Thursday, October 31, 2013

World News Briefs -- October 31, 2013 (Evening Edition)



Syria's Chemical Weapons Production Facilities Destroyed, Says Watchdog

International chemical weapons watchdog OPCW says its team has inspected 21 out of 23 chemical weapons sites in Syria

Syria has destroyed all of its declared chemical weapons production and mixing facilities, meeting a key deadline in an ambitious disarmament programme, the international chemical weapons watchdog said in a document seen by Reuters.

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons said its teams had inspected 21 out of 23 chemical weapons sites across the country. The other two were too dangerous to inspect but the chemical equipment had already been moved to other sites which experts had visited, it said.

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MIDDLE EAST

Syria military base blasts said to be Israeli strike.

Syria destroys chemical weapon capabilities ahead of schedule. Syria chemical weapons facilities 'destroyed'.

Hundreds of Syrian refugees 'denied entry into Jordan'.

Al-Qaeda recruits entering Syria from Turkey safehouses.

Kerry to visit Saudi Arabia amid frayed ties.

Abuse video shocks Saudi Arabia.

Four Turkey MPs wear headscarves in parliament.

Iraqi government complicit in deadly attack at Camp Ashraf on Iranian refugees, report shows.

Iraqi PM Maliki struggles to convince U.S. lawmakers to back more aid.

Ayatollah’s illness raises fear of power struggle.

Salafists 'killed in rocket attack on Yemen mosque'. Death toll in attack on Salafi-held town in Yemen rises to 24.

ASIA

Indonesia summons Australian envoy over embassy spying claims.

China, other Asians angry over embassy spy reports.

Watchdog: $100 billion investment in Afghanistan at risk.

Japan, China territorial tensions rising over unmanned drones.

China accuses Japan of interfering in naval drills.

Tiananmen crash: Xinjiang security tightened.

China patriotism campaign backfires in Tibet.

Top surviving Khmer Rouge leader whose regime oversaw the death of two million people says he was 'doing his duty' in final statement at UN tribunal.

Fukushima Daiichi operator should not handle shutdown, says governing party.

US Treasury: Chinese currency still 'significantly undervalued'.

AFRICA

Kenyan warplanes bomb al-Shabab camp.

Mali coup leader summoned before judge.

Zimbabwe court says Robert Mugabe 'insult law' invalid.

Congo army says hunting rebels deep into mountain bases.

UN mulls additional troops for Somalia.

Niger migrants' bodies found near Algerian border. Niger migrants found dead near Algerian border.

Egyptian Islamists call for daily protests before Mursi trial.

IMF team visits Egypt.

Morocco withdraws ambassador from Algeria.

United States condemns violence in Mozambique.

Somali pirates convicted of attacking Spanish warship.

EUROPE

Defence secretary is stifling debate on British armed forces, says senior Tory.

Hollande defends 75% tax despite football strike threat.

Russia 'collects DNA samples' of Muslim women.

Russia denies Italian reports it spied on G20 leaders.

Insight: Putin targets Dagestan insurgents as Olympics loom.

Exclusive: Russian banks strengthen ties with blacklisted Syrian lenders.

Eurozone unemployment reaches new record high.

Czech left leader defeats rebels, takes control of government talks.

Kosovo withdraws warrant for Serbian minister ahead of vote.

Thousands protest in Greece over planned new tax.

Pope to install 1st batch of new cardinals Feb. 22.

AMERICAS

REPORT: Toronto mayor caught on tape smoking crack.

Peru's Humala swears in fourth prime minister, retains finance minister.

Senate intel committee approves NSA snooping, with restrictions.

Calif. driver gets ticket for wearing Google Glass.

US Fed maintains stimulus measures.

FAA loosens rules for e-devices on airline flights.

ICE uncovers ‘highly sophisticated’ drug tunnel from Tijuana to San Diego.

Mexican tax plan weakened further, on cusp of final approval.

Canadian economy grows more than expected on energy gains.

Russian Tu-160 strategic bombers land in Nicaragua.

Brazil's flamboyant playboy tycoon takes big fall.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Pakistan criticised over drone victim numbers.

Drone attack survivors take their story to Washington.

NATO, Russia hail joint test to detect bombers in crowds.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Update: Google denies NSA cooperation while expanding encryption.

Google, Oracle workers enlisted for Obamacare 'tech surge'.

Google and Yahoo furious at reports NSA secretly taps data centres.

Six leading central banks to share currency supplies.

Facebook revenue surges 60% on strong ad sales.

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