Exclusive: Pakistan to free former Taliban second-in-command this month
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistan plans to free former Afghan Taliban second-in-command, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, this month to help advance peace efforts in neighboring Afghanistan, Pakistan’s foreign policy chief said on Tuesday.
Berlusconi allies step up threats over Italian Senate ruling
ROME (Reuters) – Allies of Silvio Berlusconi stepped up their threat on Tuesday to bring down Italy’s government if center-left lawmakers refuse to delay hearings over expelling him from parliament.
Russian proposal on Syrian weapons will not end bloodshed: Gulf Arab states
RIYADH (Reuters) – Gulf Arab states said on Tuesday a Russian proposal calling for Syria to hand over its chemical weapons to win a reprieve from U.S. military strikes would not stop bloodshed in Syria.
Russia works on “concrete” plan for control of Syrian chemical arms
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia said on Tuesday it was working with Syria on an “effective, clear, concrete” plan to put Syria’s chemical weapons under international control with the aim of averting a U.S. strike.
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.
