Syria’s Assad claims edge in conflict, plays down significance of defections

Syria’s Assad claims edge in conflict, plays down significance of defections

Syria’s Assad claims edge in conflict, plays down significance of defections

Posted: 29 Aug 2012 12:59 PM PDT

BEIRUT — Syria's President Bashar al-Assad claimed Wednesday to be gaining ground in the bloody conflict that has racked the country for nearly 18 months and suggested that recent defections by government and military officials were actually helpful.

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Georgia says 3 soldiers, 11 militants killed near Russia border

Posted: 29 Aug 2012 12:59 PM PDT

TBILISI (Reuters) - Georgian forces shot dead 11 gunmen, and three soldiers were killed in an operation to free hostages near the border with Russia, the Interior Ministry said on Wednesday.

Georgian Troops Battle Militants

Posted: 29 Aug 2012 12:02 PM PDT

At least three Georgian commandos and 11 militants were killed during an operation to free hostages held along Georgia's border with Russia, authorities said Wednesday.


Ecuador upbeat about deal to end Assange standoff

Posted: 29 Aug 2012 12:43 PM PDT

QUITO (Reuters) - Talks have resumed between Ecuador and Britain over the fate of WikiLeaks' founder Julian Assange, and Ecuador's government said on Wednesday it was optimistic of a deal that would prevent him being extradited to the United States.

Paralympics opens with 'big bang'

Posted: 29 Aug 2012 12:56 PM PDT

Paralympic opening ceremony begins with a 'big bang' theme, watched by some 80,000 spectators in what has been billed a "journey of discovery".


Brazil public sector strike off

Posted: 29 Aug 2012 12:28 PM PDT

Public workers in Brazil accept a government pay deal and call off a strike that had been causing disruption across the country.


Syria Needs ‘Time’ in Battle Against Rebels, Assad Says

Posted: 29 Aug 2012 01:13 PM PDT

President Bashar al-Assad gave a sober assessment of the resilience of the armed insurgency.


Yemen says Saudi Arabia to donate $1 billion to support currency

Posted: 29 Aug 2012 12:32 PM PDT

SANAA (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia will give $1 billion to Yemen at a donor conference in Riyadh next week, a Yemeni minister said on Wednesday, to support Yemen's currency as the country tries to recover after more than a year of turmoil.

U.N. Chief Criticizes Iran on Rights

Posted: 29 Aug 2012 11:41 AM PDT

The U.N. chief jolted his Iranian hosts for a nonaligned nations meeting by pointing out "serious concerns" in Tehran's rights record and urging cooperation with the world body to improve freedoms.


By Request, Merkel Is Returning to China for Economic Talks

Posted: 29 Aug 2012 12:01 PM PDT

Chancellor Angela Merkel is visiting China on Thursday for the second time in seven months, acting as a conduit both for German business and the European Union.


Kenya PM blames killing of Muslim cleric on nation's foes

Posted: 29 Aug 2012 12:20 PM PDT

MOMBASA, Kenya (Reuters) - Kenya's enemies were behind the killing of a Muslim cleric that triggered riots and violence intended to create divisions between the country's Christians and Muslims, Prime Minister Raila Odinga said on Wednesday.

U.N. rights experts urge France to respect Roma rights

Posted: 29 Aug 2012 12:28 PM PDT

GENEVA (Reuters) - France must ensure that its policy of dismantling Roma settlements and expelling some Roma migrants does not violate international standards, U.N. human rights investigators said on Wednesday.

Azarenka into US Open third round

Posted: 29 Aug 2012 12:51 PM PDT

Top seed Victoria Azarenka beats Belgian qualifier Kirsten Flipkens 6-2 6-2 to reach the third round of the US Open.


Georgia says 14 killed in clashes near border

Posted: 29 Aug 2012 11:41 AM PDT

Three Georgian troops and 11 armed men, who allegedly crossed border from Russia, killed in "anti-terrorist" operation.


Angola's Jose Eduardo dos Santos

Posted: 29 Aug 2012 11:42 AM PDT

Angola's leader abandons suits to become a man of the people


150 missing off coast of Indonesia

Posted: 29 Aug 2012 11:27 AM PDT

Rescue workers combed the sea Wednesday for a vessel thought to have about 150 people on board that reportedly got into difficulties off the Indonesian coast, the authorities said.

Curious koala swims and climbs in canoe

Posted: 29 Aug 2012 10:09 AM PDT

A koala surprises a group of people in Australia by swimming across a river towards their canoe and climbing in it.

Threat prompts Air China midflight turnaround

Posted: 29 Aug 2012 11:25 AM PDT

An unspecified threat forced a New York-bound Air China flight to return to Beijing on Wednesday seven hours after takeoff, the airline said.

Past haunts Colombia's FARC talks

Posted: 29 Aug 2012 11:19 AM PDT

A decade after a stinging failure, Colombia appears once again prepared to enter into peace talks in an effort to bring an end to Latin America's oldest insurgency.

Brian Baker Wins First U.S. Open Match in 7 Years

Posted: 29 Aug 2012 12:58 PM PDT

Brian Baker's comeback from five surgeries continued at the United States Open, and Victoria Azarenka, Nadia Petrova and David Ferrer also won early matches on Wednesday.


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