Rousseff gains on Silva a week from Brazil election: poll
RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) – President Dilma Rousseff gained on opposition candidate Marina Silva in a likely runoff to the Oct. 5 presidential election, a new poll said on Friday.
Islamic State tightens siege of Syria town, more Europeans join alliance
KARACA Turkey/BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Islamic State fighters tightened their siege of a town on Syria’s border with Turkey on Friday despite U.S.-led air strikes aimed at defeating the militants in both Syria and Iraq, in a coalition which has now drawn wi…
Venezuelan workers occupy abandoned Clorox plant
VALLES DEL TUY Venezuela (Reuters) – Hundreds of workers on Friday were occupying two plants belonging to Clorox Co, the U.S. cleaning products maker that has left Venezuela because of the difficult economic conditions.
Cuban cabinet change aims to boost flagging economy
HAVANA (Reuters) – With Cuba’s economy flagging, President Raul Castro has turned to his most trusted economic adviser, Marino Murillo, granting him more authority to carry out ambitious reforms to the socialist economy.
Pakistan’s Sharif criticizes India over collapse of Kashmir talks
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif criticized India in his address to the U.N. General Assembly in New York on Friday for withdrawing from planned peace talks last month over the disputed region of Kashmir.
U.N. aviation task force only using public info in conflict project
MONTREAL (Reuters) – A U.N. aviation agency task force, developing pilot programs to help airlines and states assess risks above conflict zones, will focus on information that is already public, and not confidential intelligence, its chair said.
Latins, Europe unite at U.N. to back persecuted gays
GENEVA (Reuters) – Latin American and European countries united on Friday to push a resolution on ending violence against homosexuals through the United Nations Human Rights Council, despite strong opposition from Islamic and African states.
Palestinian president urges ‘firm timetable’ to end occupation
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – There is no value in peace talks with Israel unless the goal is ending its 47-year occupation of the Palestinian territories within a “firm timetable”, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told the United Nations General Assem…
U.S.-led strikes pressure al Qaeda’s Syria group to join with Islamic State
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Al Qaeda’s affiliate in Syria, the Nusra Front, is facing mounting pressure from its own members to reconcile with its rival Islamic State and confront a common enemy after U.S.-led air strikes hit both groups this week.
Ukraine president sets 2020 as EU target date, defends peace plan
KIEV (Reuters) – President Petro Poroshenko proclaimed reforms on Thursday spanning all aspects of life to make strife-torn Ukraine fit for European Union membership, warning his people that without reform they would face a future “alone with Russia.”
