South Sudan factions set to sign ceasefire on Thursday: mediator
ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) – South Sudan’s government and rebels are scheduled to sign a ceasefire deal later on Thursday, the mediator said, after more than five weeks of fighting that has divided Africa’s newest nation and brought it to the brink of civil…
China tries three anti-graft activists in two days
BEIJING (Reuters) – Two Chinese activists who agitated for officials to disclose assets argued their innocence on Thursday, the second day in a series of prosecutions of anti-corruption campaigners highlighting the government’s resolve to crush any cha…
Iraq hangs 11 convicted of terrorism
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraq hanged 11 people convicted of terrorist offences on Thursday, the justice ministry said, pursuing what a U.N. official has criticized as a “conveyor-belt of executions”.
Abe sees World War One echoes in Japan-China tensions
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has said Japan and China should avoid repeating the past mistakes of Britain and Germany, which fought in World War One despite strong economic ties, according to his main government spokesman in Tok…
U.N. aid chief seeks ceasefires at Syria talks
MONTREUX, Switzerland (Reuters) – The United Nations hopes that political talks between the warring sides in Syria will clinch local ceasefires to allow vital food and medicines to reach millions of civilians, the U.N. humanitarian chief said on Thursd…
Egypt interim PM backs army chief for president
DAVOS (Reuters) – Egyptian interim Prime Minister Hazem el-Beblawi said on Thursday he backed General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi for president, one of the highest-level endorsements for a widely expected presidential bid by the army chief.
Rights group says Muslims massacred in Myanmar amid official denials
YANGON (Reuters) – Security forces in western Myanmar massacred at least 40 Rohingya Muslims last week, including women and children, a human rights group said on Thursday, quoting witness accounts, despite official denials of the killings.
Berlusconi faces new investigation in prostitution case
MILAN (Reuters) – Milan prosecutors have opened a new investigation against Silvio Berlusconi over accusations he corrupted witnesses in a trial in which he was convicted of paying for sex with a minor.
Analysis: Hardest yet to come for France’s Hollande on reforms
PARIS (Reuters) – French President Francois Hollande has won cautious backing from Berlin, Brussels and financial markets for a centrist reform push that could be his last chance to get the euro zone’s second largest economy motoring.
Australia’s Abbott vows to promote free trade as G20 chair
DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) – Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott vowed on Thursday to use his country’s presidency of the G20 this year to promote free trade, and called on the group of leading economies to undo protectionist measures.
