Maduro mulls relaunching ‘permuta’ forex system in Venezuela
CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuela may relaunch its so-called “permuta” foreign exchange mechanism as it seeks to supply more dollars to local importers who are complaining about lack of access to hard currency, President Nicolas Maduro said on Monday.
Death toll rises in battles in Central African Republic
BANGUI (Reuters) – The death toll in clashes between gunmen loyal to Central African Republic’s former president and the ex-rebels who ousted him, rose to at least 73 following fighting on Monday, residents, government and a regional peacekeeping force…
Conservative leader Solberg sweeps into power in Norwegian election
OSLO (Reuters) – Norway’s opposition Conservatives, promising tax cuts and better healthcare, won elections in a landslide on Monday but faced tough coalition talks with a populist party that wants to spend more of the accumulated oil riches and curb i…
After softening, ‘Iron Erna’ set to become Norway’s PM
OSLO (Reuters) – Erna Solberg, set to become Norway’s next prime minister, has transformed herself from a tough-minded “Iron Erna” into a softer Conservative more caring about voters’ jobs, health and schools.
Rodman to try ‘basketball diplomacy’ with North Korea
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Former NBA player Dennis Rodman hopes some “basketball diplomacy” will open doors with North Korea and possibly lead to dialogue between its leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Barack Obama.
Egypt tightens Sinai security, assesses militant threat
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egypt has tightened control of crossings from the Sinai after an Islamist militant group based in the peninsula said it tried to kill the interior minister in Cairo last week, the state news agency reported on Monday.
Indian judge to rule in landmark gang-rape, murder trial
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – In one of the most highly anticipated verdicts in Indian legal history, a judge will rule on Tuesday whether four men are guilty of raping a woman on a bus in New Delhi and also murdering her, a charge that could see them hanged i…
Tropical Storm Humberto strengthens near Cape Verde
MIAMI (Reuters) – Tropical Storm Humberto strengthened as it swept past the Cape Verde islands on Monday and was expected to grow into the first hurricane of the Atlantic storm season, forecasters at the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said.
Left’s backing boosts Mexico tax plan chances, right skeptical
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – The Mexican government’s long-awaited tax reform won support from the leftist opposition on Monday, boosting its chances of passing Congress, but the center-right was more skeptical about a plan that foresees running up a budget…
Video shows leader of Algeria, Niger attacks
TUNIS (Reuters) – A video of militants who attacked Algeria’s Amenas gas field and a French mine in Niger shows Islamist leader Mokhtar Belmokhtar praising, briefing and training fighters for his group’s operations in North Africa.
