Bachelet seen easily defeating childhood playmate in Chile election
SANTIAGO (Reuters) – Red-hot favorite Michelle Bachelet is almost certain to cruise to victory in Chile’s presidential runoff election on Sunday, propelled by her warm style and vows to redress steep income inequality.
Mexico Senate passes energy bill, lower house OK pending
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Mexico’s Senate on Wednesday signed off on an energy bill that aims to lure private capital into the state-run oil and gas industry in the biggest shake-up since a 1938 nationalization, sending it to the lower house for debate a…
IAEA to seek progress on Iran nuclear probe in Tehran talks
VIENNA (Reuters) – The U.N. nuclear watchdog signaled on Wednesday it would press Iran at talks in Tehran next month over concerns the Islamic Republic may have researched how to develop atomic bombs.
Uproar in Egyptian court halts Muslim Brotherhood leaders’ trial
CAIRO (Reuters) – An Egyptian judge on Wednesday halted the trial of leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood after they shouted slogans and refused to cooperate with the court.
Russian rights activists say Putin amnesty far too narrow
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Human rights advisers to President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday criticized his proposal to free some prisoners on the 20th anniversary of Russia’s constitution, arguing it was far too limited to help ease social tensions.
Thai crisis deepens as PM’s supporters weigh in
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s red-shirted supporters said on Wednesday they were ready to defend her government in the streets from royalist-backed protesters seeking to install unelected leaders.
German court rejects compensation claim over Afghan air strike deaths
BONN (Reuters) – A German court on Wednesday threw out a compensation claim by relatives of the scores of civilians killed in a 2009 German-ordered NATO attack in Afghanistan, ruling that the commander who ordered the strike did not act negligently.
Al Qaeda tightens grip on western Iraq in bid for Islamic state
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – In Iraq’s western desert near the Syrian border, in a landscape of sand and rock, a signpost announces that you are entering al Qaeda’s Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
Iraq’s ailing President Talabani on road to recovery: office
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, who suffered a stroke a year ago, is on his way to a full recovery in Germany, his office said on Wednesday, publishing photos of him with his wife.
Iran commander criticizes government over influence from West
DUBAI (Reuters) – The commander of Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guard force has criticized the government of President Hassan Rouhani as being under the influence of Western ideas, a sign of the growing tensions between the competing power centers.
