Syrian army air attacks kill 28 in northwest: monitor
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Aerial bombardment by the Syrian army in northwest Syria, the biggest remaining rebel-held enclave, killed at least 28 people on Thursday, a war monitor said.
Portugal’s finance minister cleared in soccer ticket probe
LISBON (Reuters) – Prosecutors have dropped an investigation into Portuguese Finance Minister Mario Centeno, who heads the Eurogroup, over allegations of receiving tickets from soccer club Benfica, the prosecutor said on Thursday.
Loud explosion heard in Turkey’s Ankara, NTV says blast at empty tax building
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – A loud explosion was heard in the Turkish capital Ankara on Thursday and ambulances were heard rushing to the scene.
Lebanon says will not force Syrian refugees to return
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri said on Thursday that Lebanon would not force refugees to return to Syria but called for more international help in dealing with the refugee crisis.
Arab League head says U.S. aid cut for U.N. agency puts stability at risk
CAIRO (Reuters) – Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit said on Thursday that a cut in U.S. funding for a U.N. agency that helps Palestinian refugees will put the stability and security of the region at risk.
Greece sees breakthrough soon in Macedonia name impasse
ATHENS (Reuters) – Greece will soon submit draft proposals to resolve its decades-old name row with Macedonia, its foreign minister said, adding that a settlement could be reached in the coming months.
Envoy believes U.S. not close to military option against North Korea
TOKYO (Reuters) – A U.S. special envoy said on Thursday all options remain on the table for solving the crisis over North Korea’s nuclear missile program but that he did not think the Trump administration was close to triggering military action.
Man radicalized by TV drama guilty of ramming van into Muslims near London mosque
LONDON (Reuters) – A man who developed a hatred of Muslims after watching a TV drama about child sex crimes involving Asian men was found guilty on Thursday of ploughing a van into worshippers outside a north London Mosque weeks later, killing one.
Kurdish militant attacks near Iraq border kill three Turkish soldiers: army
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Three Turkish soldiers were killed and seven wounded on Thursday in separate attacks carried out by Kurdish militants targeting troops stationed in the southeastern Turkish province of Hakkari and in northern Iraq, the army said.
South Africa’s Zuma to meet ANC top six ‘over his future’: state broadcaster
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South African President Jacob Zuma will meet the top six officials of the ruling party over his future this weekend, the state broadcaster said on Thursday, adding to speculation Zuma could be removed as head of state.
