Colombian government, rebels trade barbs as talks recess
HAVANA (Reuters) – The Colombian government and left-wing FARC rebels ended a 14th round of peace negotiations on Thursday saying they had made progress on part of a six-point agenda, even as they accused each other of violating the principles underlyi…
Syrian rebels, Qaeda group clash near Turkish border crossing
ANKARA/BEIRUT (Reuters) – Al Qaeda-linked fighters battled a rival Syrian rebel group near the Turkish frontier for a second day on Thursday, after the militant Islamists stormed a nearby town and prompted Turkey to shut a border crossing.
Gaddafi’s son appears in court in tribal stronghold
ZINTAN, Libya (Reuters) – The son and one-time political heir of deposed Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi appeared in a tribal court on Thursday after the militia holding him defied an order from the state to deliver him to a jail in the capital.
Nigerian governor gave $15 million cash bribe in bag, court hears
LONDON (Reuters) – Desperate to halt a probe into his finances, Nigerian governor James Ibori tried to bribe anti-corruption boss Nuhu Ribadu in 2007 with $15 million in cash in a bag so heavy one man alone could not lift it, Ribadu told a London court…
Berlusconi would not have been tried if gay: Putin
VALDAI, Russia (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin rallied behind his old friend Silvio Berlusconi on Thursday, saying the former Italian prime minister would not have faced trial for having sex with a minor if he were gay.
Greece asks court to crack down on far right after rapper’s killing
ATHENS (Reuters) – The Greek government asked judges on Thursday to move against Golden Dawn, saying it had evidence the far-right party was a criminal organization and a threat to public safety.
Berlusconi says Italy needs political stability
ROME (Reuters) – Italy’s center-right leader Silvio Berlusconi called on Thursday for political stability but demanded that Prime Minister Enrico Letta’s fragile coalition keep promises to cut taxes, despite growing pressure on public finances.
Putin warns Ukraine over Europe ambitions
VALDAI, Russia (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Ukraine on Thursday he would retaliate with protectionist measures if it signed a landmark trade deal with the European Union and suggested Kiev enter instead into Russian-led customs u…
Egypt returns $2 billion to Qatar in sign of growing tensions
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egypt has returned $2 billion that Qatar had deposited with its central bank, after talks to convert the funds into three-year bonds broke down, central bank Governor Hisham Ramez said on Thursday.
High chance of cyclone over SW Gulf of Mexico: NHC
(Reuters) – An area of low pressure located over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico now has a high 60 percent chance of becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours, the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said in its latest advisory.
