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UK softens tone against Syria's Assad, moots transition period

By Kylie MacLellan and William James LONDON (Reuters) – Britain could accept Syrian President Bashar al-Assad staying in place for a transition period if it helped resolve the country’s conflict, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said on Wednesday, in what appeared to be a softening of tone on the Syrian leader. Britain, along with other Western countries, has repeatedly called for Assad to go, saying it is a precondition for bringing

US stocks rise following gains in Asia and Europe

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rose in midday trading on optimism that policymakers in Asia will do more to help boost growth in the region. Japan’s stock market logged its biggest gain in almost seven years after comments from the country’s prime minister raised expectations of more measures to shore up economic growth. China’s No. 2 leader said that the nation had no plans to devalue its currency further

Group urges Republican candidates to defund Planned Parenthood

By Ginger Gibson WASHINGTON (Reuters) – An influential conservative group is calling on Republican presidential candidates to vow they will veto any future funding for women’s healthcare provider Planned Parenthood, which is under fire from abortion opponents. In a letter seen by Reuters that is being sent to all party hopefuls in the 2016 White House race, the ForAmerica advocacy group asks candidates to make “a firm commitment” to starve

Defiant Kentucky clerk's backers want aides fired over marriage licenses to gays

By Steve Bittenbender MOREHEAD, Ky. (Reuters) – Supporters of Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis, who refused to issue marriage licenses to gay couples due to her religious beliefs, said on Wednesday that any of her deputies who provide such documents without her permission should be fired. U.S. District Judge David Bunning ordered Davis released on Tuesday after six days in jail, warning her not to interfere with her deputy clerks

Baltimore board OKs $6.4 million settlement to Freddie Gray family

Baltimore city officials on Wednesday approved a $6.4 million settlement to the family of Freddie Gray, a black man whose death from an injury in police custody triggered protests and rioting. The unanimous vote by the Board of Estimates comes ahead of a Thursday hearing on moving the trials of six police officers charged in Gray’s death from a spinal injury from the city.