opposition threatened on Wednesday to launch more mass protests to force the Islamist-led government to step down, saying negotiations to end a political stand-off had failed.
Senate panel approves resolution on Syria military strikes
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved a resolution on Wednesday authorizing limited U.S. military intervention in Syria, setting the stage for a debate in the full Senate next week on the use of force.
U.S. faces substantial losses if Egypt aid halted: official
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. government faces billions of dollars in potential costs if it decides to cancel foreign military aid to Egypt, a senior Pentagon official told Reuters on Wednesday.
Strike against Syria unlikely to provoke clash with Russia: top U.S. diplomat
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Secretary of State John Kerry said Wednesday a U.S. military strike on Syria over its chemical weapons use was unlikely to provoke a clash with Russia, a key Syrian ally that has blocked efforts to sanction Damascus at the U.N. S…
Exclusive: Brazil’s Rousseff wants U.S. apology for NSA spying
SAO PAULO (Reuters) – Furious about a report that the U.S. government spied on her private communications, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff may cancel a planned White House visit and downgrade commercial ties unless she receives a public apology, a s…
Russia warns of catastrophe if Syria reactor hit by U.S. strike
ST PETERSBURG, Russia (Reuters) – Russia said on Wednesday that a military strike on Syria could have catastrophic effects if a missile hit a small reactor near Damascus that contains radioactive uranium.
Weapon of choice against al Qaeda, drones marginal in Syria
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Prowling the skies of Pakistan and Yemen, armed drones are America’s weapon of choice in its war against al Qaeda, but they are unlikely to play a major role in any U.S. strike against Syria, underscoring the limitations of unman…
Moldova says will stick to pro-Europe course despite Russian pressure
CHISINAU (Reuters) – Moldova’s leaders hit back on Wednesday after a Russian envoy warned their ex-Soviet republic that its pro-Europe policy could bring retaliatory action from Moscow, possibly involving cuts in Russian gas deliveries.
Philippines says China moving to occupy disputed reef
MANILA (Reuters) – China plans to occupy a disputed chain of reefs and rocks in the South China Sea to expand its territory before regional rules on maritime behavior come into effect, the Philippines’ top diplomat said on Wednesday.
