Japan accuses Russia of air space intrusion; Moscow denies it
TOKYO/MOSCOW (Reuters) – Two Russian bombers briefly entered Japan’s air space near its major southern island of Kyushu on Thursday, prompting Japan to scramble its fighter jets and lodge a protest, the Japanese government said, but Russia denied any i…
Kazakh tycoon sought by Russia, Ukraine to stay in French jail
MARSEILLE, France (Reuters) – Kazakh oligarch Mukhtar Ablyazov, accused of embezzling up to $6 billion from his former bank BTA, was denied release on bail from a French jail on Thursday as he awaits a decision on whether he will be extradited.
Italian coalition close to breaking point over Berlusconi fate
ROME (Reuters) – Relations between the partners in Italy’s coalition government seemed close to breaking point on Thursday over whether to evict Silvio Berlusconi from parliament over a tax fraud conviction.
I was framed, says China’s Bo as he mounts feisty defense
JINAN, China (Reuters) – Fallen politician Bo Xilai put up a feisty defense on Thursday as he faced China’s most political trial in decades, saying he was framed in bribery charges against him and had admitted to them under psychological pressure durin…
Hezbollah supporter among three killed in north Lebanon: sources
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Gunmen in Lebanon’s northern city of Tripoli killed at least three people when they opened fire on a supporter of the Lebanese Shi’ite militant group Hezbollah outside his house in the early hours of Thursday, security sources said.
South Africa faces strike wave as labor strife widens
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South Africa faced a strike wave across leading sectors of the economy on Thursday and the labor unrest threatened to hit its struggling gold industry, already squeezed by rising costs and falling bullion prices.
Britain can look at data from Snowden reporter’s partner, court says
LONDON (Reuters) – The British authorities can sift through documents seized from the partner of a reporter who wrote about the leaks by Edward Snowden to protect national security and investigate any possible links to terrorism, a court ruled on Thurs…
Egypt prison ordered to release Mubarak
CAIRO (Reuters) – An Egyptian prosecutor has ordered a Cairo prison to release deposed President Hosni Mubarak, an official said on Thursday.
Israel says world paying ‘lip service’ to alleged Syria gas attacks
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel said on Thursday it believed Syrian forces had used chemical weapons in the killing of hundreds of people in the rebel-held suburbs of Damascus, and it accused the world of turning a blind eye to such attacks.
UK: Syria chemical attack facts must be checked, no option ruled out
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain said on Thursday its first priority was to verify the facts surrounding a reported chemical weapons attack in Syria, but said it could not rule out any option to end the bloodshed there.
