Lebanon’s deadlocked politicians fail again to choose president
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Lebanese parliamentarians failed on Monday in their sixth attempt to elect a new president, extending the political vacuum that emerged when former President Michel Suleiman’s term ended two weeks ago.
Child graves prompt Irish to ask why so many babies died in Church care
CASTLEPOLLARD Ireland (Reuters) – In the leafy grounds of a center for the disabled in rural central Ireland, a small tombstone hints at the building’s previous role as a “mother-and-baby home”. It reads: “In Memory of God’s Special Angels”.
U.S. arms could create Syria ‘warlords’, rebel commander says
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – U.S. arms supplies to Syrian rebels may create Somali-style warlords and are undermining Washington’s allies in the rebels’ exile military command, the former Syrian army general who leads it said.
Israeli spy general says Iran serious in negotiations on nuclear deal
HERZLIYA Israel (Reuters) – Iran is negotiating seriously on a deal to curb its disputed nuclear program, a senior Israeli intelligence officer said on Monday in a shift of tone from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s scepticism.
Second tanker of Kurdish oil leaves Turkey despite Baghdad protest
ANKARA/LONDON (Reuters) – A second shipment of Iraqi Kurdish crude has sailed from the Turkish port of Ceyhan, industry and government sources said, increasing the stakes in a battle with Baghdad over control of oil sales from the autonomous region.
Libyan court says PM’s election invalid, raising hopes of end to stalemate
TRIPOLI (Reuters) – Libya’s Supreme Court ruled on Monday that parliament’s election of Prime Minister Ahmed Maiteeq a month ago was unconstitutional, a ruling that could reduce volatile political tensions in the major OPEC member state.
Five jailed for murder of Russian reporter, but son asks: on whose orders?
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Five men received long prison terms on Monday for the killing of prominent Kremlin critic Anna Politkovskaya after a trial that failed to reveal who masterminded the Russian journalist’s murder.
Syria’s Assad grants amnesty after re-election
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syrian President Bashar al-Assad announced a wide-ranging amnesty on Monday, less than a week after he was re-elected to another seven-year term in the midst of civil war.
Iran’s Rouhani in Turkey says tackling ‘terrorism’ a priority
ANKARA (Reuters) – President Hassan Rouhani, whose country’s relations with Turkey have been strained by the Syrian civil war, said in Ankara on Monday Iran would make tackling extremism, sectarian conflicts and terrorism its chief objective.
Africa’s sports bars, TV shacks step up security for World Cup
KAMPALA/ABUJA (Reuters) – Guards search customers and peer into bags at Kampala’s Kyadondo bar, almost exactly four years after militants set off explosives in a sports ground outside, killing dozens of fans watching the last World Cup final on a giant…
