Khamenei tells Iran armed forces to build up ‘irrespective’ of diplomacy
DUBAI (Reuters) – Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Sunday the armed forces should increase their combat capability regardless of political considerations, in an apparent allusion to continuing nuclear talks with the West aimed at ea…
Russians march through Moscow to protest healthcare reforms
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Over a thousand Russians marched through central Moscow on Sunday to protest against reforms to the healthcare system and to demand better wages and working conditions for doctors.
Colombian president says rebels free hostages including general
BOGOTA (Reuters) – Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said Marxist FARC rebels had freed an army general and two others on Sunday, paving the way for peace talks to resume in the quest to end five decades of conflict.
Canada’s Jean chosen to lead organization of Francophone states
DAKAR (Reuters) – Canadian candidate Michaelle Jean, a former governor general of Canada, was chosen as the next head of the international organization of Francophone nations (OIF) at a summit in Senegal on Sunday, the OIF said in a statement.
Pope says Islamist violence in Syria and Iraq is ‘grave sin against God’
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Pope Francis said Islamic militants were carrying out a “profoundly grave sin against God” in Syria and Iraq, calling on Sunday for inter-religious dialogue and action against poverty to help end the conflicts there.
China’s Xinjiang passes rules, plans fines to curb unrest: Xinhua
BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s Xinjiang region has banned the practice of religion in government buildings and will fine those who use the Internet to ‘undermine national unity’, in a package of regulations aimed at combating separatism in the north-weste…
Central African militia says to lay down arms, become political party
DAKAR (Reuters) – The ‘anti-balaka’ militia in Central African Republic, formed in response to abuses by mostly Muslim rebels who seized power last year, said it would lay down its weapons and become a political movement.
Swiss voters reject gold initiative
ZURICH (Reuters) – Swiss voters overwhelmingly rejected proposals on Sunday that would have forced the central bank to buy huge amounts of gold and imposed strict curbs on immigration, in what is seen as a result strengthening Swiss ties with the Europ…
Swiss voters reject gold initiative
ZURICH (Reuters) – Swiss voters overwhelmingly rejected proposals on Sunday that would have forced the central bank to buy huge amounts of gold and imposed strict curbs on immigration, in what is seen as a result strengthening Swiss ties with the Europ…
UK’s Osborne pledges pre-election healthcare funding boost
LONDON (Reuters) – British finance minister George Osborne announced a 2 billion-pound annual rise in healthcare spending on Sunday, seeking to counter attacks on his Conservative party’s handling of the health service six months before an election.
