Venezuela tackles shortages with controversial food card
CARACAS (Reuters) – President Nicolas Maduro is introducing a controversial shopping card intended to combat Venezuela’s food shortages but decried by critics as a Cuban-style policy illustrating the failure of his socialist policies.
Nine soldiers killed as Islamist militants attack security HQ in Libya
BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) – Nine Libyan soldiers were killed on Friday when Islamist fighters tried to storm the Benghazi city security headquarters in an attack authorities blamed on the militant group Ansar al-Sharia.
Syrian rebel offensive encroaches on last chemical stockpile
BEIRUT (Reuters) – A Syrian rebel offensive aimed at easing a government siege east of Damascus has brought fighting closer to the last declared stockpile of President Bashar al-Assad’s chemical weapons, according to diplomats and activists.
Chinese oil engineers kidnapped in Sudan freed: Xinhua agency
SHANGHAI (Reuters) – Two Chinese engineers kidnapped in Sudan more than a year ago have been released, the official Xinhua media service said on Friday, citing a source at the Chinese embassy in Khartoum.
Indian tribal militants kill 11 Muslims in fresh attack
GUWAHATI, India (Reuters) – Heavily armed tribal guerrillas raided a village in northeastern India on Friday and killed 11 Muslim settlers in a further attack linked to an upsurge in ethnic tensions during a drawn-out general election.
Turkey dismisses corruption case that has dogged PM Erdogan
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkish prosecutors have dismissed a corruption case against 60 suspects, among them a former minister’s son and a construction tycoon, burying part of a scandal that has dogged Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan’s inner circle for mont…
Ex-Chicago comptroller arrested in Pakistan, may be extradited to U.S.
LAHORE, Pakistan (Reuters) – A former aide to Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel who fled to Pakistan while awaiting sentencing in the United States on corruption convictions has been arrested in Pakistan and authorities there are deciding whether to hand him …
Nigeria says gathering of rich and powerful will not be cowed by bombings
ABUJA (Reuters) – Nigeria on Friday urged delegates due for the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Abjua next week “not to let terror win” by staying away after a second bombing in the capital in less than three weeks.
Libya blames Ansar al-Shariya Islamists for Benghazi violence
TRIPOLI (Reuters) – The Libyan government blamed Islamist militants of the Ansar al-Shariya group for an attack on Friday on the government security forces’ headquarters in Benghazi city.
Ukraine crisis highlights NATO defense spending problem: Hagel
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Russia’s actions in Ukraine have shattered the myth of European security in the post-Cold War era and underscored the danger NATO allies have created by failing to meet their defense spending pledges, U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck…
