South Korea nuclear issues, tower protests raise blackout risks
MIRYANG, South Korea (Reuters) – South Korea faces possible power blackouts this winter and next summer, as cable safety issues and protests that are holding up completion of an ultra-high-voltage power line threaten to keep more nuclear reactors offli…
Cyprus rules out role in any U.S.-led strike on Syria
NICOSIA (Reuters) – Cyprus said on Monday it would have no involvement of any kind in a potential U.S.-led strike on Syria, which lies about 100 km (60 miles) to its east.
Russian diplomat shot dead in breakaway Georgian region
MOSCOW (Reuters) – A senior Russian diplomat in Georgia’s Moscow-backed breakaway Abkhazia region was shot dead on Monday by an unidentified gunman, Russian news agencies reported.
North Korea’s leader has a baby daughter: Rodman
SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has a baby daughter, seemingly guaranteeing the future of a dynasty has ruled the isolated and impoverished state for three generations, according to U.S. basketball star Dennis Rodman who met Kim last …
Kurdish militants say halting withdrawal from Turkey
DIYARBAKIR, Turkey (Reuters) – Kurdish militants said on Monday they had stopped withdrawing from Turkish soil, citing failures by the government to take steps agreed under a peace process, but pledged to maintain a ceasefire for now.
Thai government rethinks rubber plans as farmers threaten more protests
BANGKOK (Reuters) – The Thai government is looking at additional measures to help rubber farmers struggling with low prices after some rejected a deal offered last week, the agriculture minister said on Monday, although he ruled out direct intervention…
Syria’s Assad denies chemical weapons use; U.S. presses case for strike
WASHINGTON/LONDON (Reuters) – Syrian President Bashar al-Assad denied that he was behind a chemical weapons attack on the Syrian people, as the White House on Sunday pressed ahead with the uphill effort of persuading Congress to approve a military stri…
Cars, guns and sport: small parties drive Australian Senate to distraction
CANBERRA (Reuters) – It’s got guns for everyone and souped-up cars, as well as mechanical dinosaurs and a Titanic replica – welcome to the new dawn of Australian politics.
Al Qaeda affiliate claims attacks against Shi’ites in Baghdad
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – An al Qaeda affiliate has claimed responsibility for a series of car bombs that killed around 60 people in predominantly Shi’ite districts of the Iraqi capital last week.
Putin foe manages strong showing in Moscow vote
MOSCOW (Reuters) – An ally of President Vladimir Putin won Moscow’s mayoral election on Sunday, nearly complete results showed, but opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s unexpectedly strong showing could alarm the Kremlin and fuel Russia’s flagging protes…




