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…
Guinea declares public health emergency over Ebola
CONAKRY (Reuters) – Guinea has declared a public health emergency over an Ebola epidemic that has killed more than 1,000 people in three West African states and is sending health workers to all affected border points, a government official said.
Cameron balks at probing supply chain in UK anti-slavery bill: Lawmaker
LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – British Prime Minister David Cameron could have been an anti-slavery hero had he ensured that a draft law to combat slavery contained provisions to prevent the “evil practice” in corporate supply chains, a senior p…
Turkey’s Erdogan signals no let-up in push for stronger presidency
ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkish president-elect Tayyip Erdogan signalled no let-up in his drive to strengthen the powers of the presidency on Thursday and vowed his battle against an Islamic cleric he accuses of plotting against the state would intensify on…
Cameron balks at probing supply chain in UK anti-slavery bill: Lawmaker
LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – British Prime Minister David Cameron could have been an anti-slavery hero had he ensured that a draft law to combat slavery contained provisions to prevent the “evil practice” in corporate supply chains, a senior p…
Electoral reform in Chile passes lower house in key step forward
SANTIAGO (Reuters) – A bill to reform Chile’s dictatorship-era electoral system took an important step forward late Wednesday night, when it was approved by the lower house of Congress.
Plot to kill former Yemeni president with bomb in tunnel under compound foiled -aide
SANAA (Reuters) – An aide to Yemen’s former president Ali Abdullah Saleh said on Thursday his security team had uncovered a plot to kill him with explosives planted in a tunnel running to a mosque inside his residential compound in Sanaa.
U.S. seeking European arms, ammunition for Kurds: officials
WASHINGTON/ROME (Reuters) – The United States is asking European countries to supply arms and ammunition to Kurdish forces fighting jihadists of the Islamic State in Iraq, U.S. and European officials said, signaling a widening of the international role…
