Italian lawmakers delay showdown over Berlusconi
ROME (Reuters) – Italian lawmakers on Tuesday pulled back from a showdown over the political future of Silvio Berlusconi after allies of the billionaire media tycoon threatened to bring down Prime Minister Enrico Letta’s unstable ruling coalition.
Bissau parliament blocks amnesty bill for coup leaders
BISSAU (Reuters) – Guinea Bissau’s parliament blocked a bill on Tuesday that would give immunity to the leaders of a military coup last year, rejecting a measure being pushed by an interim government ahead of elections in November.
Syria vows to give up chemical weapons, no deal yet at U.N.
WASHINGTON/AMMAN (Reuters) – Syria accepted a Russian proposal on Tuesday to give up chemical weapons and win a reprieve from U.S. military strikes but serious differences emerged between Russia and the United States that could obstruct a U.N. resoluti…
Senior British politician charged with sexual offences
LONDON (Reuters) – A deputy speaker of Britain’s parliament has been charged with several counts of sexual assault as well as rape, authorities said on Tuesday.
Tropical storms Gabrielle, Humberto swirl in Atlantic
MIAMI (Reuters) – Tropical Storm Gabrielle regenerated and bore down on Bermuda on Tuesday while Tropical Storm Humberto strengthened to the verge of becoming the season’s first Atlantic hurricane, forecasters said.
U.S. providing some lethal aid to Syrian rebels: opposition spokesman
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States has begun distributing some weapons to the Syrian rebels, a spokesman for the Syrian Coalition of groups opposed to President Bashar al-Assad said on Tuesday, after months of reported delays.
Egypt’s former chief-of-staff to be released after detention
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egypt’s prosecutor general approved the release of ousted President Mohamed Mursi’s former chief of staff, who was detained last month over accusations of inciting the detention, torture and interrogation of protesters in 2012, judici…
Russia cancels emergency U.N. meeting on Syria chemical weapons
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – An emergency closed-door meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Syria was canceled on Tuesday after Russia withdrew its request for the session, Australia’s U.N. envoy said, as Western powers and Russia disagreed over a plan…
Mali’s new government to review mining contracts: minister
BAMAKO (Reuters) – Mali’s new government will carry out a “complete inventory” of existing mining contracts and stands ready to renegotiate any which are not in the West African country’s interests, the new mining minister told Reuters on Tuesday.
Insight: With Japan’s help, an ex-soldier leads Yangon from backwater to megacity
YANGON (Reuters) – Every evening, long after Yangon’s office workers have squeezed onto packed buses for grueling commutes to the suburbs, a single room remains lit up on the top floor of City Hall.




