Syria rebels strike Assad’s Alawite stronghold, seize airport
AMMAN/BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syrian Islamist rebels have killed around 200 people in a three-day offensive in the mountain stronghold of President Bashar al-Assad’s Alawite sect and driven hundreds of villagers to seek refuge on the Mediterranean coast, ac…
Ugandan passes bill critics say seeks to silence opponents
KAMPALA (Reuters) – Ugandan lawmakers on Tuesday passed a controversial public order law that drew sharp criticism from the opposition and human rights campaigners who said it was intended to silence dissent.
Head of Tunisia assembly suspends its work, wants dialogue
TUNIS (Reuters) – The head of Tunisia’s Constituent Assembly has suspended the body’s work until the Islamist-led government and the secular opposition begin a dialogue, the state news agency said on Tuesday.
U.N. aid chief sends Security Council ideas to ease aid distribution in Syria
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – U.N. aid chief Valerie Amos has sent the U.N. Security Council a wish list of ways aid can be better distributed in Syria that includes allowing cross-border deliveries, humanitarian pauses in fighting and advance notice of m…
U.S. says it awaits Iran’s ‘credible steps’ on nuclear issue
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The inauguration of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani is a chance for that country to move quickly to resolve concerns about its nuclear program, but the United States wants to see actions from Tehran, the State Department said on…
India-Pakistan talks in jeopardy as Indian soldiers killed
SRINAGAR, India (Reuters) – India said a group of militants from Pakistan killed five of its soldiers in an ambush along the disputed border in Kashmir on Tuesday, an accusation that threatens to derail efforts to resume peace talks.
Merkel challenger Steinbrueck takes aim at ECB low rates policy
FRANKFURT (Reuters) – Chancellor Angela Merkel’s main challenger in next month’s German election criticized ECB President Mario Draghi’s pledge to keep interest rates at record lows for an extended period, saying the move put savers in an “unspeakable …
U.N. finalizing Syria visit by chemical weapons experts
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The United Nations said on Tuesday it is finalizing the legal and logistical details of a mission by U.N. inspectors to Syria to investigate claims of chemical weapons attacks.
U.S. plans to go ahead with high-level Russia talks: sources
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States will hold talks with Russia’s defense and foreign ministers in Washington on Friday despite Moscow’s decision to grant asylum to former U.S. spy agency contractor Edward Snowden, U.S. officials told Reuters on T…
Malta insists rescued migrants to be denied entry
VALLETTA/BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Malta said on Tuesday it would not allow a tanker which picked up 102 migrants off the Libyan coast to dock, despite a call from the European Union for it to do so on humanitarian grounds.
