Japan’s deputy PM Aso says he won’t resign over Nazi comments
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso said on Friday he has no intention of resigning over comments he made, but were later retracted, that were interpreted as praise for Germany’s Nazi regime and Adolf Hitler’s rise to power.
U.S. to close some embassies Sunday for security reasons
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. embassies that would normally be open this Sunday – including those in Abu Dhabi, Baghdad and Cairo – will be closed that day because of unspecified security concerns, the U.S. State Department said on Thursday.
France to cut military staff by 12 percent in six-year budget
PARIS (Reuters) – France will cut nearly 34,000 military personnel under a proposed six-year defence budget to be unveiled on Friday, as government belt-tightening and a desire for more nimble forces alters the makeup of Europe’s second-largest army.
Tunisian union gives government one week to step down
TUNIS (Reuters) – Tunisia’s powerful union federation said on Friday that the embattled Islamist-led government had one week to reach a deal for creating a new technocrat government, otherwise it will be “forced to consider” other options.
Tunisian army, militants clash near Algerian border: sources
TUNIS (Reuters) – Tunisian troops exchanged fire with militants near the Algerian border on Thursday, security sources said, three days after gunmen killed eight soldiers in one of the deadliest attacks in decades on the country’s security forces.
Syria’s Assad says he certain to defeat rebels
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said on Thursday he was confident of victory against rebels and made a symbolic visit to a town once overrun by insurgents and now mostly retaken by his army.
Berlusconi conviction leaves Italian government hanging
ROME (Reuters) – A ruling by Italy’s supreme court upholding a tax fraud conviction against former premier and center-right leader Silvio Berlusconi has left the fate of the country’s fragile ruling coalition resting in the balance.
Obama praises Yemeni leader, makes no mention of Guantanamo
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama praised Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi for his work combating terrorism but made no mention of efforts to repatriate detainees from the Guantanamo Bay prison in public remarks at the White House on…
U.S. to close some embassies Sunday for security reasons
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. embassies that would normally be open this Sunday – including those in Abu Dhabi, Baghdad, Cairo – will be closed that day because of unspecified security concerns, the U.S. State Department said on Thursday.
Tunisian army clashes with militants: residents
TUNIS (Reuters) – Tunisian troops exchanged fire with militants near the Algerian border on Thursday night, a resident said, three days after gunmen killed eight soldiers in one of the deadliest attacks in decades on the country’s security forces.
