Tunisia’s assembly finishes new constitution
TUNIS (Reuters) – Tunisia’s national assembly approved the final articles of the country’s new constitution on Thursday, three years after their uprising against autocrat Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali inspired a wave of Arab revolts.
Toronto Mayor Ford stuck in elevator as lunch audience waits
TORONTO (Reuters) – Toronto Mayor Rob Ford lived up his reputation for surprises on Thursday when he got stuck in a hotel elevator for nearly an hour while a room full of the city’s business elite waited impatiently for him to deliver a speech.
Mexican president says Texas execution sets ‘bad precedent’
DAVOS (Reuters) – The execution of Mexican citizen Edgar Tamayo by lethal injection in Texas sets a bad precedent for upholding international law, Mexico’s President Enrique Pena Nieto said on Thursday.
Russia says EU tries to impose ‘alien view’ of homosexuality
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Russia, caught in a pre-Sochi Olympic uproar over gay rights, accuses the European Union in a new report of trying to enforce “an alien view” of homosexuality on other countries.
Syrian opposition looks to future without Assad
GENEVA (Reuters) – Syria’s opposition leader on Thursday laid out his demands for talks on ending the country’s civil war, calling for the creation of a transitional government that does not include President Bashar al-Assad.
Chile and Peru see end to old differences as Hague verdict nears
SANTIAGO/LIMA (Reuters) – A decades-old maritime dispute between Chile and Peru goes to a final ruling next week with both governments hoping it will end one of Latin America’s last big border spats and improve ties between the two trading partners and…
Kerry says Syria’s Assad not ready to go yet
DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) – Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad is not ready to step down yet to make way for a transition government, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Thursday.
Fire hits Canada seniors’ residence; three dead, 30 missing
(Reuters) – At least three people died and 30 were missing after a fire ripped through a wooden three-story residence for the elderly in the Eastern Canadian province of Quebec overnight, police said on Thursday.
At least 15 dead in Central African Republic clashes: Red Cross
BANGUI (Reuters) – At least 15 people were killed in intercommunal violence in Central African Republic’s capital Bangui on Thursday, the head of the local Red Cross said, as the beleaguered country swore in a new leader determined to end waves of kill…
Hague court delays start of Kenyan president’s trial
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Thursday scrapped a planned February 5 start date for the trial of Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta after prosecutors asked for more time to strengthen their case.