Brazil police arrest former finance minister in Petrobras probe
SAO PAULO (Reuters) – Brazilian police arrested former Finance Minister Guido Mantega on Thursday as a sweeping corruption investigation struck further at the heart of the Workers Party (PT) that ran the country for 13 years.
Eight wounded as rockets from Syria pound Turkish border town
DIYARBAKIR/ANKARA (Reuters) – Six children were among eight civilians wounded when three rockets fired from Islamic State-controlled territory in Syria hit a Turkish border town on Thursday, the Turkish military said.
Syria toxic gas inquiry report delayed; France, Britain urge U.N. action
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The U.N. Security Council has given an international inquiry five more weeks to complete its report on who is to blame for toxic gas attacks in Syria as U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon, France, Britain and others push for those respon…
Canada, China agree to tighten trade ties, mull extradition pact
OTTAWA (Reuters) – Canada and China on Thursday settled a trade dispute and said they would start exploratory talks on a free trade pact, but gave few details about a possible extradition treaty for Chinese fugitives which has triggered criticism in Ca…
Jordan’s Islamists gain foothold in parliament after long absence
AMMAN (Reuters) – Jordan’s Muslim Brotherhood has gained a foothold in parliament after ending a decade-long boycott and returning to the fray as the mainstay of a broad civic alliance, according to preliminary results released on Thursday.
Iran’s Rouhani at U.N. calls on rival Saudi to cease ‘divisive policies’
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Thursday called on regional rival Saudi Arabia to “cease and desist” from “divisive policies” if it was serious about regional peace and security.
Iraq’s Zebari accuses ex-PM Maliki of arranging dismissal as finance minister
ERBIL, Iraq (Reuters) – Deposed Iraqi Finance Minister Hoshiyar Zebari on Thursday accused former Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki of orchestrating his removal from office, publicly exposing rifts within an increasingly unstable government.
Iraqi army says it recaptured key town south of Mosul
TIKRIT, Iraq (Reuters) – Iraqi forces backed by air strikes from the U.S.-led coalition gained complete control of the northern district of Shirqat on Thursday, bringing the military a step closer to a main push on Mosul later this year.
Palestinians’ Abbas seeks British apology for 1917 Jewish homeland declaration
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Britain should apologize for its 1917 declaration endorsing the founding of a Jewish homeland in Palestine and should recognize Palestine as a state, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Thursday.
Gabon constitutional court starts hearing on disputed election
LIBREVILLE (Reuters) – Gabon’s Constitutional Court began hearing arguments on Thursday in advance of its ruling on an election that opposition leader Jean Ping said was rigged to give President Ali Bongo victory.
