U.S. rejects link between North Korea nuclear diplomacy, jailed American
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The case of a U.S. citizen jailed in North Korea is a human rights issue that has no connection to long-stalled talks over Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons, the State Department said on Wednesday.
Britain pushes back Syria chemical attack response timetable
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain changed its stance on Syria on Wednesday, saying that the U.N. Security Council should see findings from chemical weapons inspectors before it responded militarily and that the British parliament should vote on the matter twi…
French prosecutor investigates U.S. Prism spying scheme
PARIS (Reuters) – The Paris prosecutor’s office said on Wednesday it had launched a preliminary investigation into the U.S. National Security Agency’s Prism surveillance program after French rights groups complained it was snooping on citizens’ emails …
Syrian envoy alleges rebel gas attack, demands U.N. investigate
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Syria asked the United Nations on Wednesday to order chemical experts in Damascus to investigate three rebel attacks in which he said Syrian troops “inhaled poisonous gas,” while Britain pushed for the Security Council to act…
Asylum seekers threaten to sink Australian government in election
BLACKTOWN, Australia (Reuters) – Australian Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare crouches uncomfortably in a suit on the canvas of a youth boxing ring in Sydney’s hardscrabble Western Suburbs, shaping up for the election fight of his life.
Colombian peace talks recess with scant progress, election looms
HAVANA (Reuters) – The Colombian government and leftist FARC rebels wound up a 13th round of peace negotiations on Wednesday, bickering over how to end the conflict and making little visible progress over key issues despite nine months of talks.
Israeli troops disciplined after partying with Palestinians
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel has disciplined a group of soldiers for partying with Palestinians while armed and in uniform at a nightclub in the West Bank city of Hebron, a military spokesman said on Wednesday.
British government approach on Syria ‘consistent’: UK foreign secretary
LONDON (Reuters) – British Foreign Secretary William Hague said on Wednesday the motion on how to respond to an alleged chemical attack in Syria to be considered by parliament on Thursday was consistent with the approach adopted by the government so fa…
Syrian gas attack must draw reaction, Merkel and Cameron agree
BERLIN (Reuters) – The leaders of Germany and Britain believe that Syria’s government should not to go unpunished for an apparent poison gas attack on its own people, Berlin said on Wednesday.
Taliban attack Polish base in Afghanistan, seven killed
GHAZNI, Afghanistan (Reuters) – Seven people were killed in an attack claimed by the Taliban on a base operated by Polish and Afghan forces in eastern Afghanistan on Wednesday, officials and a Reuters witness said.
