Russia works on ‘concrete’ plan for control of Syrian chemical arms
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia is working on an “effective, clear, concrete” plan for putting Syria’s chemical weapons under international control and is discussing the details with Damascus, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday.
Kenya’s deputy president pleads not guilty before international court
THE HAGUE/NAIROBI (Reuters) – Kenya’s Deputy President William Ruto pleaded innocent to crimes against humanity charges at the International Criminal Court on Tuesday, at the start of a trial that will test the stability of a country seen as vital to E…
Australian prisoners salt away savings by working in desert mine
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Prisoners in central Australia are being offered an unusual way to defray the costs of their incarceration and to build their savings and self-esteem – by working in a salt mine.
Family of South Korean ex-leader promises $156 million for fines
SEOUL (Reuters) – The family of former South Korean President Chun Doo Hwan on Tuesday pledged more than 170 billion won ($156.4 million) for fines he owes from corruption convictions, bowing to pressure from a public prosecutor armed with a tougher an…
Houses on fire as fighting erupts in southern Philippines
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Reuters) – Houses were set ablaze on Tuesday as fighting erupted between Philippine security forces and Muslim rebels occupying five districts of the southern Philippine city of Zamboanga, witnesses said.
Anti-immigrant Norway party lays claim to government role
OSLO (Reuters) – An anti-immigrant populist party laid claim to a major role in oil-rich Norway’s government for the first time on Tuesday after a center-right alliance won a landslide general election victory to oust a Labour administration.
China welcomes Russia’s proposal for Syria weapons handover
BEIJING (Reuters) – China said on Tuesday it backed a Russian proposal for Syria to hand over its chemical weapons for destruction, a plan that could avert planned U.S. military strikes in response to the country’s suspected use of its arsenal on civil…
China warns Japan against stationing workers on disputed isles
TOKYO/BEIJING (Reuters) – China said it would not tolerate provocation on Tuesday after Japan’s top government spokesman said the country might station government workers on disputed islands in the East China Sea to defend its sovereignty.
Thailand doubles rubber subsidy to appease farmers
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand’s government doubled its offer of help to rubber farmers on Tuesday, but it was not clear if it would be enough to head off fresh protests planned for the weekend.
Forty-four killed in collision of two buses in Iran
DUBAI (Reuters) – Forty-four people were killed and 39 injured in Iran when two passenger buses collided outside the capital Tehran and caught fire, Iranian media reported on Tuesday.
