Brazil’s Rousseff picks allies for second-term cabinet
BRASILIA (Reuters) – Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff appointed 13 new ministers on Tuesday, choosing allied politicians in a cabinet reshuffle while trying to avoid any names that could be linked to a widening corruption scandal at state-run oil com…
Without help, Libya could become next Syria, foreign minister says
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Libya, torn by a growing political divide that threatens to engulf its oilfields, could become the next Syria if it does not patch its divided government and get help battling Islamic militants, the country’s foreign minister sai…
Sony Pictures moves to release ‘The Interview’ in about-face
LOS ANGELES/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Sony Pictures will allow “The Interview” to play in some U.S. theaters on Christmas Day, reversing its decision to pull the film, after coming under criticism from President Barack Obama and others for caving into pre…
U.S. calls planned Thai poll delay to 2016 ‘unwise’
BANGKOK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A general election to return Thailand to democracy will be held in February 2016 at the earliest, a deputy prime minister said after talks with a U.S. diplomat on Tuesday, a delay Washington later called “unwise and unjus…
Anti-terror police arrest two in Sydney week after siege
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australian counter-terrorism police said on Wednesday they arrested two men in Sydney, eight days after a 16-hour siege in a central city cafe ended with the deaths of two hostages and a gunman with radical Islamist sympathies.
Hungary PM Orban: U.S. uses corruption charges to gain influence
BUDAPEST (Reuters) – The United States is using corruption allegations against some Hungarian public officials as a “cover story” to boost its influence in central Europe amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Tuesday.
Colombia army launches search for soldier kidnapped by rebels
BOGOTA (Reuters) – Colombia’s army has launched a search operation for a soldier kidnapped during an ambush by leftist FARC rebels last week in which five of his colleagues were killed, a spokesperson said on Tuesday.
U.N. says Libya rivals agree ‘in principle’ to peace talks
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The United Nations informed the Security Council on Tuesday that rival factions in Libya have agreed “in principle” to hold a new round of peace talks aimed at ending the escalating political crisis early in the new year.
Global arms trade pact to take force; U.S. Senate has not ratified
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – A global arms trade treaty that aims to regulate the $85 billion industry and keep weapons out of the hands of human rights abusers and criminals will enter into force on Wednesday, though the U.S. Senate has not yet ratified…
U.N. bars visitor with ‘Black Lives Matter’ patch on coat
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The United Nations barred a visitor from entering the world body’s headquarters last week because she was wearing a patch on her coat with the words “Black Lives Matter,” saying on Tuesday that the ban is in keeping with long…
