Syria’s Assad says he certain to defeat rebels
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said on Thursday he was confident of victory against rebels and made a symbolic visit to a town once overrun by insurgents and now mostly retaken by his army.
Berlusconi conviction leaves Italian government hanging
ROME (Reuters) – A ruling by Italy’s supreme court upholding a tax fraud conviction against former premier and center-right leader Silvio Berlusconi has left the fate of the country’s fragile ruling coalition resting in the balance.
Obama praises Yemeni leader, makes no mention of Guantanamo
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama praised Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi for his work combating terrorism but made no mention of efforts to repatriate detainees from the Guantanamo Bay prison in public remarks at the White House on…
U.S. to close some embassies Sunday for security reasons
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. embassies that would normally be open this Sunday – including those in Abu Dhabi, Baghdad, Cairo – will be closed that day because of unspecified security concerns, the U.S. State Department said on Thursday.
Tunisian army clashes with militants: residents
TUNIS (Reuters) – Tunisian troops exchanged fire with militants near the Algerian border on Thursday night, a resident said, three days after gunmen killed eight soldiers in one of the deadliest attacks in decades on the country’s security forces.
Mexico president to present energy reform next week
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto said on Thursday his sweeping energy reform, which is expected to include constitutional changes to lure private investment and boost output, will be presented to Congress next week.
Obama speaks with Palestinians’ Abbas, Israel’s Netanyahu
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama spoke separately by phone on Thursday to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the White House said, as the United States seeks to keep up the momentum for peace…
Rockets land near Lebanese presidential palace; no injuries reported
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Two rockets landed in an area east of Beirut late on Thursday close to a military compound and Lebanon’s presidential palace, security sources said.
Egypt’s rulers tell pro-Mursi protesters to quit camps
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egypt’s army-backed government warned supporters of deposed President Mohamed Mursi on Thursday to abandon their Cairo protest camps, promising them a safe exit if they gave up without a fight.
Obama rethinks Putin summit after Snowden granted asylum
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama is rethinking whether to hold a summit in Moscow with President Vladimir Putin next month after Russia rejected U.S. pleas and gave temporary asylum to former American spy agency contractor Edward Snowden, …
