Uniting Syrian rebels a big test for Saudi regional ambitions
RIYADH (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia’s effort to unite Syrian rebels in Riyadh next week will be a big test of its regional ambitions after years of bickering between opposition groups and serious misgivings about the initiative among major powers with a st…
Sweden struggles to house refugees as harsh Nordic winter looms
MALMO, Sweden (Reuters) – Plastic bags containing clothes and a few belongings are placed along the walls of a chilly, dimly-lit church in Malmo, Sweden, where 20 refugees from Syria and Afghanistan join around 30 Roma beggars seeking shelter for the n…
U.S. calls for probe of reports of Myanmar military atrocities
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States on Thursday called for a credible, independent investigation by Myanmar’s government of reports of military atrocities in the country’s Shan State, saying they were reprehensible, if true.
Long mighty, ‘Chavismo’ at risk in Venezuela’s election
CARACAS (Reuters) – Polarized Venezuela heads to the polls this weekend with a punishing recession forecast to rock the ruling Socialists and propel an optimistic opposition to its first legislative majority in 16 years.
Brazil speaker and government trade barbs, fan impeachment fire
BRASILIA (Reuters) – The speaker of Brazil’s lower house of Congress and the presidential chief of staff traded accusations on Thursday, as President Dilma Rousseff’s government organized its defense for impeachment proceedings against her that started…
More assertive Germany considers bigger army as Syria vote looms
BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany may need a bigger army to cope with the more assertive role it has adopted in global missions, the defense minister said on Thursday, a day before parliament votes on joining the campaign against Islamic State (IS) militants …
French far-right eyes big gains in high-stakes regional election
PARIS (Reuters) – France’s far-right National Front is set to score huge gains in regional elections on Sunday, redrawing the political landscape of the euro zone’s second-biggest economy as it gears up for the next presidential election in 2017.
Regional mediation key to preventing Burundi war: U.S. envoy
NAIROBI (Reuters) – Burundi is on the brink of civil war and will need regional mediation to establish a peace process between the government and opposition to avert a new conflict, a U.S. envoy said on Thursday.
Turkey row leaves Russia stuck with abandoned gas pipes worth billions
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Gas pipes worth 1.8 billion euros ($1.95 billion) are to be left stranded on the shores of the Black Sea after Russia’s decision to suspend work on the Turkish Stream pipeline, a potent symbol of Moscow’s falling out with Ankara.
British PM Cameron does not expect EU reform deal in December: spokeswoman
LONDON (Reuters) – British Prime Minister David Cameron told German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday he did not expect to reach a deal on his planned EU reforms at December’s European Council meeting, his spokeswoman said.
