U.N. urges Libyan factions to agree unity government this month
GENEVA/TRIPOLI (Reuters) – The United Nations special envoy to Libya called on the country’s warring parties on Tuesday to agree on a national unity government by the end of August and endorse it with a vote in September.
President Sisi establishes economic zone around Egypt’s Suez Canal: MENA
CAIRO (Reuters) – President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi issued a decree establishing an economic zone for Egypt’s Suez Canal, the country’s state news agency said on Tuesday.
Brazil’s Senate, Rousseff to propose market-friendly agenda
BRASILIA (Reuters) – Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff and leading senators plan to introduce an agenda of market-friendly proposals this week, in a move one senior official said was aimed at countering a revolt by lower chamber lawmakers.
Iraq parliament votes to transform ruling system in boost for Abadi
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraq’s parliament voted unanimously on Tuesday for the biggest shakeup in its governing system since the U.S. military occupation, eliminating entire layers of government and giving Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi new powers.
Senators urge Obama to press Xi on rights during visit
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Leading U.S. senators on Tuesday urged President Barack Obama to use the visit to Washington next month of Chinese President Xi Jinping to take him to task for an “extraordinary assault” on human rights.
Greece and lenders agree bailout, shares rally
ATHENS (Reuters) – Greece and its international lenders reached an 85 billion euro bailout agreement on Tuesday after nailing down the terms of new loans needed to save the country from financial ruin.
German minister expects far more than 400,000 asylum seekers this year
DEGGENDORF, Germany (Reuters) – German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said on Tuesday that far more asylum seekers would arrive in Germany this year than the 400,000 first-time applicants his ministry had previously expected.
Islamic State releases 22 of more than 150 Christian captives: monitor
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Islamic State has released 22 of the dozens of Assyrian Christians it abducted from villages in northeastern Syria earlier this year, a monitoring group said on Tuesday.
Russia, Saudis fail in talks to agree on fate of Syria’s Assad
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia and Saudi Arabia failed in talks on Tuesday to overcome their differences on the fate of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a central dispute in Syria’s civil war that shows no sign of abating despite renewed diplomacy.
Amnesty endorses controversial policy on decriminalizing sex work
LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Amnesty International voted on Tuesday to endorse a contentious plan to support the decriminalization of sex work, a move that will lead to pressure on governments by the prominent rights group not to punish millio…
