Friday, October 11, 2013

World News Briefs -- October 11, 2013



Chemical Weapons Watchdog Wins Nobel Peace Prize -- New York Times

LONDON — Urging the destruction of “an entire category” of unconventional weapons, the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded its 2013 Peace Prize on Friday to a relatively modest and little-known United Nations-backed body that has drawn sudden attention with a mission to destroy Syria’s stocks of chemical arms under a deal brokered by Russia and the United States.

The award to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, usually known by its initials O.P.C.W., took some Nobel-watchers by surprise partly because of the unprecedented nature of its current task: seeking to dismantle a previously secret chemical weapons program quickly in the midst of a raging civil war.

Read more ....

MIDDLE EAST

Syrian army retakes two Damascus suburbs from rebels: activists.

Syria rebels executed civilians, says Human Rights Watch.

P5+1 has high hopes for upcoming Iran nuclear talks.

Kurdish rebels disappointed by Turkish reforms.

U.N. urges Iraq to halt executions seen breaching international law.

Israeli beaten to death by apparent Palestinian militants.

Cutbacks in U.N. food assistance set off outcry in Gaza.

Muslim pilgrims throng Mecca for hajj.

ASIA

Kerry in Afghanistan for urgent security talks. John F. Kerry visits Afghanistan to urge President Karzai to finish key security pact.

Afghan officials accuse U.S. of snatching Pakistani Taliban leader from their custody.

Afghanistan's most feared warlord says sorry to victims of conflict.

In Afghanistan, U.S. losing patience as deadline for long-term deal nears.

'Severe' cyclone heads towards eastern India.

Court remands Pakistan's Musharraf for 14 days.

S. Korea charges 100 officials over nuclear reactor corruption.

Myanmar, once a pariah state, now regional leader.

Jailed US man Kenneth Bae's mother in North Korea visit.

AFRICA

UN calls for peacekeeping force in CAR.

France wants action on Central Africa 'sectarian poison'.

From Egypt, the message is 'Obama keep your aid'.

Malawi President Banda dissolves Cabinet.

Car bomb hits Swedish consulate in Benghazi.

Hague judges rule Gaddafi-era spy chief can face trial at home.

African Union condemns 'unfair' ICC.

EUROPE

OSCE observers cry foul over ‘seriously flawed’ Azeri election.

Political and legal obstacles still block Tymoshenko release.

Kremlin adviser likens Greenpeace piracy charge to gang rape.

Spain probes Hu Jintao 'genocide' in Tibet court case.

French farming hit by a suicide every two days.

Number of Spanish in severe poverty doubles.

Lampadusa migrant boat death toll reaches 311.

AMERICAS

US Republicans and Obama in 'useful' debt crisis talks.

Russian warheads fuel half of US nuclear power – official.

US intelligence assets in Mexico reportedly tied to murdered DEA agent.

Gang war in Brazil's Pedrinhas jail kills 13.

Colombian president presses for progress in FARC talks.

Canadians Tarek Loubani, John Greyson leave Egypt for home.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Libya, Somalia raids signal shift in US counterterror efforts.

US grabs Pakistani Taliban commander from Afghan intel.

U.S. delays Miranda rights for captured Al Qaeda operative.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

As U.S. approaches debt ceiling, fears of global recession increase.

‘Dutch sandwich’ grows as Google shifts €8.8bn to Bermuda.

What Apple employees say about the company's internal corporate culture.

Apple should buy big companies, says former boss.

No comments: