Germany: U.S. to keep 8,000-12,000 troops in Afghanistan post-2014
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Germany’s Defense Minister Thomas de Maiziere said on Friday that U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told NATO allies gathered in Brussels that the United States would keep between 8,000 and 12,000 troops in Afghanistan after 2014…
Magistrate starts Pistorius bail decision
PRETORIA (Reuters) – South African magistrate Desmond Nair started reading his decision on Friday on the bail hearing of Oscar Pistorius, the athletics star accused of murdering his girlfriend.
Tunisian president asks Islamist to form government
TUNIS (Reuters) – Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki on Friday asked Interior Minister Ali Larayedh, a hardliner from the main Islamist Ennahda party, to form a government within two weeks, his spokesman said.
Iran appears to advance in construction of Arak nuclear plant
VIENNA (Reuters) – Iran appears to be advancing in its construction of a research reactor Western experts say could offer the Islamic state a second way of producing material for a nuclear bomb, if it decided to embark on such a course, a U.N. report s…
India says warned of bombs that killed 16 in IT hub Hyderabad
HYDERABAD, India (Reuters) – India had intelligence agency warnings of a security threat several days before two bombs went off in a market in the city of Hyderabad, the interior minister said on Friday, adding that the death toll had risen to 16.
Malian, French troops kill 15 Islamists in Gao: France
PARIS (Reuters) – Malian troops backed by French soldiers and attack helicopters killed 15 Islamists in Gao on Thursday in fighting to retake a mayor’s office occupied by the militants, France’s Defense Ministry said on Friday.
Syrian opposition says Assad cannot be part of deal
CAIRO (Reuters) – The opposition Syrian National Coalition is willing to negotiate a peace deal to end the country’s civil war but President Bashar al-Assad must step down and cannot be a party to any settlement, members agreed after debating a controv…
Russia, China oppose military intervention in North Korea
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia and China said on Friday they would oppose any foreign military intervention in North Korea over its recent nuclear test.
Mammoth debt hangs over next Italian government
MILAN (Reuters) – Whoever wins Italy’s elections this weekend will inherit a 2 trillion euro ($2.7 trillion) public debt that is draining badly needed funds which would be better used to spur growth.
Iran denies allegations of organizing spy cell in Nigeria
DUBAI (Reuters) – Iran denied on Friday Nigerian allegations that it had trained militants arrested in Nigeria on charges of planning attacks on U.S. and Israeli targets there.
