Australia’s Abbott set to inherit economy others would envy
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia’s presumptive prime minister, Tony Abbott, is set to inherit a slowing economy, rising unemployment and a budget in the red. Yet look out to a three-year election horizon, and the view is a lot better.
Sri Lanka hits back at U.N. rights chief after visit
COLOMBO (Reuters) – Sri Lanka’s government criticized the U.N.’s top human rights official on Wednesday for calling attention to accusations that police and soldiers had harassed people who met her during a visit to the country’s former war zones.
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…
