Syrian army batters parts of Damascus, 47 killed

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• Syrian army batters parts of Damascus, 47 killed
• U.S., Pakistan must "divorce" as allies, ex-Pakistan envoy says
• North Korea to send figurehead to summit, not supreme leader: KCNA
• Insight: China ups lobbying game, but faces key tests in U.S., Canada
• Japan PM likely to call November poll, party set for drubbing
• Colombia's Santos plans to shuffle cabinet ministers
• Angola's $17 billion energy drive will help poor: Dos Santos
• Despite Assange claims, U.S. has no current case against him
• Thousands being moved from China's Three Gorges - again
• Argentine Congress OKs state takeover of investigated firm
• Tropical Storm Isaac takes aim at Hispaniola
• Russia: West 'instigating' Syrian opposition
• 4 foreign workers abducted off Nigeria coast freed
• Pakistan: 22 die from heavy rains, flooding
• Afghans: Foreign spies at root of insider attacks
• Senegal, AU seal deal on ex-Chad dictator trial
• Syrian forces, rebels in major Damascus clashes
• Iran clings to Asian oil market as sanctions bite
• 5 soldiers, 16 rebels killed in clashes in Turkey
• Ailing Egypt seeks $4.8 billion IMF loan
• Mexican court: Military law is unconstitutional

Syrian army batters parts of Damascus, 47 killed Posted: 22 Aug 2012 05:27 PM PDT AMMAN/ALEPPO, Syria (Reuters) - The Syrian army shelled southern Damascus on Wednesday and helicopters fired rockets and machineguns during an assault meant to shore up President Bashar al-Assad's grip on the capital 17 months into an uprising, opposition activists said. The army has this week used tanks and helicopter gunships in an offensive around Damascus that coincided with the departure of U.N. military observers, their mission to stop the bloodshed and nudge Syria towards a peaceful transition a failure. ...

U.S., Pakistan must "divorce" as allies, ex-Pakistan envoy says Posted: 22 Aug 2012 05:30 PM PDT WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States and Pakistan should stop pretending they are allies and amicably "divorce," Pakistan's former ambassador to Washington said on Wednesday, citing unrealistic expectations in both countries that include U.S. hopes Islamabad will sever its links to extremists. ...

North Korea to send figurehead to summit, not supreme leader: KCNA Posted: 22 Aug 2012 05:29 PM PDT SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea's figurehead head of state, not supreme leader Kim Jong-un, will attend a summit of non-aligned developing nations in Iran next week, Pyonyang's official KCNA news agency reported on Thursday. There had been rumors Kim, who succeeded his father Kim Jong-il in December, would visit Tehran to mark his first trip abroad as leader of the isolated and impoverished state. However, KCNA said figurehead leader Kim Yong-nam would represent the North at the summit for developing nations not tied to any major political alliances. ...

Insight: China ups lobbying game, but faces key tests in U.S., Canada Posted: 23 Aug 2012 12:40 AM PDT WASHINGTON/OTTAWA (Reuters) - Back in the day, before the U.S. Congress tore apart China's proposed multi-billion dollar deals with Western companies one after the other, Beijing's lobbying left little to the imagination. China's Washington embassy blasted out form letters to every U.S. lawmaker when it was upset with Congress, warning of grave damage to Sino-American relations, congressional aides recall. ...

Japan PM likely to call November poll, party set for drubbing Posted: 23 Aug 2012 12:37 AM PDT TOKYO (Reuters) - Embattled Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda is likely to call a snap election for November, ruling and opposition party members said on Thursday, despite the likelihood that his party will suffer a drubbing. Noda, who took office last September as Japan's sixth premier in five years, scored a rare policy win this month when parliament enacted a law to double the sales tax to curb public debt. But he had to pledge to call an election "soon" to gain opposition backing to pass the bill in a divided parliament. ...

Colombia's Santos plans to shuffle cabinet ministers Posted: 22 Aug 2012 07:29 PM PDT BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombia's 16 cabinet members resigned on Wednesday at President Juan Manuel Santos' request, setting the stage for him to shuffle his cabinet in an attempt to shore up his approval ratings. At the midpoint of his four-year term, Santos has been under pressure from a constant stream of criticism from former President Alvaro Uribe and a growing number of attacks by leftist rebels, denting his once commanding popularity. ...

Angola's $17 billion energy drive will help poor: Dos Santos Posted: 22 Aug 2012 05:46 PM PDT HUAMBO, Angola (Reuters) - Angola's plans to invest more than $17 billion in electricity generation and distribution by 2016 are designed to increase social justice by giving low-income classes better access to energy, President Jose Eduardo said on Wednesday. Investment in energy will also help develop industry and create jobs, Dos Santos said in a campaign speech to tens of thousands of supporters of his MPLA party in Angola's second-largest city, Huambo, ahead of an August 31 general election. ...

Despite Assange claims, U.S. has no current case against him Posted: 22 Aug 2012 05:15 PM PDT WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Despite claims by Julian Assange that Washington is plotting to extradite and execute him, U.S. and European government sources say the United States has issued no criminal charges against the WikiLeaks founder and has launched no attempt to extradite him. Moreover, Obama administration officials remain divided over the wisdom of prosecuting Assange, the sources said, and the likelihood of U.S. criminal charges against him is probably receding rather than growing. The Obama administration has said Assange's immediate fate is in the hands of Britain, Sweden and Ecuador. ...

Thousands being moved from China's Three Gorges - again Posted: 22 Aug 2012 02:42 PM PDT HUANGTUPO, China (Reuters) - China relocated 1.3 million people during the 17 years it took to complete the Three Gorges dam. Even after finishing the $59 billion project last month, the threat of landslides along the dam's banks will force tens of thousands to move again. It's a reminder of the social and environmental challenges that have dogged the world's largest hydroelectric project. ...

Argentine Congress OKs state takeover of investigated firm Posted: 22 Aug 2012 05:10 PM PDT BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Argentina's Congress approved on Wednesday the expropriation of a currency-printing company whose ties to the country's vice president are under judicial investigation. The lower house voted 145-77 in favor of the bill, which President Cristina Fernandez sent to Congress just two weeks ago. Fernandez's allies regained control of Congress last year after a two-year interlude. ...

Tropical Storm Isaac takes aim at Hispaniola Posted: 22 Aug 2012 10:31 PM PDT Tropical Storm Isaac took aim at the Dominican Republic and Haiti early Thursday, expected to gain strength after drenching tiny islands in its whirl over the eastern entrance to the Caribbean.

Russia: West 'instigating' Syrian opposition Posted: 22 Aug 2012 05:32 PM PDT Russia accused Western powers Wednesday of "openly instigating" Syrian opposition groups to take up arms in their fight to unseat President Bashar Assad.

4 foreign workers abducted off Nigeria coast freed Posted: 23 Aug 2012 12:42 AM PDT Four foreign oil and gas contractors kidnapped off the coast of Nigeria's volatile oil-rich southern delta have been freed, their company said Thursday.

Pakistan: 22 die from heavy rains, flooding Posted: 22 Aug 2012 11:47 PM PDT Pakistani officials say heavy monsoon rains that triggered flooding in the country's north have caused at least 22 deaths.

Afghans: Foreign spies at root of insider attacks Posted: 22 Aug 2012 12:01 PM PDT The Afghan government blamed foreign spy agencies for a rising number of killings where government soldiers and policemen have gunned down their international partners, and ordered stricter vetting of recruits and screening of those in the 350,000-member Afghan security force.

Senegal, AU seal deal on ex-Chad dictator trial Posted: 23 Aug 2012 12:55 AM PDT Senegal and the African Union have finalized a deal on how to try a former Chadian dictator who is accused of ordering thousands of political opponents to be tortured or killed.

Syrian forces, rebels in major Damascus clashes Posted: 22 Aug 2012 12:27 PM PDT Syrian regime forces shelled two central Damascus districts Wednesday before troops backed by tanks swept through to carry out house-to-house raids, killing at least 35 suspected rebels, in a major flare-up of fighting in the Syrian capital, activists said.

Iran clings to Asian oil market as sanctions bite Posted: 22 Aug 2012 12:01 PM PDT When Iran welcomes leaders to a world gathering next week, few will get a grander reception than India's prime minister. As Tehran tries to offset the squeeze from Western oil sanctions, there is no greater priority than courting energy-hungry Asian markets.

5 soldiers, 16 rebels killed in clashes in Turkey Posted: 23 Aug 2012 12:31 AM PDT Turkish media says Kurdish rebels ambushed a military convoy in southeast Turkey, setting off clashes that killed 16 militants and five soldiers.

Ailing Egypt seeks $4.8 billion IMF loan Posted: 22 Aug 2012 12:24 PM PDT Egypt formally asked the International Monetary Fund for a $4.8 billion loan on Wednesday, seeking a desperately needed rescue package for its faltering economy but raising the possibility of painful restructuring in a country still reeling since its revolution more than 18 months ago.

Mexican court: Military law is unconstitutional Posted: 22 Aug 2012 02:53 AM PDT Mexico's Supreme Court on Tuesday declared unconstitutional a key portion of a military law that has broadened the influence of military courts and angered civilian victims seeking justice.

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