Thai military heads agree to meet protest leader at weekend
BANGKOK (Reuters) – The heads of Thailand’s powerful military agreed on Thursday to a weekend meeting with the leader of the movement seeking to overthrow Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, deepening uncertainty about the country’s immediate political…
South Africa admits mistake over ‘schizophrenic’ Mandela signer
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – A South African sign language interpreter accused of miming nonsense as world leaders paid tribute to Nelson Mandela defended himself as a “champion” signer on Thursday, but said he suffered a schizophrenic episode during the e…
French prosecutor urges extradition of Kazakh tycoon
AIX-EN-PROVENCE, France (Reuters) – A French public prosecutor recommended on Thursday that Kazakh oligarch Mukhtar Ablyazov, accused of embezzling up to $6 billion from his former bank, be extradited to Ukraine, which along with Russia is seeking to p…
Islamists kill 15 Alawite and Druze civilians in Syria: activists
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Islamist rebels killed at least 15 civilians from the minority Alawite and Druze sects in the central Syrian city of Adra on Wednesday and Thursday, the pro-opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
Mainstream parties clinch Austrian coalition deal
VIENNA (Reuters) – Austria’s mainstream pro-Europe parties agreed on Thursday to govern in coalition for the next five years, promising to ensure continued prosperity in the Alpine euro zone nation.
Venezuela says murder rate plunges under Maduro
CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuela’s murder rate has fallen by about a quarter this year, the government says, dismissing opponents’ talk of ever-rising crime as propaganda.
Outmuscled Syrian opposition seeks protection from al Qaeda
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Syria’s Western-backed opposition said on Thursday it had invited Islamist fighters to secure its depots on the Turkish frontier after an attack by al Qaeda militants.
Colombian president’s ratings move up again, would win election
BOGOTA (Reuters) – Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos’ popularity rose for a third straight month in December and he would be re-elected next year in a second-round vote, a poll published on Thursday showed.
Nigeria’s Jonathan told not to stand in 2015 by mentor Obasanjo
ABUJA (Reuters) – One of Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan’s predecessors and mentors has turned against him, penning a scathing denunciation that could deepen division in the ruling party and potentially embolden Jonathan’s rivals.
Finance watchdog approves Vatican reforms, urges bank oversight
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – The Vatican has made significant progress in financial reforms but still risks being used for money laundering unless it strengthens controls, a European watchdog said on Thursday.
