Australian PM Rudd makes last-ditch plea to voters as polls slip
CANBERRA (Reuters) – Australia’s Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, struggling to avert a landslide election defeat in six days, pledged tax breaks and education programs on Sunday to counter a slowing economy in a last-ditch plea to voters.
Obama delays strike against Syria to seek Congress approval
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama stepped back from the brink on Saturday and delayed an imminent military strike against Syria to seek approval from the U.S. Congress in a gamble that will test his ability to project American strength abro…
Nigeria’s ruling party splinters, in threat to Jonathan
ABUJA (Reuters) – Seven Nigerian ruling party governors and a former presidential candidate formed a splinter group opposed to President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday, in the most explicit internal threat yet to his assumed bid to run for another term …
Yemen PM escapes unhurt after gunmen shoot at motorcade: aide
SANAA (Reuters) – Unidentified assailants opened fire on the motorcade of Yemen’s prime minister on Saturday, an aide said, in an apparent assassination attempt that underscored the volatility of the U.S.-allied Arab country.
Suez Canal Authority says attack attempted on container ship
CAIRO (Reuters) – A “terrorist” staged an unsuccessful attack on a container ship passing through the Suez Canal on Saturday, in an attempt to disrupt the flow of ships through the waterway, the head of the Suez Canal Authority Mohab Memish said.
Obama will hold off on Syria strike until Congress has its say
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama on Saturday backed away from an imminent military strike against Syria to seek the approval of the U.S. Congress, in a decision that likely delays U.S. action for at least 10 days.
Nigeria Islamists kill 24 vigilantes in ambush
MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (Reuters) – Twenty-four vigilantes in northeast Nigeria were killed in an ambush during a botched attempt to arrest members of Islamist sect Boko Haram, one a member of their group and a security source said on Saturday.
France’s Hollande facing pressure for deputies to vote on Syria
PARIS (Reuters) – French President Francois Hollande reaffirmed to U.S. President Barack Obama on Saturday his will to punish Syria for a suspected chemicals weapons attack but was under increasing pressure to put the intervention to parliament.
Indian teen sentenced to three years in Delhi gang rape case
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – An Indian teenager was sentenced to three years in juvenile detention on Saturday for the December gang rape of a trainee physiotherapist, the first verdict in a case that sparked debate over whether India is too soft on young off…
Hundreds of Iraqis protest against lawmaker privileges
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Hundreds of protesters took to the streets in Baghdad and central and southern Iraq on Saturday against generous pension payments to lawmakers in a county where many are still struggling to get jobs and basic services.
