Syrian opposition seeks to close ranks as army gains on ground
RIYADH (Reuters) – Syria’s fragmented opposition and rebel groups sought common ground on Wednesday ahead of planned negotiations to end a conflict which has devastated the country and drawn forces from Cold War and Middle East rivals into ever deeper …
Colombia’s FARC rebels free soldier captured while vacationing
BOGOTA (Reuters) – Colombia’s FARC rebels released a soldier, who was captured while he was on vacation in the country’s southern jungles, the International Committee of the Red Cross said on Wednesday, an incident that violated the group’s unilateral …
Canada aboriginal head says development may be easier under new PM
OTTAWA (Reuters) – Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s move to reach out to aboriginal groups could make it easier for natural resource companies to complete major projects, some of which are stalled, a senior indigenous leader said on Wednesday.
National Front seen losing two contested regions in French election runoffs
PARIS (Reuters) – France’s far-right National Front will not garner enough votes in election runoffs to win two key regions where it had come out on top in a first round of voting, a poll showed on Wednesday.
First planeload of Syria refugees to arrive in Toronto on Thursday
OTTAWA (Reuters) – The first planeload of Syrian refugees from camps in Jordan and Lebanon will arrive in Canada on Thursday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Wednesday.
German chancellor Merkel named Time’s ‘Person of the Year’
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Time magazine named German Chancellor Angela Merkel its 2015 “Person of the Year” on Wednesday, noting her resilience and leadership when faced with the refugee crisis and turmoil in the European Union over its currency this year…
Singapore sees Islamist militancy ‘clear, present danger’ for Asia
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Singapore sees a “clear and present danger” to Asia from Islamist militancy, especially from the threat of groups linking up after pledging allegiance to Islamic State, its defense minister Ng Eng Hen said on Wednesday.
Transgender Venezuelan lawmaker vows to fight for gay rights
CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuela’s first transgender lawmaker says she will fight for gay rights and gender equality, drawing inspiration from a flurry of new laws on marriage and civil unions in the rest of traditionally Roman Catholic Latin America.
China military paying ‘close attention’ to U.S. plane deployment
BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s military is paying “close attention” to an agreement between the United States and Singapore to deploy the U.S. P8 Poseidon spy plane to the city state and hopes the move does not harm regional stability, the Defence Ministr…
South Africa’s President Zuma changes finance minister
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South African president Jacob Zuma removed finance minister Nhlanhla Nene from his position on Wednesday, saying the minister would be redeployed.
