French battle Mali rebels in Sahara, Tuaregs an issue
KIDAL, Mali (Reuters) – French and Malian troops are fighting Islamist rebels in the Sahara outside northern Mali’s biggest town, France’s defense minister said on Wednesday, describing the desert campaign against al Qaeda as a “real war” that was far …
Merkel proposes September 22 as election date: spokesman
BERLIN (Reuters) – Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government has asked the German president to set September 22 as the date of the next federal election, when she hopes to secure a third term in power.
Fighting erupts in Damascus as rebels launch offensive
AMMAN (Reuters) – Heavy fighting erupted in Damascus on Wednesday as rebels launched an offensive against President Bashar al-Assad’s forces, breaking a lull in the conflict, opposition activists said.
Ally of Iran’s Ahmadinejad freed from prison: official
DUBAI (Reuters) – A once-feared prosecutor at the center of a row between two of Iran’s most powerful figures was freed from two days’ detention on Wednesday, adding a new twist to their explosive feud just months before the country’s next presidential…
Tsunami kills at least five in Solomons after big Pacific quake
(Reuters) – A powerful 8.0 magnitude earthquake set off a tsunami that killed at least five people in a remote part of the Solomon Islands on Wednesday and triggered evacuations across the South Pacific as island nations issued tsunami alerts.
India "concerned" by China role in Pakistan port
BANGALORE (Reuters) – China’s role in operating a strategically important port in Pakistan is a matter of concern for India, its defense minister said on Wednesday, as New Delhi and Beijing jostle for influence in the region.
Iran’s Ahmadinejad seeks strategic axis with Egypt
CAIRO (Reuters) – President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, on the first visit to Cairo by an Iranian leader in more than three decades, called for a strategic alliance with Egypt and said he had offered the cash-strapped Arab state a loan, but drew a cool respon…
China says extremely concerned after latest North Korea threats
BEIJING (Reuters) – China expressed serious concern on Wednesday after North Korea stepped up its bellicose rhetoric and threatened to go beyond a third nuclear test in response to what it sees as “hostile” sanctions imposed after a December rocket lau…
Sri Lanka parliament speaker rebuffs Supreme Court summons
COLOMBO (Reuters) – Sri Lanka’s parliament speaker on Thursday rejected a supreme court summons to a parliamentary panel looking into a move to impeach the chief justice, deepening a crisis that has raised concern about the independence of the country’…
Fighting cuts off Damascus airport, flights suspended
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syrian rebels battled forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad just outside Damascus on Thursday, restricting access to its international airport, and the Dubai-based Emirates airline and EgyptAir stopped flights to the Syrian capit…
