On election eve, ruined Homs shows cost of Syria’s war
HOMS Syria (Reuters) – Less than a month after the last rebel fighters retreated from the center of Homs, the sound of hammering echoes across its narrow, ancient streets as authorities rush to restore major landmarks.
South African court deals blow to striking platinum union
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – A South African labor court threw out an urgent application on Monday by the AMCU union to stop platinum firms communicating directly with miners, as both sides deliberated over government proposals to end a crippling five-mont…
At least 20 killed, dozens wounded in clashes in Libya’s Benghazi: medics
BENGHAZI Libya (Reuters) – At least 20 people were killed and almost 70 wounded when the Libyan army and forces of a renegade general fought Islamist militants in the eastern city of Benghazi on Monday, medical sources said.
Malawi’s new president aims to rebuild economy
BLANTYRE (Reuters) – Malawi President Peter Mutharika said on Monday economic stability and national unity would be the focus of his government as he became the fifth leader of the southern African state following a disputed election.
Spain’s King Juan Carlos abdicates in favor of son
MADRID (Reuters) – Spain’s King Juan Carlos said on Monday he would abdicate in favor of his more popular son Prince Felipe in an apparent bid to revive the scandal-hit monarchy at a time of economic hardship and growing discontent with the wider polit…
Death toll in fighting in Libya’s Benghazi rises to 18: medics
BENGHAZI Libya (Reuters) – The death toll in heavy fighting between the Libyan army and Islamist militants in the eastern Benghazi city has risen to 18, hospital doctors said on Monday.
Australian PM Abbott to meet Indonesian president as tensions ease
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will meet Australia’s prime minister this week, Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said on Monday, a sign of eased relations between the neighbors.
Suspected robbers in Pakistan say police hacked off their hands
BAHAWALPUR Pakistan (Reuters) – Pakistani police chopped off the left hands of two men accused of theft after they refused to confess to stealing electrical wire and mobile phones, the victims told Reuters on Monday.
Russia signals opposition to Western-backed Syria aid plan
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov signaled on Monday that Russia would oppose a U.N. resolution authorizing cross-border aid deliveries to Syria if it threatened to enforce it by military action.
Russia’s Gazprom gives Kiev extension into next week in gas dispute
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia’s Gazprom gave Ukraine on Monday an extension into next week to resolve a gas price dispute at the heart of the two countries’ confrontation, a day before Moscow was due to switch off the gas unless Kiev paid in advance.
