Damascus detainees languish while Syria envoys talk
DAMASCUS (Reuters) – It was three in the afternoon when Lulu’s phone stopped working somewhere in east Damascus near the Air Force Intelligence building, one of Syria’s most feared security agencies.
New Madagascar leader seeks donor meeting within three months
ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) – The new president of Madagascar called on Thursday for an international donor conference in the next three months to help his island state recover from a political and economic crisis triggered by a coup five years ago.
Exclusive: Europe to launch talks to upgrade relations with Cuba
BRUSSELS/MADRID (Reuters) – The European Union will agree next month to deepen relations with Cuba in its most significant overture to the communist island since the bloc lifted diplomatic sanctions in 2008, people close to the matter told Reuters.
Somali president wants waiver on arms embargo extended
ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) – Somalia’s president said he wanted the U.N. Security Council to extend a partial lifting of an arms embargo beyond its March expiry because Somali troops need more and better equipment to battle al Qaeda-aligned insurgents.
Indonesia to face opportunity, risk as population grows by a third
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Family planning efforts have stagnated in Indonesia over a decade of democratic rule and the world’s fourth most populous country risks squandering a so-called demographic dividend that a youthful, productive population should deliv…
Paris flights cut by 20 percent as air traffic controllers strike
FRANKFURT/PARIS (Reuters) – Travelers faced a day of disruption on Thursday as air traffic controllers in France and across Europe went on strike over cost cuts and pan-European safety rules.
Saudi Arabia to give Egypt up to $4 billion more aid: report
CAIRO (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia is expected to give Egypt up to $4 billion in additional aid in the form of central bank deposits and petroleum products, state-run Egyptian newspaper Al Ahram reported on Thursday.
China’s Communist Party expels ex-Nanjing mayor for bribes
SHANGHAI (Reuters) – China’s ruling Communist Party has expelled a former city mayor for bribery and abuse of power, one of the most senior government officials to fall victim to President Xi Jinping’s campaign against graft.
Arrest of billionaire highlights political divisions in Iran
BEIRUT (Reuters) – While international sanctions have made life a struggle for many Iranians, they were a big break for businessman Babak Zanjani, who made a fortune helping the government evade the restrictions on oil sales. He also made enemies.
Panama’s first lady tapped as vice presidential candidate
PANAMA CITY (Reuters) – Panama’s ruling party nominated Marta Linares, the wife of President Ricardo Martinelli, as its vice presidential candidate for the May election, the party’s presidential candidate announced on his Twitter page on Wednesday.
