Russia says U.S. drive to arm Syria rebels hurts chances for peace
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia accused the United States on Wednesday of stalling chances for peace in Syria by pressing ahead with plans to arm rebels fighting to oust President Bashar al-Assad.
Japan scrambles jets after China plane flies by southern islands
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan scrambled fighter jets on Wednesday after a Chinese military aircraft flew for the first time through international airspace near its southern islands out over the Pacific, in a move seen by Japan as underlining China’s maritime…
Kenyan police seize explosives headed for coastal region
NAIROBI (Reuters) – Kenyan police discovered a large quantity of explosives packed in boxes on a bus in the capital Nairobi that was headed to a town in the coastal region, a senior officer said on Wednesday.
French government bans more ultra-right groups after June death
PARIS (Reuters) – The French government said on Wednesday it would close down two more far-right militant groups after outlawing three others this month in response to the death of a militant left-wing student in June in a brawl between fringe groups.
South Africa’s ex-ANC ‘bad boy’ plans election bid against the odds
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – He wears a red beret, talks the language of Revolution and calls himself “Commander in Chief”.
Ally of Pakistan’s Sharif seen as new president
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Mamnoon Hussain, a veteran Pakistani politician and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s trusted ally, is expected to win next week’s presidential election after being nominated by the ruling party as a candidate in the largely ceremonia…
Violence mars first gay parade in Montenegro
BUDVA, Montenegro (Reuters) – Police clashed with anti-gay protesters in Montenegro on Wednesday as they tried to disrupt the first gay pride parade to be held in the staunchly conservative Balkan country that is in talks to join the European Union.
Darfur rebels launch new attack on central Sudan
KHARTOUM (Reuters) – Rebels from Sudan’s strife-torn Darfur region launched a new assault on the country’s once placid heartland on Wednesday, attacking an army base and sending civilians running for cover, rebels and witnesses said.
Indian police arrest school principal in food poisoning case
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – Indian police on Wednesday arrested the headmistress of a school where 23 children died after eating a meal laced with pesticide in one of India’s deadliest food poisoning outbreaks in years.
Biden seeks to assure India on Afghanistan, presses on trade
MUMBAI (Reuters) – U.S. Vice President Joe Biden sought on Wednesday to ease Indian concern about a possible political settlement with the Afghan Taliban, saying the insurgents would have to give up ties to al Qaeda and accept the Afghan constitution t…
