At least five dead from Monday’s chemical plant blast in China: Xinhua
SHANGHAI (Reuters) – The death toll from an explosion at a chemical plant in China’s Shandong province late on Monday has risen to five, state news agency Xinhua reported, as China still seeks answers to a far larger blast in the port city of Tianjin e…
Guatemala’s Congress strips President Perez’ immunity amid graft scandal
GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) – Guatemala’s Congress on Tuesday voted unanimously to strip President Otto Perez of immunity, paving the way for prosecutors to charge him in an unprecedented graft scandal that has engulfed his government.
Iran nuclear deal backers near votes to protect pact in U.S. Congress
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Supporters of the international nuclear agreement with Iran moved within one vote of mustering enough support to protect the deal in the U.S. Congress on Tuesday when two more Democratic senators said they would support the pact….
Brazil police charge former top Lula aide for four crimes
RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) – Brazil’s Federal Police on Tuesday charged Jose Dirceu, former chief of staff to former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, with four crimes related to his alleged involvement in bribery and bid-rigging at Petrobra…
Pope to allow all priests to forgive abortion during Holy Year
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Pope Francis will give all priests discretion during the Roman Catholic Church’s Holy Year to formally forgive women who have had abortions — the Argentine pontiff’s latest move towards a more open and inclusive church.
Greece’s Syriza party lead shrinks further in election race: poll
ATHENS (Reuters) – Greece’s Syriza party is on course to win 26 percent of votes in a snap election in September, just one point ahead of the conservative New Democracy party, a poll published by the Pulse for Action 24 television channel said on Tuesd…
Thailand arrests second ‘important’ suspect in Bangkok blast probe
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thai police arrested a second foreign suspect in the country’s deadliest bombing on Tuesday and said they believed he played an important role, but could not confirm he was the man seen in a yellow T-shirt leaving a backpack at the …
U.S. drone kills six suspected militants in Pakistan
PESHAWAR, Pakistan (Reuters) – A unmanned U.S. drone aircraft killed at least six suspected militants and wounded four others on Tuesday in a remote area of northwestern Pakistan near the Afghan border, officials said.
Western-backed Syrian rebels say kill foreign Islamic State fighters in undercover strike
AMMAN (Reuters) – A group of Western-backed Syrian insurgents said on Tuesday they had killed three foreign fighters — two Saudis and a Tunisian — with the Islamic State group in an undercover raid into an area under the control of the ultra-radical …
Libya’s official government bans Yemenis, Iranians, Pakistanis from entry
BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) – Libya’s internationally recognized administration based in the east has banned Yemenis, Iranians and Pakistanis from entering the divided country, a military statement said on Tuesday.




