Indonesia starts election campaign, voters set to choose radical change
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesia’s raucous election season kicks off on Sunday with the promise of a fresh style of leadership in the world’s third largest democracy, whose economic promise has been sapped by rampant graft, confusing policy and weak rule….
Syrian forces enter last rebel bastion near Lebanese border
BEIRUT (Reuters) – The Syrian army entered eastern districts of the town of Yabroud, the last rebel bastion near the Lebanese border north of Damascus, on Saturday and tightened its grip on the remaining rebels there from the al Qaeda-linked Nusra Fron…
Crimea to vote on joining Russia, Moscow wields U.N. veto
KIEV/SIMFEROPOL, Ukraine (Reuters) – Pro-Russian leaders in Crimea made final preparations on Saturday for a referendum widely expected to transfer control of the Black Sea region from Ukraine to Moscow, despite an outcry and threat of sanctions from t…
Venezuela’s Maduro gives ultimatum to Caracas protesters
CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro warned protesters in Caracas on Saturday to clear a square they have made their stronghold, or face eviction by security forces.
Serbia’s centre-right to tighten grip on power, promising reform
BELGRADE (Reuters) – Serbia’s center-right Progressive Party, led by former ultra-nationalist Aleksandar Vucic, bids in an election on Sunday to cement its grip on power for the next four years as the ex-Yugoslav republic embarks on talks to join the E…
Malaysian PM says lost airliner was diverted deliberately
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – A missing Malaysian airliner appears to have been deliberately steered off course after someone on board shut down its communications, Prime Minister Najib Razak said on Saturday.
Sudanese police again fire tear gas at protesters
KHARTOUM (Reuters) – Sudanese police fired tear gas on Saturday at a group of 200 anti-government protesters chanting ‘Freedom’ in the north of the capital Khartoum, an eyewitness said.
Haider’s daughter to lead Austrian far-right party in EU vote
VIENNA (Reuters) – Austria’s right-wing BZO party on Saturday named a daughter of Joerg Haider as its lead candidate in European Parliament elections in May, hoping to recapture the charisma and political acumen of its late leader.
U.S. ‘deeply disturbed’ by Chinese dissident’s death
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States is “deeply disturbed” by reports of the death of prominent Chinese human rights activist Cao Shunli, detained in September for staging sit-ins at the country’s foreign ministry, the State Department said on Satu…
Rebels say deployment of regional troops to South Sudan ‘ill advised’
ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) – South Sudan’s rebels on Saturday criticized plans by east Africa’s regional bloc to deploy troops to South Sudan, questioning its neutrality.
