Fiji says 45 peacekeepers held by Syrian rebels to be released soon
SUVA (Reuters) – The head of the Fijian army said on Wednesday he expected 45 Fijian peacekeepers seized by the al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front on the Golan Heights two weeks ago would be released within days.
Australia says may raise terrorism threat level over Iraq, Syria
SYDNEY (Reuters) – The head of Australia’s national security agency said he was “very seriously” considering raising the country’s terrorism alert level to “high” due to the involvement of Australians in militant groups and the spiraling conflicts in I…
Donahue may bring tough love to Puerto Rico power agency
NEW YORK/WILMINGTON DELAWARE (Reuters) – Puerto Rico’s indebted power authority better get used to some tough love from its new chief restructuring officer, Lisa Donahue, who has earned a reputation for decisiveness, hard work and a cold-blooded devoti…
Brazil’s Rousseff cuts opponent’s lead in presidential race
BRASILIA (Reuters) – Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has recovered ground and would be tied in popular support with opposition politician Marina Silva in a runoff vote in October, a new poll showed on Tuesday, though a festering corruption scandal t…
Al Qaeda’s shadowy new ’emir’ in South Asia handed tough job
MULTAN Pakistan/ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistani militant Asim Umar has been handed a very tough job.
Ukraine death toll edges up despite ceasefire, more POWs freed
KIEV/MARIUPOL Ukraine (Reuters) – Five Ukrainian servicemen have been killed in the past four days, the military said on Tuesday, underscoring the strains in a ceasefire between government forces and pro-Russian separatists that officials insist is sti…
Quenching Beijing’s thirst may stunt regional growth
BEIJING (Reuters) – China is about to realize a dream of Communist leader Mao Zedong to redirect China’s river flows to benefit Beijing and the dry north, but critics say the resources grab by the politically powerful capital will harm regional China.
Cuba estimates total damage of U.S. embargo at $116.8 billion
HAVANA (Reuters) – U.S. economic sanctions against Cuba have cost the island nation $3.9 billion in foreign trade over the past year, helping to raise the overall estimate of economic damage to $116.8 billion over the past 55 years, Cuba said on Tuesda…
Iraq’s Shi’ite militia, Kurds use U.S. air strikes to further own agendas
SULEIMAN BEG Iraq (Reuters) – A small group of people pick through putrefying human remains laid out on plastic sheets by the side of a road in northern Iraq, searching for any trace of missing friends and relatives.
Lufthansa will offer striking pilots more details on retirement plan
BERLIN/FRANKFURT (Reuters) – Lufthansa said it would offer pilots more definite details of an early-retirement package as it seeks to avert further costly strikes after Germany’s flagship airline saw three walkouts announced in the space of two weeks.
