U.N. confirms chemical arms were used repeatedly in Syria
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Chemical weapons were likely used in five out of seven attacks investigated by U.N. experts in Syria, where a 2 1/2-year civil war has killed more than 100,000 people, according to the final report of a U.N. inquiry published…
With Brazil-U.S. links frosty, Hollande pushes jet deal
BRASILIA (Reuters) – French President François Hollande sought to take advantage of a chill in U.S.-Brazil relations to push a French bid for a multibillion-dollar fighter-jet contract during a visit to Brasilia on Thursday.
Tunisia’s Islamists and opposition reach deal on premier
TUNIS (Reuters) – Tunisia’s ruling Islamists and opposition parties reached a deal on Thursday to name a new prime minister to lead a caretaker administration until elections aimed at ending months of crisis.
North Korea says Jang Song Thaek, uncle of leader Kim Jong Un, executed
SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korea said on Friday Jang Song Thaek, the uncle of leader Kim Jong Un and previously considered the second most powerful man in the secretive state, has been executed after a special military tribunal found him guilty of treason…
Mafia death threat shows Italy still haunted by 1992 murders
MILAN/PALERMO (Reuters) – A death threat by a Sicilian mafia boss against the lead prosecutor in a historic mob trial has stirred grim memories of the murders of Italy’s top prosecutors two decades ago.
Italian kidnapped in Nigeria has been freed- Italy government
ROME (Reuters) – An Italian man kidnapped in Nigeria last week has been released, the Italian foreign ministry said on Thursday without giving further details.
Kiev protesters gather, EU dangles aid promise
KIEV (Reuters) – Thousands of anti-government protesters gathered in central Kiev, rebuilding barricades torn down by police, on Thursday as the European Union held out a promise of increased aid for Ukraine if it signed a trade and cooperation pact.
Opponents of French surveillance law race to get support for review
PARIS (Reuters) – Opponents of a new law in France that expands government powers to monitor phone and Internet connection data without judicial review scrambled for support on Thursday to force a review by the Constitutional Council.
U.S. vows support for Syrian opposition despite troubles
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States is concerned about troubles facing Syria’s Western-backed opposition but it will keep supporting Free Syrian Army leader General Salim Idris and the moderate opposition, U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said o…
Somali president names economist as new prime minister
MOGADISHU (Reuters) – Somalia’s president named economist Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed as his new prime minister on Thursday, ending weeks of political paralysis as the country strives to secure fragile security gains against Islamist militants.
