Iraqi Shi’ites flock to Assad’s side as sectarian split widens
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Among the Iranian pilgrims, foreign executives and tourists in the departure lounge at Baghdad airport, a group of young Iraqis prepare to wage religious war in Syria – not for the rebels trying to topple President Bashar al-Assad b…
Sri Lankan media code threatens free speech: rights group
COLOMBO (Reuters) – The Sri Lankan government’s proposed code of ethics for the media is a threat to free speech, New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Wednesday.
South Sudan president suspends two ministers in fraud inquiry
JUBA (Reuters) – South Sudanese President Salva Kiir has suspended two key ministers in a fraud investigation, the government said on Wednesday.
Protests continue in Sao Paulo, troops sent to 5 Brazilian cities
SAO PAULO (Reuters) – Demonstrators blocked a major highway and other roads in Sao Paulo on Wednesday, crippling transportation in Brazil’s largest city and financial hub, in an ongoing wave of protests against poor public services, inflation and polic…
Turkish government, protesters seek to draw sting from unrest
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkey’s deputy prime minister said on Wednesday he had no objection to silent anti-government protests inspired by a symbolic “Standing Man” vigil, comments that could help draw the sting out of three weeks of often violent demons…
Syrians turn to dollar as local currency tumbles
AMMAN (Reuters) – Since the latest nosedive in the Syrian currency, Damascus shopkeeper Aboud Katebee can no longer put price stickers on the imported chocolate bars he sells in the middle class Jaramana neighborhood.
Greek coalition parties meet to try to settle state TV row
ATHENS (Reuters) – Greece’s ruling party leaders met on Wednesday to try to agree when and how to resume state TV broadcasts, two days after a top court ordered the immediate reopening of the state broadcaster ERT, abruptly closed by the government a w…
Bombs destroy police station in Libya’s Benghazi
BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) – Bombs flattened a police station in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi on Wednesday but there were no casualties as the building had been emptied for repairs following previous attacks, security officials said.
Analysis: Putin basks in isolation over Syria as Obama’s charm falls flat
ENNISKILLEN, Northern Ireland/MOSCOW (Reuters) – At the end of a tense two-hour meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Barack Obama – slumped over and serious – tried to lighten the mood with a joke about their favorite sports.
Germany agrees financing of 8 billion euro flood aid fund
BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany has agreed the financing of an 8-billion euro fund to help repair damage caused by the worst flooding in a decade, with both the federal government and states footing the bill, the finance ministry said on Wednesday.
