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…
Nigeria issues Interpol arrest warrant for British-born bomb suspect
ABUJA (Reuters) – Nigeria has issued an international arrest warrant for a British-born army deserter it suspects plotted two bombings in the capital that killed at least 90 people, it said on Tuesday.
Nigeria signals readiness to talk to Boko Haram rebels
ABUJA (Reuters) – Nigeria’s government signaled willingness on Tuesday to negotiate with Islamist militants holding more than 200 schoolgirls, a month after the kidnap that has provoked global outrage.
French journalist killed in Central African Republic
PARIS/BANGUI (Reuters) – A French journalist has been killed in Central African Republic, the office of President Francois Hollande said on Tuesday, the first death of a Western reporter in the country since France sent troops there in December.
Palestinian factions start talks on forming joint government
GAZA (Reuters) – Officials from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah faction and the rival Islamist Hamas group met in Gaza on Tuesday to discuss the make-up of a unity government they hope will end a seven-year schism.
Big gaps remain in Iran nuclear talks but deal possible: U.S.
VIENNA (Reuters) – A senior U.S. official on Tuesday cautioned against excessive optimism over six world powers’ nuclear talks with Iran but said disputes could be overcome and a deal reached by their self-imposed July 20 deadline.
Algerian army ambushes militants, two killed east of capital
ALGIERS (Reuters) – Algeria’s military ambushed militants on Tuesday, killing two fighters in an eastern region near where al Qaeda’s north Africa branch claimed an attack on an army patrol last month, the defense ministry said.
U.N. aviation arm pledges action on flight tracking
MONTREAL (Reuters) – The United Nations aviation agency said on Tuesday that the industry would voluntarily begin tracking more aircraft while continuing to develop binding standards for mandatory tracking following the disappearance of Malaysia Airlin…
