Russia ready to help guard Syria chemical sites, will not import arms
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia is ready to help guard Syrian chemical weapons sites and destroy President Bashar al-Assad’s stockpiles but will not ship any of the chemical arms to Russia for destruction, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Thurs…
Sudan says Bashir’s visa request still with U.S. embassy
KHARTOUM (Reuters) – Sudan’s Foreign Ministry denied on Thursday that President Omar Hassan al-Bashir had decided not to attend the U.N. General Assembly in New York and said his visa application was still pending, state media reported.
Pakistan blocks country’s first gay website
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistan has blocked access to its first website designed to help gay people meet and support each other in the staunchly conservative Muslim country, the website said on Thursday.
Kerry to travel to Japan, Indonesia for meetings
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will travel to Japan next week for a security meeting before joining President Barack Obama in Bali for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation economic meeting, the State Department said on Thurs…
Divers find bodies from spot of Italy cruise ship wreck
ROME (Reuters) – Divers on Thursday found what they believe to be the last two missing bodies from the sea where the Costa Concordia cruise liner sank last year off the Italian island of Giglio.
Analysis: Mall raid rallies foreign support for ICC-indictee Kenyatta
NAIROBI (Reuters) – While it hurts Kenya’s tourism and investment, the bloody Nairobi mall assault by Islamist militants will help President Uhuru Kenyatta bolster international support as he confronts charges of crimes against humanity at The Hague.
Italy president reprimands Berlusconi party over resignation threat
ROME (Reuters) – Italian President Giorgio Napolitano issued a severe rebuke on Thursday to Silvio Berlusconi and ruled out taking any action to stop his conviction for tax fraud after allies threatened to walk out of parliament over his legal problems…
Militants raid forces in India before India-Pakistan talks, 12 dead
SAMBA, India (Reuters) – Militants dressed in Indian army uniforms attacked Indian police and soldiers near the border with Pakistan on Thursday, killing nine people and triggering calls for talks between the prime ministers of the rival nations to be …
Kerry looks forward to ‘good meeting’ between major powers, Iran
NEW YORK (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said he looked forward to a “good meeting” with Iran and major powers on Thursday but would not address what Iran needed to do to show a genuine desire to address its nuclear program.
Shabaab finances face squeeze after Kenya attack
DUBAI (Reuters) – Al Shabaab emerged as a regional threat funded by millions of dollars from activities ranging from extortion to taxing charcoal exports, but its attack on a Kenyan shopping mall is expected to provoke a counter-terrorism response aime…
