Erdogan, Putin agree joint push to end Syria war

President Vladimir Putin and Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday agreed to step efforts to bring peace to Syria, with the Russian leader declaring the right conditions now existed to end the over six-year civil war.

UN aid chiefs to access Myanmar’s Rakhine

Representatives of UN agencies will be permitted to visit Rakhine state in Myanmar on Thursday for the first time since the start of a massive exodus of minority Rohingya Muslims.

Ireland to hold abortion referendum in 2018

Ireland announced it will hold a referendum next year on whether to repeal its constitutional ban on abortion in almost all cases – just a few weeks before Pope Francis visits.

Brazil scraps bid to mine Amazon natural reserve

The Brazilian government backed off a controversial proposal to authorize private companies to mine a sprawling Amazon reserve on Monday after blistering domestic and international criticism.

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