River Thames crossings reopen after UK security alert
LONDON (Reuters) – British police sealed off busy road crossings across the River Thames near London on Friday, causing hours of chaos for thousands of rush-hour motorists after the discovery of a suspicious item prompted a major security alert.
Obama rejects G20 pressure to abandon Syria air strike plan
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama resisted pressure on Friday to abandon plans for air strikes against Syria and enlisted the support of 10 fellow leaders for a “strong” response to a chemical weapons attack.
Tunisia union pushes concessions to end deadlock
TUNIS (Reuters) – Tunisia’s powerful labor movement on Friday urged the country’s Islamist-led government to make “painful” concessions to end a stalemate over its rule after talks with secular opposition failed to break the deadlock.
U.S. spy agencies decry latest Snowden revelations
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. spy agencies said on Friday that the latest media revelations based on leaks from former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden will likely damage U.S. and allied intelligence efforts.
U.S. envoy Power argues for military option on Syria
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Samantha Power, in her first major speech as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, argued Friday that a limited military strike was the only option left to respond to a chemical weapons attack in Syria after diplomatic efforts h…
Bolivian anti-graft officer held on extortion charge in Miami
MIAMI (Reuters) – A senior Bolivian police official, accused of flying to Miami in late August to extort $30,000 from a prominent businessman seeking asylum in the United States, will remain in jail until a bond hearing next week, a judge ordered on Fr…
Kuwait emir to visit White House September 13 to discuss Middle East
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, will visit President Barack Obama in Washington on September 13 to talk about Middle Eastern issues, the White House said on Friday.
U.S. extends Iran sanctions waivers to Japan
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States has extended a waiver on Iran sanctions for six months to Japan in exchange for its reduction in oil imports from the Islamic republic, Secretary of State John Kerry said on Friday.
Wanted in U.S. and India, Islamist leads mass rally in Pakistan
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – A Pakistani Islamist with a $10 million U.S. bounty on his head appeared openly at a rally in Islamabad on Friday, denouncing India as a terrorist state as thousands of his supporters chanted for “holy war” against the rival nucle…
Uncertainty around Italian coalition ahead of Senate vote
ROME (Reuters) – The uncertainty that has weighed on Italian politics for weeks continued on Friday, with allies of Silvio Berlusconi playing down the risk of a crisis that could topple Prime Minister Enrico Letta’s fragile coalition government.
