Canada’s Harper, in China, under pressure from all sides
HANGZHOU China (Reuters) – Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper arrived in China on Thursday, facing the delicate task of improving economic ties with a major trading partner without sparking voter backlash or a revolt within his own party a year ahe…
Libya faces chaos as top court rejects elected assembly
TRIPOLI (Reuters) – Libya’s Supreme Court declared the internationally recognized parliament on Thursday as unconstitutional, in a ruling likely to fuel further chaos in the north African oil producing nation.
France’s Hollande pledges no new taxes ‘on anyone’ in 2015
PARIS (Reuters) – French President Francois Hollande said on Thursday that no new taxes would be imposed on anyone in France in 2015, as he sought to address widespread frustration over high taxes halfway through his presidency.
Syrian government forces retake gas field from Islamic State: monitor
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syrian government forces and allied armed groups recaptured a gas field from Islamic State fighters on Thursday, a monitoring group said.
Putin discusses ‘deterioration’ in east Ukraine, Kiev denies fresh offensive
KIEV (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks with top security chiefs on Thursday over a “deterioration of the situation” in eastern Ukraine after pro-Russian rebels there accused Kiev of launching a new offensive in violation of a ceas…
U.S. launches fresh strikes on Khorasan group in Syria
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States said it conducted air strikes on Wednesday night against the so-called Khorasan group, an al Qaeda-linked militant faction based in Syria, and said the group was plotting to attack Europe or the United States.
Vandal smashes Colombia plaque unveiled by Prince Charles
BOGOTA (Reuters) – A 69-year-old Colombian engineer smashed a plaque commemorating the death in 1741 of thousands of English soldiers in the coastal city of Cartagena just days after it was inaugurated by Prince Charles, said the mayor of the city who …
Putin blames politics for falling energy prices
MOSCOW (Reuters) – President Vladimir Putin has suggested that the fall in global oil prices that is hurting Russia’s economy was caused in part by political manipulation.
Clashes end Belgian unions’ first major protest against new government
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Belgian police and a few hundred protesters, including many dockers, clashed in central Brussels on Thursday after a largely peaceful march against reforms and cost-cutting measures of the new center-right government.
IGAD mediator says not keen on sanctions in South Sudan
ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) – The chief mediator between South Sudan’s warring rivals said he was not eager to back penalties against them, even though fighting had broken out again and the United States was trying to impose international sanctions in the co…
