U.S.-backed forces in Syria’s Raqqa say they take old city
BEIRUT (Reuters) – The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), an alliance of Kurdish and Arab militias, said on Friday it had taken the last districts in the old city of Raqqa from Islamic State, but the U.S.-led coalition which backs it could not confirm the…
Kenyan court scraps presidential vote, Kenyatta pledges to return to polls
NAIROBI (Reuters) – Kenya’s Supreme Court on Friday nullified President Uhuru Kenyatta’s election win citing irregularities and ordered a new poll within 60 days, a rare move in Africa where judicial power is often seen as an extension of government.
Russia, digesting U.S. diplomatic retaliation, pledges ‘harsh’ response
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia said on Friday it would respond harshly to any U.S. measures designed to hurt it, a day after the United States told Moscow to close its San Francisco consulate and buildings in Washington and New York.
Grace Mugabe returns to Zimbabwe campaign trail after assault charge
HARARE (Reuters) – Zimbabwe’s first lady Grace Mugabe hit the campaign trail with her husband Robert on Friday, urging discipline in his party two weeks after she faced assault charges in South Africa.
British WWII bomb in Frankfurt could flatten a city block
FRANKFURT (Reuters) – Failure to defuse a World War Two bomb found at a building site in Germany’s financial capital Frankfurt could cause a big enough explosion to flatten a city block, a fire department official said on Friday.
Muslim pilgrims converge on Jamarat for symbolic stoning of the devil
JAMARAT, Saudi Arabia (Reuters) – Two million Muslim pilgrims performed a symbolic stoning of the devil on Friday, the riskiest part of the annual haj pilgrimage where hundreds of people were killed in a crush two years ago.
Finnish police release one more held over Aug 18 knife attack
HELSINKI (Reuters) – Finnish police on Friday released another of the men suspected of involvement in fatal stabbings in the city of Turku on Aug. 18, leaving just one suspect in custody.
Xi’s power on parade as China party congress looms
BEIJING (Reuters) – The recent scene at a dusty Inner Mongolia military base provided evidence of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s consolidation of political power, even as he faces pushback from some quarters in his ruling Communist Party ahead of a cri…
Austrian Chancellor’s party sues Foreign Minister ahead of election
VIENNA (Reuters) – Austria’s ruling Social Democratic Party (SPO) is suing Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz, the chairman of its junior coalition partner, after he accused Chancellor Christian Kern’s party of secretly accepting a 100,000 euro ($119,120)…
EU executive says Hungary might get more border money – but not for fences
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The EU’s executive said on Friday it might consider giving more cash to Hungary for border protection – but not for a fence – and suggested Prime Minister Viktor Orban was asking for “solidarity” from the bloc without showing enoug…
