Sisi to tighten grip on Egypt despite new parliament
CAIRO (Reuters) – When general Abdel Fattah al-Sisi swapped his uniform for a suit to become Egyptian president, he mapped out a return to democracy culminating in parliamentary elections. These start on Sunday, but the new chamber is unlikely to chall…
Islamic State battles insurgents as Syria army prepares assault
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Islamic State militants battled rival insurgent groups on Wednesday north of the city of Aleppo, where officials say the Syrian army is preparing an offensive of its own backed by Iranian soldiers and Russian jets.
China slaps one-year ban on imports of African ivory hunting trophies
BEIJING (Reuters) – China slapped a one-year ban on African ivory hunting trophy imports, the state forestry authority said on Thursday ahead of a trip by President Xi Jinping to Britain, where members of the royal family have urged China to crack down…
Chinese admiral visits Iran, wants closer defense cooperation
BEIJING (Reuters) – China wants to deepen military ties with Iran, a senior Chinese admiral was quoted as saying on Thursday after a meeting with Iran’s defense minister in Tehran.
Japan restarts second reactor at Sendai nuclear plant
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan restarted a second reactor at the Sendai nuclear plant on the southwestern island of Kyushu on Thursday, as the government pushes ahead with an unpopular return to atomic energy in the wake of the 2011 Fukushima disaster.
Surging Canadian Liberals ask for majority mandate in next week’s election
HAMILTON, Ontario (Reuters) – Canadian Liberal leader Justin Trudeau, surging in opinion polls in the final stretch of the election campaign, asked voters on Wednesday to give him a majority government on Oct 19 – but insisted he would not get over-con…
Panama prosecutor to charge ex-president with political espionage
PANAMA CITY (Reuters) – A special Panamanian prosecutor is planning to charge former President Ricardo Martinelli with running an illegal political espionage ring during his administration using public funds, according to an indictment seen by Reuters …
Niger imposes state of emergency on region hit by Boko Haram
NIAMEY (Reuters) – Niger imposed a state of emergency on the southeastern region of Diffa on Wednesday where at least 40 people have been killed in recent weeks in attacks blamed on the Islamist militant group Boko Haram.
U.S. urges release of rights lawyer in growing crackdown
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States on Wednesday called on China to release human rights lawyer Zhang Kai and said it was concerned by reports that the son of another detained rights lawyer had been put under house arrest.
Outcry over the killing of three transgender women in Argentina
BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – A well-known Argentine activist for the rights of lesbians, gays, bisexual and transgender people (LGBTI) was found dead in her Buenos Aires apartment on Tuesday, the third transgender woman to have died violently in the countr…
