Scandals, inequality loom large as Costa Rica votes for new leader
SAN JOSE (Reuters) – As voters streamed to the polls on Sunday, Costa Rica’s centrist ruling party front-runner hoped to fend off a leftist surge fueled by resentment over corruption scandals and rising inequality.
Syrian forces kill 83 in barrel bomb attacks in Aleppo: activists
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syrian military helicopters dropped more improvised “barrel bombs” on the northern city of Aleppo on Sunday, a monitoring group said, bringing the death toll to at least 83 people in the latest episode of a campaign that many conside…
South Sudan rebels say army razed town, using foreign fighters
JUBA (Reuters) – South Sudanese rebels accused government forces on Sunday of razing the hometown of their leader Riek Machar, violating a ceasefire, and said the army was drawing support from foreign fighters now in the country.
Iran says nuclear talks failure would be ‘disaster’
MUNICH (Reuters) – Iran’s foreign minister held rare private talks with his U.S. counterpart on Sunday and said it would be a “disaster” if Tehran did not turn a provisional agreement to defuse a decade-old dispute over its nuclear program into a perma…
Germany promises more engagement: but not on the battlefield
MUNICH (Reuters) – Germany’s U.S. and European allies welcome Berlin’s promise of a more robust foreign and security policy, but with no appetite at home for troops to fight, it may mean little more than extra logistical help and tougher rhetoric.
Central African Republic town retaken by international forces
BANGUI (Reuters) – International forces in the Central African Republic have retaken a strategic town occupied for days by Muslim Seleka fighters, witnesses said on Sunday.
Gunfire erupts as police raid radical Kenyan mosque
MOMBASA, Kenya (Reuters) – Gunfire erupted in and around a mosque in the Kenyan port city of Mombasa on Sunday following a raid by armed police who had received a tip-off that Muslim youths were being radicalized and trained for militant attacks.
UAE summons Qatari ambassador over Muslim cleric’s comments
DUBAI (Reuters) – The United Arab Emirates summoned the Qatari ambassador over what it said were insults against the UAE made by a prominent cleric in a broadcast from Doha, state news agency WAM reported on Sunday.
Advance ceasefire monitor team arrives in South Sudan
JUBA (Reuters) – An advance team of monitors sent by east African nations arrived in South Sudan on Sunday to set up a mission tasked with observing a shaky ceasefire agreed by government and rebel forces.
Putin critic Navalny seeks permission to visit Sochi
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian opposition figure and anti-corruption blogger Alexei Navalny, who is restricted from travelling outside Moscow, has requested permission to visit Sochi during the Winter Olympics, according to his blog and his press secretary…
