Colombia congress vote almost assures Santos lead in presidential ballot
BOGOTA (Reuters) – Colombia’s President Juan Manuel Santos heads into presidential elections for a second straight term with his lead all but certain, even while seats for his ruling coalition were trimmed in a congressional vote that cemented his fier…
U.N. aims to bring killers to account in Central African Republic
GENEVA (Reuters) – The head of a United Nations inquiry said on Monday it was seeking to establish who should face prosecution for killings and other crimes in Central African Republic in order to halt for good bloodshed that has raised fears of genoci…
Pistorius vomits in court at Steenkamp autopsy details
PRETORIA (Reuters) – Track star Oscar Pistorius, on trial for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, wept and vomited into a bucket in a South African courtroom on Monday after hearing graphic details from her autopsy.
Israel sees future drone threat from Lebanon, Gaza
TEL AVIV (Reuters) – Israel fears guerrillas in Lebanon and Gaza would deploy exploding drones against the Jewish state in a future war as well as their main rocket arsenals, the chief of Israeli air defense said on Monday.
Khodorkovsky applies to settle in Switzerland: spokesperson
ZURICH (Reuters) – Former Russian oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky has submitted a request to settle permanently in Switzerland, a spokeswoman said on Monday.
China detains Uighur AIDS activist amid crackdown
BEIJING (Reuters) – China has arrested a Uighur AIDS activist for endangering national security, a health advocacy group said, in the latest sign of the government’s crackdown in the troubled far western region of Xinjiang, home to the largely Muslim U…
Pope to visit South Korea in August, Vatican says
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Pope Francis will make his first trip to Asia in August, visiting South Korea for a festival of Asian Catholic youth, the Vatican said on Monday.
South Africa expels Burundi diplomat: Burundian official
NAIROBI (Reuters) – South Africa has expelled a diplomat from Burundi’s embassy in connection with a raid on an exiled Rwandan general’s Johannesburg home and Burundi is considering a response, a Burundian official said on Monday.
Protests and talks widen rifts in Venezuela opposition
CARACAS (Reuters) – As violent protests in Venezuela alienate moderates in the opposition and show no signs of toppling President Nicolas Maduro, the socialist leader’s call for talks is deepening divisions between his rivals.
U.N. inquiry aims to prevent genocide in Central African Republic
GENEVA (Reuters) – The head of a United Nations commission of inquiry into violence in Central African Republic expressed alarm on Monday over the level of “hate propaganda” there and said he hoped to head off the prospect of a campaign of genocide.