France urges U.N. to visit site of reported gas attack in Syria
PARIS (Reuters) – French President Francois Hollande called on United Nations inspectors to visit the site of an alleged chemical attack near Damascus on Wednesday that opposition groups say killed hundreds of people, the government spokeswoman said.
Thirty-two feared dead in Malaysian hilltop bus crash
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – A bus travelling from the Malaysian hilltop gambling resort of Genting Highlands to the capital Kuala Lumpur plunged 200 feet into a ravine on Wednesday, killing as many as 32 people, officials said.
Syrian army denies used chemical weapons
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syria’s military command denied opposition reports that the army had used chemical weapons on Wednesday against districts east of Damascus, saying they were a sign of “hysteria and floundering” by President Bashar al-Assad’s opponent…
Gas attack, shelling on Damascus suburbs kills 494: opposition group
AMMAN (Reuters) – A Damascus opposition monitoring group said on Wednesday 494 people had been killed in a gas attack and shelling by President Bashar al-Assad’s forces on Wednesday, citing data from medical centers in the Syrian capital.
Syria’s Moscow envoy denies chemical weapons use near Damascus: report
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Syria’s ambassador to Russia on Wednesday dismissed accusations that President Bashar al-Assad’s forces used chemical weapons against civilians in an attack near Damascus, Russian news agency Interfax reported.
Iran’s envoy to UN nuclear agency expected to leave post: sources
VIENNA (Reuters) – Iran’s veteran envoy to the U.N. nuclear agency, Ali Asghar Soltanieh, is expected to leave his post soon but there is no word yet on who will replace him, diplomatic sources said on Wednesday.
Pakistan, India trade blame for Kashmir firing; one dead
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – The Pakistani military said on Wednesday one of its officers had been killed in “unprovoked” firing by Indian troops across the border in the disputed Kashmir region but an Indian official said his side had only responded to initi…
UK to raise reported Syrian chemical weapons use at U.N.
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain said on Wednesday it would raise a reported chemical weapons attack by forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad at the United Nations Security Council and called on Damascus to give U.N. inspectors access to the site….
Japan’s nuclear crisis deepens, China expresses ‘shock’
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s nuclear crisis escalated to its worst level since a massive earthquake and tsunami crippled the Fukushima plant more than two years ago, with the country’s nuclear watchdog saying it feared more storage tanks were leaking cont…
Italy’s Letta says problems threatening government can be overcome
VIENNA (Reuters) – Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta said on Wednesday he was confident that problems threatening his fragile coalition government, which is struggling to meet demands from Silvio Berlusconi’s center-right, can be overcome.
