Kerry says Syria’s Assad not ready to go yet
DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) – Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad is not ready to step down yet to make way for a transition government, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Thursday.
Fire hits Canada seniors’ residence; three dead, 30 missing
(Reuters) – At least three people died and 30 were missing after a fire ripped through a wooden three-story residence for the elderly in the Eastern Canadian province of Quebec overnight, police said on Thursday.
At least 15 dead in Central African Republic clashes: Red Cross
BANGUI (Reuters) – At least 15 people were killed in intercommunal violence in Central African Republic’s capital Bangui on Thursday, the head of the local Red Cross said, as the beleaguered country swore in a new leader determined to end waves of kill…
Hague court delays start of Kenyan president’s trial
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Thursday scrapped a planned February 5 start date for the trial of Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta after prosecutors asked for more time to strengthen their case.
India’s main opposition party set to be biggest in election: polls
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – The opposition Hindu nationalist party of Indian prime ministerial hopeful Narendra Modi is on course to emerge the biggest in general elections due by May, two opinion polls showed on Thursday.
Chile president-elect’s reform plans have broad backing: poll
SANTIAGO (Reuters) – Chile’s president-elect Michelle Bachelet will embark on a second term riding a wave of popular support that includes widespread backing for her key policy proposals, according to a poll released on Thursday.
U.S. general sees increase in high-profile attacks in Afghanistan
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Insurgents in Afghanistan are likely to increasingly embrace high-profile suicide attacks like the one last week that killed 21 civilians at a Kabul restaurant popular with foreigners, a senior U.S. commander said on Thursday.
Italy’s Grillo cries foul over electoral reform plans
ROME (Reuters) – Beppe Grillo, the former comic who leads Italy’s anti-establishment 5-Star Movement, on Thursday hit out against plans to reform the country’s voting rules, describing them as tailor-made to block his party’s rise.
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”.
Kenya orders audit to stamp out public payroll fraud
NAIROBI (Reuters) – Kenya’s president on Thursday ordered an audit of the public sector payroll to end the practice of corrupt officials claiming salaries on behalf of “ghost employees” – workers who have died, retired or deserted their duties.
