Venezuela denies zoo animals starving, says one happy family
CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuela’s government denied on Monday that zoo animals were dying of starvation amid a national food shortage, saying they were being lovingly treated “like family.”
Venezuela election board okays opposition recall push first phase
CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuela’s election board said on Monday the opposition successfully collected 1 percent of voter signatures in every state in the first phase of their push for a referendum to recall socialist President Nicolas Maduro.
Brazil quells gang violence in northern state, 65 arrested
BRASILIA (Reuters) – Police restored order in a northern state of Brazil on Monday after three nights of violence unleashed by a criminal gang that set off bombs, torched dozens of buses and fired shots at government buildings, authorities said.
U.S. warplanes launch bombing campaign on Islamic State in Libya
SIRTE, Libya/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. planes bombed Islamic State targets in Libya on Monday, responding to the U.N.-backed government’s request to help push the militants from their former stronghold of Sirte in what U.S. officials described as the…
If the pope can retire, why can’t Japan’s elderly emperor?
TOKYO (Reuters) – Pope Benedict XVI did it. Dutch Queen Beatrix did it. So why is it so hard for Japan’s elderly emperor to abdicate?
U.S. general seeks to soothe Turkey ties strained by coup purge
ISTANBUL, Turkey (Reuters) – America’s highest-ranking military officer sought on Monday to soothe strained ties with NATO ally Turkey, which was angered by the West’s response to a failed military coup and an apparent U.S. reluctance to hand over the …
No ransom paid or shots fired in Brazil kidnap rescue: governor
SAO PAULO (Reuters) – No ransom was paid and no shots were fired to free the kidnapped mother-in-law of Formula One empresario Bernie Ecclestone, the governor of Sao Paulo state said on Monday, a day after the 67-year old was freed in a police raid.
U.S., Israel narrow differences for new talks on defense aid
WASHINGTON/JERUSALEM (Reuters) – The United States and Israel have narrowed their differences over what could be decisive negotiations this week to seal a multibillion-dollar military aid package for Washington’s top Middle East ally, officials said on Monday.
Cuba says talks with U.S. over claims cannot be rushed
HAVANA (Reuters) – Cuba said on Monday it was not willing to rush talks with the United States over multibillion-dollar claims and counter-claims and would agree only to an accord that addressed the grievances of both sides.
Nigeria resumes cash pay-offs to former militants in oil hub: oil official
ABUJA (Reuters) – Nigeria’s government has resumed cash payments for former militants in the restive Niger Delta, an official said on Monday, in a bid to end a wave a wave of militant attacks on oil and gas facilities.
