Colombia’s ousted Bogota mayor rallies thousands in protest
BOGOTA (Reuters) – Waving banners and chanting his name, thousands of supporters of Colombia’s leftist Bogota mayor converged on the capital’s central plaza on Tuesday to express outrage at his ouster and 15-year ban from holding political office.
Uruguay becomes first country to legalize marijuana trade
MONTEVIDEO (Reuters) – Uruguay became the first country to legalize the growing, sale and smoking of marijuana on Tuesday, a pioneering social experiment that will be closely watched by other nations debating drug liberalization.
Czech parties reach deal to form center-left government
PRAGUE (Reuters) – The Czech Republic’s Social Democrats reached a coalition deal with two other parties late on Tuesday, agreeing to leave taxes on companies and high earners unchanged next year to help clear the way for a center-left government to ta…
Japan household helper plan shows wider immigration dilemma
TOKYO (Reuters) – During the early days of “Abenomics,” U.S. businesses were optimistic they could convince Japan’s government to make a small change to the nation’s tight immigration rules to let more household helpers into the country.
Nicaragua’s assembly approves plan to end presidential term limits
MANAGUA (Reuters) – Nicaragua’s national assembly on Tuesday approved a constitutional change to remove presidential term limits, which could allow incumbent Daniel Ortega stay in power for years and raises concerns about democracy in the country.
In Cuba, scattered protests, detentions mark human rights day
HAVANA (Reuters) – Cuban dissidents and government employees mounted rival gatherings across the Communist-run Caribbean island on Tuesday, marking the 65th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations….
Obama and Castro shake hands, Zuma humiliated at Mandela memorial
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama shook hands with Cuba’s Raul Castro at a memorial for Nelson Mandela on Tuesday, a rare gesture between the leaders of two ideological opponents that reflected the anti-apartheid hero’s spirit of rec…
Iran sees progress in talks with powers on nuclear deal implementation
VIENNA (Reuters) – Senior Iranian officials indicated on Tuesday that progress was being achieved in expert-level talks between Tehran and six world powers over the implementation of a landmark nuclear deal.
Violence persists in Central African Republic as Hollande visits
BANGUI (Reuters) – President Francois Hollande flew into Central African Republic hours after two French soldiers were killed in fighting and praised his troops for tackling “horrendous violence” against women and children and helping avert a slide int…
Condemned Islamist leader wins 11th hour reprieve in Bangladesh
DHAKA (Reuters) – An Islamist opposition leader in Bangladesh won a dramatic stay of execution on Tuesday hours before he was due to be hanged, according to his lawyers, allaying fears for now of a violent backlash less than a month before elections ar…
