Colombia’s Santos says backs marijuana use for medical purposes
BOGOTA (Reuters) – Colombia’s President Juan Manuel Santos said on Thursday he supported the use of marijuana for medical use as a means to ease the suffering of terminally ill patients and deprive criminals of profits from the illegal trade in the dru…
U.N. chief Ban names Spanish diplomat as new Libya envoy
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday named Spanish diplomat Bernardino Leon as the world body’s special envoy to Libya, which is experiencing the worst fighting between armed factions since the 2011 fall of Muammar …
Under artillery fire, Ukraine rebels switch their leaders
DONETSK Ukraine (Reuters) – Two of the most senior rebels battling government troops in eastern Ukraine quit on Thursday, deepening the disarray in a pro-Moscow separatist movement that is being pushed back by an Ukrainian military offensive.
Rights group says Chinese police open fire on Tibetan protesters
BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese police have opened fire on Tibetan demonstrators in southwestern China, wounding 10 people, after the Tibetans protested against the detention of a respected village leader, a Tibetan rights group said.
Pakistan’s Quetta airport hit by deadly bomb and gun attack
QUETTA Pakistan (Reuters) – A man was killed and two policemen were wounded in an attack on Quetta airport in western Pakistan on Thursday night, officials said, but the attackers did not breach the perimeter.
Brazilian politician still in shock, party stunned by candidate’s death
BRASILIA (Reuters) – Brazilian environmentalist Marina Silva is still in shock from the death of presidential candidate Eduardo Campos and has not begun to consider whether she will run in his place, a close friend said on Thursday.
North Korea fires three short-range rockets as Pope visits South Korea
SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korea fired three short-range rockets off its east coast on Thursday, South Korea’s Ministry of Defense said, shortly before Pope Francis arrived in Seoul on his first visit to Asia.
Family of Canadian couple detained by China hires Beijing lawyers
VANCOUVER (Reuters) – The son of a Canadian couple detained in China on charges of espionage said the family had hired a lawyer in Beijing because the Canadian government had not been able to help the family visit or communicate with his father, a Chri…
Pakistani cleric, opposition leader begin protest marches
LAHORE Pakistan (Reuters) – Tens of thousands of anti-government protesters began a march to the Pakistani capital Islamabad on Thursday, raising fears for political stability and civilian rule in the nuclear-armed South Asian country.
Syrian army takes town near Damascus in blow to rebels
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syrian government forces backed by Lebanon’s Hezbollah took control of a town just outside Damascus from Islamist fighters on Thursday, a blow to the rebels who had held it for more than a year.
