Turkish coal mine explosion kills over 150, hundreds trapped
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – An explosion and fire in a coal mine in western Turkey killed at least 151 miners and trapped hundreds more on Tuesday, with the death toll expected to rise in the country’s worst mining accident for more than two decades.
France says Syria used chlorine in 14 recent attacks
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Syria may have used chemical weapons involving chlorine in 14 attacks in recent months, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said on Tuesday, expressing concerns that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is hiding toxic weapons.
U.S. slaps sanctions on five Central African Republic officials tied to violence
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama has imposed sanctions on Central African Republic’s former president, François Bozizé, and four other men linked to violence and human rights abuses in the country, the White House said on Tuesday.
Independence battle tightens as Scots chide negative pro-UK campaign: poll
LONDON (Reuters) – More Scottish voters are favoring independence as criticism grows that the campaign to keep them in the United Kingdom is too negative, according to an opinion poll on Wednesday.
Chinese general tours U.S. carrier as maritime tensions fester
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A top Chinese general toured an American aircraft carrier on Tuesday at the start of a U.S. visit expected to expose tensions over territorial disputes between Beijing and U.S. allies in the South and East China Seas.
Separatists kill seven Ukraine soldiers in heaviest loss for Kiev forces
KIEV/MOSCOW (Reuters) – Pro-Russian separatists ambushed Ukrainian troops on Tuesday, killing seven in the heaviest loss of life for government forces in a single clash since Kiev sent soldiers to put down a rebellion in the country’s east.
Sudanese woman may face death for choosing Christianity over Islam
KHARTOUM (Reuters) – A Sudanese court gave a 27-year-old woman until Thursday to abandon her newly adopted Christian faith and return to Islam or face a death sentence, judicial sources said on Monday.
Frustrated Syria mediator Brahimi to step down, U.N. seeks replacement
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Syria mediator Lakhdar Brahimi will step down on May 31, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Tuesday, blaming an international deadlock over how to end the three-year civil war in the country for hampering his bid to b…
Guatemala eyes alternative crop subsidies to dampen poppy allure
ANTIGUA, Guatemala (Reuters) – Guatemala is considering subsidizing alternative crops for poppy farmers in order to curb the production of narcotics and raise funds for social programs, a senior government official said on Tuesday.
Aviation industry to work on voluntary tracking ahead of U.N. rules
MONTREAL (Reuters) – The United Nations aviation agency said on Tuesday that the industry would voluntarily begin to improve aircraft tracking while the agency develops mandatory standards for tracking following the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines f…
