Mexican cartel ‘Queen of the Pacific’ to be released from prison
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – A jailed Mexican drug smuggler known as the “Queen of the Pacific” is to be released after partially completing a five-year sentence on money-laundering charges, the attorney general’s office said on Saturday.
Australian PM brings forward vote on leadership to Monday
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, fighting for his political life, said he would bring forward to Monday a meeting of his parliamentary colleagues to consider a challenge to his leadership, in an effort to halt a destabilizing i…
As Baghdad lifts curfew, bombs are reminder of country at war
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Five blasts across Baghdad on Saturday tempered Iraqis’ anticipation of a more relaxed and accessible capital as the government prepared to lift a night-time curfew that has kept the city on a war-time footing for more than a decade…
Libyan factions to resume talks on Tuesday; Benghazi death toll hits 700
TRIPOLI/BENGHAZI (Reuters) – Libya’s warring factions will resume U.N.-sponsored talks on Tuesday inside the country to try to resolve a struggle between two governments and parliaments, officials from both sides said on Saturday.
Tunisia arrests 32 militant Islamists planning ‘spectacular’ attacks
TUNIS (Reuters) – Tunisia arrested 32 militant Islamists, some of them returning from fighting in Syria, who planned “spectacular” attacks, officials said on Saturday.
Merkel defends Ukraine arms stance in face of U.S. criticism
MUNICH (Reuters) – Germany’s Angela Merkel said on Saturday that sending arms to help Ukraine fight pro-Russian separatists would not solve the crisis there, drawing sharp rebukes from U.S. politicians who accused Berlin of turning its back on an ally …
Brazil’s Rousseff popularity plunges amid scandal, bad economy
SAO PAULO (Reuters) – Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff’s popularity has plunged by nearly half since her recent re-election as a severe government corruption scandal, an economic slowdown and surging prices for electricity, gasoline and bus fares lef…
African nations pledge 8,700 for anti-Boko Haram force
YAOUNDE (Reuters) – African nations pulling together a regional force to fight Nigeria’s Boko Haram militants on Saturday pledged 8,700 soldiers, policemen and civilians, an increase from earlier estimates for the mission.
Ex-Mauritius PM Ramgoolam arrested in conspiracy probe
PORT LOUIS (Reuters) – The former prime minister of Mauritius, Navinchandra Ramgoolam, was arrested over the weekend by police on suspicion of conspiracy and money laundering, and later released on bail.
Islamic State ‘sentenced’ U.S. hostage to death last year: activist
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The young American hostage who Islamic State says was killed in a Jordanian air strike was condemned to death by the militant group last year, according to an American Muslim activist.
