Mexico’s presidential front-runner vows more welfare, formalizes bid
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Mexican front-runner for next year’s election, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, formalized his bid for the presidency on Tuesday and promised his government would spend on the young, elderly and farmers.
Venezuela to start criminal probe into ex-oil czar Ramirez
CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuela said on Tuesday it would start a criminal investigation into powerful former oil czar Rafael Ramirez, in an escalation of a purge of alleged corruption that has resulted in the arrest of dozens of oil executives.
Lafarge paid 13 million euros to armed groups to keep operating in Syria: rights group
PARIS (Reuters) – French cement group Lafarge paid close to 13 million euros ($15.2 million) to armed groups including Islamic State militants to keep operating in Syria from 2011-2015, human rights lawyers said on Tuesday.
EU pushes to curb Africa migration more, still split on hosting refugees
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – European Union leaders will discuss how to further curb immigration from across the Mediterranean over dinner on Thursday, but are as divided as ever on how to take care of refugees who still make it to Europe.
World is losing the battle against climate change, Macron says
PARIS (Reuters) – French President Emmanuel Macron delivered a bleak assessment on the global fight against climate change to dozens of world leaders and company executives on Tuesday, telling them: “We are losing the battle”.
EU readies ‘David Davis-proof’ Brexit summit
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Union plays down talk by Britain’s Brexit minister that last week’s interim accord is not binding and will launch new talks on Friday that are “David Davis-proof”, a senior EU official said.
France’s Le Drian says ‘no’ to Iran Mediterranean axis
PARIS (Reuters) – France’s foreign minister criticized Iran’s regional ambitions, saying Paris could not accept Tehran’s military expansion to the Mediterranean, and accused Russia of failing to use its influence to push U.N.-led Syrian peace talks and…
Venezuela to open criminal probe of ex oil czar Ramirez: prosecutor
CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuela will open a criminal investigation of former oil czar Rafael Ramirez, the country’s chief prosecutor said on Tuesday, as part of a broad shakeup of the OPEC nation’s oil industry that has resulted in the arrest of dozens o…
Liberia electoral commission sets run-off date for December 26
MONROVIA (Reuters) – Liberia’s electoral commission chief Jerome Korkoya on Tuesday announced the date of a presidential run-off poll for December 26 this year.
U.N. warns of new Syrian refugee wave to Europe if aid dries up
GENEVA (Reuters) – Syrian refugees could again seek to reach Europe in droves if aid programs are not sustained in five neighboring countries hosting the bulk of them, the United Nations said on Tuesday.
