Obama and Castro shake hands, Zuma humiliated at Mandela memorial
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama shook hands with Cuba’s Raul Castro at a memorial for Nelson Mandela on Tuesday, a rare gesture between the leaders of two ideological opponents that reflected the anti-apartheid hero’s spirit of rec…
Iran sees progress in talks with powers on nuclear deal implementation
VIENNA (Reuters) – Senior Iranian officials indicated on Tuesday that progress was being achieved in expert-level talks between Tehran and six world powers over the implementation of a landmark nuclear deal.
Violence persists in Central African Republic as Hollande visits
BANGUI (Reuters) – President Francois Hollande flew into Central African Republic hours after two French soldiers were killed in fighting and praised his troops for tackling “horrendous violence” against women and children and helping avert a slide int…
Condemned Islamist leader wins 11th hour reprieve in Bangladesh
DHAKA (Reuters) – An Islamist opposition leader in Bangladesh won a dramatic stay of execution on Tuesday hours before he was due to be hanged, according to his lawyers, allaying fears for now of a violent backlash less than a month before elections ar…
Norwegian man charged with murder of compatriot in Congo
KINSHASA/OSLO (Reuters) – A Norwegian man imprisoned in the Democratic Republic of Congo since 2009 has been charged with the murder of his cell mate and countryman, even though a joint investigation had found no evidence of foul play, Norwegian offici…
Syrian opposition head urges Gulf states to launch aid fund
KUWAIT (Reuters) – The head of the Syrian National Coalition (SNC) opposition group urged wealthy Gulf Arab states on Tuesday to set up an aid fund for millions of Syrians stricken by civil war.
French forces kill 19 Islamist fighters in north Mali
BAMAKO (Reuters) – French forces have killed 19 Islamist fighters during security operations in Mali’s northern region of Timbuktu, a senior French officer in the West African nation said on Tuesday.
Nicaragua’s assembly approves plan to end presidential term limits
MANAGUA (Reuters) – Nicaragua’s national assembly on Tuesday approved a constitutional change to remove presidential term limits, which could allow incumbent Daniel Ortega stay in power for years and raises concerns about democracy in the country.
Anti-Assad Syrian rights lawyer abducted in rebel territory
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Razan Zaitouneh, a prominent Syrian human rights lawyer who went into hiding for her widely publicized work on atrocities committed by President Bashar al-Assad’s forces, has been kidnapped in a rebel-held town, activists said on Tue…
Russia’s Putin orders military complete Arctic plan by year end
MOSCOW (Reuters) – President Vladimir Putin ordered Russia’s military to increase its focus on the Arctic and finish plans by the end of the year to upgrade military bases in the resource-rich region where world powers jostle for control.
