Russia demands U.S. explanation over blacklisted singer
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia’s foreign ministry asked the United States on Thursday to explain why it had imposed sanctions on a well-known singer and supporter of President Vladimir Putin, calling the move “unacceptable”.
Analysis: Aquino’s Mr Clean image skewered by Philippine pork barrel politics
MANILA (Reuters) – A scandal over lawmakers’ misuse of public funds has become the biggest crisis of Philippine President Benigno Aquino’s three-year rule, tainting his carefully crafted image as a corruption fighter and undermining his ability to push…
Peru’s Humala swears in fourth prime minister, retains finance minister
LIMA (Reuters) – Peru’s President Ollanta Humala swore in a widely praised regional politician as his fourth prime minister in a mini-cabinet reshuffle on Thursday, but retained his finance minister despite rumors he might quit.
Venezuelan leader says workers see Chavez apparition at building site
CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said an image of his idol and predecessor, the late socialist leader Hugo Chavez, has appeared miraculously in the wall of an underground construction site.
International court postpones Kenyan president’s trial
THE HAGUE/UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The International Criminal Court delayed Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta’s trial for crimes against humanity by three months on Thursday, while African ministers made an impassioned plea for the U.N. Security Counci…
Egyptian Islamists call for daily protests before Mursi trial
CAIRO (Reuters) – Supporters of Egypt’s ousted Islamist President Mohamed Mursi called on Thursday for daily protests in the four days before his trial on November 4, raising the prospect of more violence in a crisis that has already cost hundreds of l…
Death toll in attack on Salafi-held town in Yemen rises to 24
SANAA (Reuters) – The death toll from a Shi’ite Muslim Houthi attack on a mountain town in north Yemen held by their Salafi Sunni Muslim rivals has risen to 24, a Salafi spokesman said on Thursday as the two sides fought for a second day.
Kenyan warplanes bomb al Shabaab strongholds in Somalia
NAIROBI (Reuters) – The Kenyan military said its warplanes bombed targets held by al Qaeda-linked Islamists in Somalia on Thursday, in retaliation for an attack on a Nairobi mall that killed at least 67 people.
Key U.S. senators strongly criticize Obama’s Syria policy
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Democratic and Republican members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee strongly criticized the Obama administration on Thursday for lacking a plan to resolve the war in Syria.
Murdoch editors Brooks, Coulson had affair, British hacking trial told
LONDON (Reuters) – Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson, former editors of Rupert Murdoch’s now-defunct News of the World tabloid, had a six-year affair at the time their reporters hacked phone messages of politicians and royalty, a London court heard on Th…