Son of Chinese general faces rape trial; raises anger over top families
BEIJING (Reuters) – The teenage son of a prominent Chinese general goes on trial on Wednesday suspected of involvement in a gang rape in a case that has inflamed public anger at the offspring of the political elite who are widely seen as spoilt and rec…
U.S. lawmaker says ‘compelling’ evidence of Syrian chemical attack
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The chairman of the U.S. House intelligence committee said on Tuesday that the evidence is “convincing, if not compelling” that the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was behind the chemical weapons attack near Damasc…
Colombia’s ELN rebels free Canadian geologist
BOGOTA (Reuters) – Colombia’s ELN rebels freed a Canadian geologist they had held captive for seven months on Tuesday, meeting one of the demands by President Juan Manuel Santos to enable the start of peace talks with the insurgent group.
At least two killed in southern Egypt clash
CAIRO (Reuters) – At least two supporters of Egypt’s deposed Islamist President Mohamed Mursi were killed in clashes with residents and security forces in the southern city of Beni Suef late on Tuesday, a security source said.
U.N. official urges Iran to sway Syria government on peace talks
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – A top U.N. official visiting Iran has urged it to use its influence to persuade the Syrian government to attend planned peace talks with opposition groups in Geneva, the United Nations said on Tuesday.
Colombia’s Santos open to talks with FARC leader Timochenko
BOGOTA (Reuters) – Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said on Tuesday he would consider meeting FARC rebel leader Timochenko to accelerate talks aimed at ending 50 years of conflict but warned the nation will continue at war if Colombians reject wh…
German Turks call for disbanding of security agency after murders
BERLIN (Reuters) – The German domestic intelligence agency (BfV) should be disbanded because of its racist mentality, Germany’s Turkish community said, a week after a probe found its negligence had enabled a neo-Nazi cell to commit nine racist murders….
Iran names new envoy to IAEA, extending makeover of nuclear team
DUBAI (Reuters) – Iran has named a disarmament expert as its envoy to the U.N. nuclear watchdog, extending a reshuffle of top officials dealing with its disputed atomic program since new President Hassan Rouhani took office vowing to improve Iran’s for…
Russian police seize painting of Putin in women’s underwear
ST PETERSBURG, Russia (Reuters) – Police seized a painting of Russia’s president and prime minister in women’s underwear from a gallery in St Petersburg, saying the satirical display had broken unspecified laws.
Libya’s oil chaos deepens as armed group shuts pipeline
TRIPOLI/LONDON (Reuters) – Libya’s largest western oilfields closed when an armed group shut down the pipeline linking them to ports, its deputy oil minister said on Tuesday, reducing its oil output to a trickle.