Mexico Senate committees near vote on bold energy reform
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Mexican Senate committees on Monday resume debate of an energy bill that would open up the world’s No. 10 oil producer to private investment by allowing lucrative contracts in the sector’s most dramatic revamp in 75 years.
Venezuela’s socialists win majority in local polls
CARACAS (Reuters) – President Nicolas Maduro’s government won a majority of votes in Venezuela’s local elections on Sunday, disappointing the opposition and helping his quest to preserve the late Hugo Chavez’s socialist legacy.
Venezuela’s Maduro to raise pressure on business after local vote
CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro pledged to deepen his “economic offensive” to force businesses to cut prices after his ruling Socialist Party won the most votes in weekend municipal elections.
Thai PM calls snap election, protesters want power now
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra dissolved parliament on Monday and called a snap election, but anti-government protest leaders pressed ahead with mass demonstrations in Bangkok seeking to install an unelected body to run the…
Kuwaiti court acquits 70 accused over 2011 storming of parliament
KUWAIT (Reuters) – A Kuwait court on Monday acquitted 70 people, including nine former lawmakers, of storming the parliament in 2011 in an unprecedented protest against the then prime minister, a senior member of the ruling family.
French troops trade fire with ex-rebels in Central African Republic
BANGUI (Reuters) – French troops traded fire with former rebels in Central African Republic’s capital Bangui on Monday as they sought to disarm fighters after violence in which hundreds have been killed, a peacekeeping force official said.
Car bomb near Iraqi cafe used by Sunni militia kills 11
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – A car bomb exploded near a cafe in northeastern Iraq on Monday, killing 11 people and wounding 23, police said, as the country grapples with its deadliest violence in at least five years.
Palestinians say Kerry appeasing Israel over Iran – at their expense
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – A senior Palestinian official said the United States was asking Palestinians to make security concessions in peace talks with Israel in order to silence the Jewish state’s criticism of world power diplomacy over Iran’s nuclear pro…
Japan PM Abe’s ratings slide after state secrets act
TOKYO (Reuters) – Support for Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe slid in opinion polls after his ruling coalition steamrolled through parliament a tough secrecy act that critics fear could muzzle media and allow officials to hide misdeeds.
Kurdish militants free abducted Turkish soldiers
DIYARBAKIR, Turkey (Reuters) – Four Turkish soldiers seized by Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants were freed on Monday after Kurdish politicians intervened, security sources said, ending a brief standoff that could have damaged a fragile peace pro…
