Venezuela’s Congress approves decree powers for Maduro
CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuelan lawmakers granted President Nicolas Maduro yearlong decree powers on Tuesday that he says are essential to regulate the economy and stamp out corruption but adversaries view as a thinly veiled power grab.
World powers, Iran make new attempt to clinch nuclear deal
GENEVA (Reuters) – World powers aim to clinch a preliminary deal to curb Iran’s nuclear program in politically charged talks resuming in Geneva on Wednesday to end a long standoff and head off the risk of a wider Middle East war.
Cabinet switch buttresses Argentina’s left-leaning economic model
BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – President Cristina Fernandez’s new Cabinet picks this week confirmed a deepening of Argentina’s left-leaning economic model rather than a policy switch needed to confront escalating inflation and dwindling foreign currency rese…
Egypt police fire teargas to clear Tahrir Square
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egyptian police fired teargas to drive protesters out of Cairo’s Tahrir Square on Tuesday, breaking up a demonstration commemorating 42 protesters killed two years ago while opposing the government that took power after Hosni Mubarak’…
Afghans say deal agreed with U.S. for Obama to acknowledge war ‘mistakes’
KABUL (Reuters) – The Afghan government said on Tuesday it had reached a deal on the framework of a security pact with the United States after receiving assurances that President Barack Obama would issue a letter acknowledging U.S. mistakes made during…
Exclusive: Syria’s chemical weapons may be destroyed at sea – sources
AMSTERDAM/UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Syria’s chemical weapons could be processed and destroyed out at sea, say sources familiar with discussions at the international body in charge of eliminating the toxic arsenal.
South Africa building site collapses, one dead, dozens feared trapped
TONGAAT, South Africa (Reuters) – At least one person was killed and dozens were feared trapped under rubble on Tuesday after a soccer pitch-sized section of a shopping mall under construction collapsed near the South African city of Durban, emergency …
Syrian army says takes town on north-south highway
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syria’s army said it pushed rebels out of the southern town of Qara on Tuesday, strengthening its hold on a highway linking the capital to government strongholds along the Mediterranean coast.
Thousands flee fresh fighting in Central African Republic
BANGUI (Reuters) – Thousands of villagers in Central African Republic fled clashes between former rebels and local militias on Tuesday, residents said, increasing concerns about growing violence between Muslims and Christians.
Suicide bombings kill 23 near Iran embassy in Beirut
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Two suicide bombings rocked Iran’s embassy compound in Lebanon on Tuesday, killing at least 23 people including an Iranian cultural attache and hurling bodies and burning wreckage across a debris-strewn street.
