Syria’s chemical weapons program was built to counter Israel
AMSTERDAM/AMMAN (Reuters) – Syria, defeated by Israel in three wars and afraid its arch enemy had gained a nuclear arsenal, began in earnest to build a covert chemical weapons program three decades ago, aided by its neighbors, allies and European chemi…
Japan’s Kono urges PM Abe to stop being coy over war dead shrine
TOKYO (Reuters) – Prime Minister Shinzo Abe should clarify whether he will visit a Tokyo shrine seen in much of Asia as a symbol of Japan’s past militarism if he really wants to improve ties with China, a former moderate leader of Abe’s party said on W…
German foreign minister urges Russia to back U.N. resolution on Syria
BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany on Wednesday urged states, especially Russia, to support a British draft resolution to the UN Security Council condemning attacks by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and authorizing ‘necessary measures’ to protect civilians.
Syrian refugees rescued off Italian coast
ROME (Reuters) – Italy’s coast guard and navy rescued about 350 people, mostly Syrians, off the coast of southeastern Sicily on Wednesday, and a port official said he expected more refugees fleeing Syria’s civil war to arrive.
IAEA, Iran to hold first nuclear talks since Rouhani election
VIENNA (Reuters) – The U.N. nuclear watchdog and Iran will hold a new round of talks on September 27 over Tehran’s disputed atomic program, the first such meeting since relative moderate Hassan Rouhani took office as Iranian president.
Ballooning costs threaten Merkel’s bold energy overhaul
BERLIN/FRANKFURT (Reuters) – Angela Merkel’s “green revolution” risks becoming a victim of its own success.
Israel’s Arab Bedouin citizens feel betrayed by eviction plan
ATIR, Israel (Reuters) – Khader Abu al-Kian’s dusty village of Atir has never existed on any official map, and now it is disappearing before his eyes.
Anglican leader warns Cameron not to ‘rush to judgment’ on Syria
LONDON (Reuters) – The Archbishop of Canterbury has urged British Prime Minister David Cameron not to “rush to judgment” over military action in Syria, warning it could have unforeseeable consequences across the Muslim world.
Analysis: China has much at risk but no reach in Middle East
BEIJING (Reuters) – The worsening Syria conflict has exposed an uncomfortable truth behind China’s cherished policy of non-interference: Beijing cannot do much to influence events even if it wanted to.
Weapons inspectors in Syria need time to complete job: U.N.’s Ban
THE HAGUE (Reuters) – United Nations inspectors should be given time to determine whether forces have used chemical weapons in Syria’s civil war, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in The Hague on Wednesday.
