Brazil protests take toll on Rousseff’s popularity, economy key
BRASILIA (Reuters) – An opinion poll released on Thursday cast fresh doubt on President Dilma Rousseff’s re-election chances next year, showing that her approval rating plummeted following massive street protests that swept Brazil last month.
Tunisair cancels all flights to and from Tunisia on Friday
TUNIS (Reuters) – Tunisair will cancel all flights on Friday after Tunisia’s largest labor organization called a general strike in protest at the assassination of prominent opposition figure Mohamed Brahmi.
Obama, Vietnam leader agree on trade but clash on human rights
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama and Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang pledged to finish talks on a regional free-trade agreement by the end of the year, but the two leaders clashed over human rights during a White House meeting on…
U.S. lawmakers want sanctions on any country taking in Snowden
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A U.S. Senate panel voted unanimously on Thursday to seek trade or other sanctions against Russia or any other country that offers asylum to former spy agency contractor Edward Snowden, who has been holed up for weeks at a Moscow…
Colombian leader Santos defends constitutionality of peace law
BOGOTA (Reuters) – Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos on Thursday defended the constitutionality of a law that paved the way for ongoing peace talks with Marxist rebels, as legal challenges risk undermining efforts to end five decades of war.
Political trials in Ukraine, Tajikistan draw U.N. rebuke
GENEVA (Reuters) – A United Nations human rights watchdog on Thursday deplored “politically motivated” prosecutions in Ukraine and Tajikistan and told the two former Soviet republics to make sure judges were impartial.
Kiir flexes muscles but risks splitting South Sudan
JUBA (Reuters) – South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has asserted his power by firing his biggest political rivals along with his entire cabinet, but he risks splitting the African oil producer at a time of new tensions with civil war foe Sudan.
Egypt’s new finance minister plans stimulus, not austerity
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egypt interim government will seek to avoid major austerity measures and instead work to stimulate the economy by improving security and pumping in new funds, the new finance minister, Ahmed Galal, said on Thursday.
Car bomb in Damascus suburb kills seven: state media
BEIRUT (Reuters) – A car bomb killed at least 10 people and wounded around 62 on Thursday when it exploded on the edge of the Syrian capital Damascus, state media said.
Tunisian police fire teargas to disperse protesters in Sfax
TUNIS (Reuters) – Tunisian police fired teargas to disperse hundreds of protesters who stormed a local government office in Sfax, in the south of the country, in protest at the assassination of opposition figure Mohamed Brahmi, witnesses said
