Russia’s Putin orders inquiry into handling of floods
KHABAROVSK, Russia (Reuters) – President Vladimir Putin ordered an inquiry on Thursday into local officials’ handling of Russia’s worst floods in 120 years, which have cost the country nearly $1 billion.
Saudi Arabia passes kingdom’s first domestic abuse law
DUBAI (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia has passed landmark legislation aimed at protecting women, children and domestic workers against domestic abuse, a human rights official said on Thursday, in a move aimed at reducing hidden violence against women in the k…
Pakistan overturns jail term of doctor who helped find bin Laden
PESHAWAR, Pakistan (Reuters) – Pakistan on Thursday overturned a 33-year jail term handed down to a doctor who helped CIA agents find al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, a decision which may result in a new trial.
Santos calls for calm as Colombian farm protests reach Bogota
BOGOTA (Reuters) – Thousands of Colombian farmers will march through the streets of Bogota on Thursday, converging on the capital after 11 days of increasingly violent protests around the country against agricultural and trade policies they say have le…
Syrian PM urges mobilization of resources in case of U.S. attack
BEIRUT – (Reuters) – Syrian Prime Minister Wael al-Halqi called on Thursday for mobilizing national resources to preserve essential state services in the case of a military attack by the United States and its Western allies in the coming days.
PM says Italy will not join Syrian operation unless U.N. backs it
ROME (Reuters) – Prime Minister Enrico Letta said on Thursday Italy would not join any military operation against Damascus without authorization from the United Nations Security Council.
Unthinkable to strike Syria if strong U.N. opposition: UK’s Cameron
LONDON (Reuters) – British Prime Minister David Cameron said on Thursday it was “unthinkable” that Britain would launch military action against Syria to punish and deter it from chemical weapons use if there was strong opposition at the United Nations …
Opposition sets deadline for Tunisia crisis talks
TUNIS (Reuters) – Tunisia’s secular opposition parties and leading civil society groups said on Thursday the Islamist-led government must respond by this weekend to a trade union offer to mediate in the country’s political standoff.
Ghana’s Supreme Court rejects opposition challenge to 2012 vote
ACCRA (Reuters) – Ghana’s Supreme Court on Thursday rejected an opposition challenge to President John Mahama’s victory in December’s presidential election, ending months of legal wrangling in the oil- and cocoa-exporting African nation.
Germany calls on Russia to use U.N. for Syrian reaction
BERLIN (Reuters) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel urged Russian President Vladimir Putin in a phone call on Thursday to use the United Nations Security Council to get a quick, international reaction to Syria’s conflict, her spokesman said in a stateme…
