Australia aims for global growth agreement at G20 meeting
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia will use its presidency of the Group of 20 advanced and emerging economies to push for agreements on strengthening global growth and to generate ideas on funding public infrastructure, Treasurer Joe Hockey said on Wednesday…
Leftist Mexican lawmakers present medical marijuana bill
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Left-wing Mexican senators on Tuesday presented an initiative to legalize medical marijuana, saying a new approach was needed to speed up drug liberalization and help end a cycle of cartel violence that has killed tens of thousa…
Looking for Syria options, U.S. remains cool to using force
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Despite a forthcoming review of options in the deteriorating Syria crisis, the White House on Tuesday signaled that President Barack Obama remains wary of any direct U.S. involvement in the three-year-old civil war.
Ukraine police charge protesters after nation’s bloodiest day
KIEV (Reuters) – Ukrainian riot police charged protesters occupying a central Kiev square early on Wednesday after the bloodiest day since the former Soviet republic, caught in a geopolitical struggle between Russia and the West, won its independence m…
Venezuela opposition leader surrenders, protesters flood streets
CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuelan security forces arrested opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez on Tuesday on charges of fomenting unrest that has killed at least four people, bringing tens of thousands of angry supporters onto the streets of Caracas.
U.N. rights commissioner urges prosecution of North Korean crimes
GENEVA (Reuters) – U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay urged world powers on Tuesday to refer North Korea to the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) following a U.N. report documenting crimes against humanity.
Iran, powers hold ‘substantive’ nuclear talks; U.S., Iranians meet
VIENNA (Reuters) – Six world powers and Iran began “substantive” talks on Tuesday in pursuit of a final settlement on Tehran’s contested nuclear program in the coming months despite caveats from both sides that a breakthrough deal may prove impossible….
Libyan militias threaten parliament, deploy forces in Tripoli
TRIPOLI (Reuters) – Two heavily armed Libyan militias demanded on Tuesday the country’s parliament hand over power immediately in what the head of the assembly dismissed as an attempted coup that would be contested by the army if necessary.
Mali’s northern rebels agree to confine their fighters
BAMAKO (Reuters) – Malian rebels agreed on Tuesday to confine members of their armed groups to barracks in U.N.-led preliminary talks in the capital, according to sources who attended and a copy of the agreement seen by Reuters.
Germany’s Merkel convenes allies to restore confidence after scandal
BERLIN (Reuters) – Chancellor Angela Merkel aimed to restore public confidence in her governing coalition at a meeting of party chiefs on Tuesday to clear the air after a scandal that poisoned the atmosphere.
