Macau poll reveals democracy urges amid Hong Kong row with China
HONG KONG Sep 3(Reuters) – An unofficial referendum on democracy in the southern Chinese gambling hub of Macau showed 89 percent of nearly 9,000 people who took part don’t trust their leader, who was re-elected on Sunday as the sole candidate.
Syrian forces escalate assault on rebel-held Damascus district
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syrian forces carried out their fiercest assault on the rebel stronghold of Jobar in Damascus since the start of the three-year war, conducting at least 27 air strikes on Tuesday and killing a child, according to activists and rights…
U.S. strikes Somali militant camp in bid to kill al Shabaab leader
MOGADISHU (Reuters) – A U.S. military airstrike in Somalia has targeted the leader of the Islamist militant group al Shabaab, Somali and U.S. officials said on Tuesday, but they added it may take time to determine whether Ahmed Abdi Godane was killed.
Judge orders immediate release from Spanish jail of ill British boy’s parents
MADRID (Reuters) – A Spanish judge has ordered the immediate release from custody of two British parents detained in Madrid for taking their seriously ill child out of hospital, a court source said on Tuesday, speeding a reunion with their five-year-ol…
Ukraine rebels say they are poised to recapture Donetsk airport
BRUSSELS/DONETSK Ukraine (Reuters) – EU officials proposed sanctions on Tuesday to starve Russian firms of cash as punishment for Moscow’s role in Ukraine, where rebels said they were storming Donetsk airport, potentially their biggest prize since turn…
Islamic State issues video of beheading of U.S. hostage
DUBAI (Reuters) – The Islamic State militant group released a video on Tuesday purporting to show the beheading of a second American hostage, journalist Steven Sotloff, raising the stakes in its confrontation with Washington over U.S. air strikes on it…
U.S. strikes Somali militant camp in bid to kill al Shabaab leader
MOGADISHU (Reuters) – A U.S. military airstrike in Somalia has targeted the leader of the Islamist militant group al Shabaab, Somali and U.S. officials said on Tuesday, but they added it may take time to determine whether Ahmed Abdi Godane was killed.
Canada, China quietly hold top-level meeting on strained ties
OTTAWA (Reuters) – Senior officials from Canada and China met quietly in Ottawa last week to discuss relations that have deteriorated so badly that they could threaten Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s planned visit to China in November.
U.S. military may move Niger drone base to Sahara desert city
WASHINGTON/NIAMEY (Reuters) – The United States is preparing a possible redeployment of its drones in Niger to set up a forward base in the Sahara closer to Islamist militants blamed for attacks across the region, U.S. military and Defense Department o…
Dutchman praised for MH17 crash handling in race for top EU job
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – Frans Timmermans, the Netherlands’ nominee to join the European Commission, is an experienced Brussels hand who represents his country’s last best hope of securing a top job in the European Union’s executive.
