Obama says Myanmar’s 2015 vote needs to be free, inclusive and transparent
NAYPYITAW (Reuters) – Elections in Myanmar in 2015 need to be free, inclusive and transparent, U.S. President Barack Obama told the Southeast Asian nation’s President Thein Sein at a meeting on Thursday.
Venezuela’s ruling socialists set up hotline to nab ‘infiltrators’
CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuela’s ruling socialists have set up a telephone hotline to denounce “infiltrators” they say are jeopardizing the legacy of beloved late leader Hugo Chavez by seeking to destroy the socialist government.
Dutch mayor urges action on returning jihadis after arrests
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – Dutch cities need more powers to tackle battle-hardened jihadis returning home from the Middle East, a mayor said on Thursday, a day after authorities announced the arrest of 12 people with suspected links to militant Islamists.
Jordanian, Israeli leaders to discuss Jerusalem unrest with Kerry
AMMAN (Reuters) – Jordan’s King Abdullah and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet in Amman later on Thursday with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to try to ease strife among Israelis and Palestinians in Jerusalem.
Turkey seeks to bolster global influence with G20 role
ISTANBUL/ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkey aims to use its approaching presidency of the G20 to promote its image as a global economic power and alleviate a sense of a country increasingly isolated on the world stage and buffeted by conflict on its southern fr…
Armenia and Azerbaijan urged to honor truce after helicopter shot down
BAKU/YEREVAN (Reuters) – The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) urged Armenia and Azerbaijan to honor their 20-year-old truce on Thursday, after Azeri forces shot down a military helicopter from a disputed region controlled by e…
France urges immediate reversal of Israel settlement decision
PARIS (Reuters) – France called on Israel to “immediately” reverse a decision to approve the building of 200 new settlements in East Jerusalem, a move it said directly threatened a two-state peace solution.
German court jails four men in al Qaeda cell for planning attack
DUESSELDORF Germany (Reuters) – A German court convicted four men on Thursday of being members of or supporting al Qaeda and planning a potentially lethal attack on German soil, handing them jail sentences of up to nine years.
Russia says Nov. 24 deadline in doubt in Iran talks
MOSCOW (Reuters) – World powers and Iran may not be able to secure a deal on curbing Tehran’s nuclear program before their Nov. 24 deadline, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said on Thursday.
South African lawmakers berate Speaker over Zuma home upgrade
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South African lawmakers chanted “you must go” at National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete on Thursday as they aired corruption allegations over a state-funded security upgrade to President Jacob Zuma’s home.
