Lebanese parliament extends own term till 2017 amid protests
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Lebanon’s parliament voted on Wednesday to extend its own mandate until 2017 citing security concerns linked to the civil war in neighboring Syria, but critics including the European Union condemned the move as unconstitutional.
Brazil’s Rousseff to rein in excesses – for a while
BRASILIA (Reuters) – A quick belt-tightening, and then back to business as usual.
Official poll confirms surge of support for newcomer Podemos
MADRID (Reuters) – Spanish political newcomer Podemos would come a close third in a parliamentary election, a closely-watched official poll indicated on Wednesday, confirming a surge of support for the upstart that has shaken up Spain’s two-party syste…
IAEA report to highlight slow headway in Iran nuclear investigation
VIENNA (Reuters) – A U.N. watchdog report this week is expected to show little progress in an investigation into suspected nuclear weapons research by Iran, diplomats said on Wednesday, a potential sticking point in six world powers’ diplomacy with Teh…
Sri Lankan president seeks Supreme Court nod for third term
COLOMBO (Reuters) – Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa has asked the Supreme Court to determine if there is any constitutional obstacle to his becoming president for a third term, something the top lawyers’ association says he can not do.
Eleven children killed when mortars hit Damascus school: monitoring group
BEIRUT (Reuters) – At least 11 children were killed in Damascus when mortars fell on a school in an eastern district of the Syrian capital, a monitoring group said on Wednesday.
Mob lynches Christian couple in Pakistan, dozens arrested
LAHORE Pakistan (Reuters) – Police in Pakistan arrested dozens of people on Wednesday after a mob beat a Christian couple to death and burned their bodies for allegedly desecrating a Koran.
Hong Kong students fine-tune plan to take democracy call to Beijing
HONG KONG (Reuters) – Students calling for full democracy for Chinese-ruled Hong Kong are hoping to take their protest to Communist Party rulers in Beijing and are expected to announce details of their new battle plan on Thursday.
Congress faithful question Gandhi leadership in India
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – Rumblings of dissent are growing against the Gandhi family that leads India’s hapless Congress party, five months after the most resounding electoral defeat in the party’s 129-year history.
West African presidents open talks with Burkina’s military leader
OUAGADOUGOU (Reuters) – A delegation of West African presidents opened talks with Burkina Faso’s new military leader on Wednesday to plot a path to a civilian-led transition in the wake of the resignation of longtime ruler Blaise Compaore last week.
