Under artillery fire, Ukraine rebels switch their leaders
DONETSK Ukraine (Reuters) – Two of the most senior rebels battling government troops in eastern Ukraine quit on Thursday, deepening the disarray in a pro-Moscow separatist movement that is being pushed back by an Ukrainian military offensive.
Rights group says Chinese police open fire on Tibetan protesters
BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese police have opened fire on Tibetan demonstrators in southwestern China, wounding 10 people, after the Tibetans protested against the detention of a respected village leader, a Tibetan rights group said.
Pakistan’s Quetta airport hit by deadly bomb and gun attack
QUETTA Pakistan (Reuters) – A man was killed and two policemen were wounded in an attack on Quetta airport in western Pakistan on Thursday night, officials said, but the attackers did not breach the perimeter.
Brazilian politician still in shock, party stunned by candidate’s death
BRASILIA (Reuters) – Brazilian environmentalist Marina Silva is still in shock from the death of presidential candidate Eduardo Campos and has not begun to consider whether she will run in his place, a close friend said on Thursday.
North Korea fires three short-range rockets as Pope visits South Korea
SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korea fired three short-range rockets off its east coast on Thursday, South Korea’s Ministry of Defense said, shortly before Pope Francis arrived in Seoul on his first visit to Asia.
Family of Canadian couple detained by China hires Beijing lawyers
VANCOUVER (Reuters) – The son of a Canadian couple detained in China on charges of espionage said the family had hired a lawyer in Beijing because the Canadian government had not been able to help the family visit or communicate with his father, a Chri…
Pakistani cleric, opposition leader begin protest marches
LAHORE Pakistan (Reuters) – Tens of thousands of anti-government protesters began a march to the Pakistani capital Islamabad on Thursday, raising fears for political stability and civilian rule in the nuclear-armed South Asian country.
Syrian army takes town near Damascus in blow to rebels
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syrian government forces backed by Lebanon’s Hezbollah took control of a town just outside Damascus from Islamist fighters on Thursday, a blow to the rebels who had held it for more than a year.
Volatile Silva could upend Brazil’s presidential race
SAO PAULO (Reuters) – The late entry of environmentalist Marina Silva into Brazil’s presidential race following the death of her running mate could rally young voters and those upset over a sluggish economy and corruption, but introduce new uncertainty…
South Sudan leaders show little appetite for peace deal: U.N.
MOGADISHU (Reuters) – South Sudan President Salva Kiir and rebel chief Riek Machar show little interest in making a deal to end months of fighting that has brought the nation to the brink of “man-made” famine, U.N. Security Council envoys said during a…