China frees prominent lawyer who defended religious freedom
BEIJING (Reuters) – China freed a prominent human rights lawyer after three years in prison on Thursday, his brother told Reuters, ending the latest period of detention for the religious-freedom campaigner whose treatment attracted international condem…
Ukraine says ceasefire at MH17 crash site still in force
KIEV (Reuters) – Ukraine’s government said on Friday the ceasefire with separatist rebels at the crash site of Malaysian airliner MH17 was still in force despite an announcement that it would be suspended until recovery work there resumed.
Gaza rocket fire towards Israel resumes as ceasefire expires
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Palestinian militants resumed firing rockets into Israel from the Gaza Strip on Friday, Israeli police and municipal officials said, after a 72-hour ceasefire expired.
No deal in Gaza talks in final hour, Palestinians could reject: source
CAIRO (Reuters) – No deal has been reached in Egyptian-mediated talks over Gaza an hour before a 72-hour ceasefire is due to expire and Palestinian factions could reject an extension of the truce under the current terms, a Palestinian source in Cairo s…
Obama authorizes air strikes in Iraq
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama said on Thursday he has authorized air strikes against Islamist militants in Iraq to protect American personnel and launched humanitarian assistance to prevent a genocide of members of a religious mino…
Islamic State surges in North Iraq, near Kurdistan border
ARBIL Iraq (Reuters) – Islamist militants surged across northern Iraq toward the capital of the Kurdish region on Thursday, sending tens of thousands of Christians fleeing for their lives, in an offensive that prompted talk of Western military action.
Kenya downplays security risks as it courts U.S. investment
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, in Washington this week to court Western investors, has sought to downplay a spate of violent attacks tied to militants in neighboring Somalia and their impact on Kenya’s economy.
Colombia president starts new term, warns FARC to halt attacks
BOGOTA (Reuters) – Colombia’s President Juan Manuel Santos was sworn in to a second term on Thursday promising to bring peace and equality to the nation, but warned Marxist rebels that talks to end five decades of war could rupture if hostilities again…
Brazil’s Neves narrows Rousseff lead for Oct vote: IBOPE poll
BRASILIA (Reuters) – Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff would win re-election in a likely second-round run-off in October, but main challenger Aecio Neves has narrowed her lead, a new poll by the IBOPE polling institute showed on Thursday.
Moscow bans Western food imports; Russian quits as Ukraine rebel chief
MOSCOW/DONETSK Ukraine (Reuters) – Moscow banned imports of most food from the West on Thursday in retaliation against sanctions over Ukraine, a stronger than expected measure that isolates Russian consumers from world trade to a degree unseen since So…
