After Islamic State, ruined Raqqa fears new strife
RAQQA, Syria (Reuters) – The morning after Islamic State’s defeat in Raqqa, a local militia fighter stood in a square in the ruined, deserted city center. “There will be more problems here,” he said.
Philippines’ Duterte orders army to recruit 10 new battalions to crush militants
MANILA (Reuters) – Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday ordered the new army commander to recruit and organize 10 new infantry battalions to crush remnants of pro-Islamic State militants, days after they were defeated in a southern city.
Iraq, Syria converge on Islamic State’s last strongholds
BAGHDAD/BEIRUT (Reuters) – Iraqi forces launched an attack to drive Islamic State from the last territory it holds in Iraq on Thursday and the Syrian army and its allies said they planned to march on the jihadist’s last Syrian stronghold.
Indonesia fireworks factory blasts kill 47, injure dozens: police
KOSAMBI, Indonesia (Reuters) – Two explosions and a fire at a fireworks factory on the western outskirts of Indonesia’s capital killed 47 people and injured dozens on Thursday, police said, and the death toll was expected to rise.
U.N. rejects Myanmar claim that it agreed to help build housing for refugees
YANGON (Reuters) – A UN settlement program, UN-Habitat in Myanmar, on Thursday rejected a state media report that it had agreed to help build housing for people fleeing violence in the northern Myanmar state of Rakhine, where an army operation has disp…
Catalan leader Puigdemont to call regional election: media
BARCELONA/MADRID (Reuters) – Catalan president Carles Puigdemont is set to call a snap regional election for Dec. 20, media said on Thursday, a move that could help break a one-month deadlock between the Madrid government and separatists seeking a spli…
Russia’s Putin urges tough action against online extremism
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that law enforcement agencies must take tough action against persons and groups using the Internet for extremist ends.
Indonesia fireworks factory explosions kill 47, injure dozens -police
KOSAMBI, Indonesia (Reuters) – Two explosions and a fire at a fireworks factory in the western outskirts of Indonesia’s capital killed 47 people and injured dozens on Thursday, police said, and the death toll was expected to rise.
Iraqi PM Abadi demands Kurds cancel secession bid as price for talks
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraq’s prime minister demanded on Thursday that Kurds declare their independence referendum void, rejecting the Kurdish autonomous region’s offer to suspend its independence push to resolve a crisis through talks.
On front page of China’s flagship paper, Xi gets Mao-like prominence
BEIJING (Reuters) – The ruling Communist Party’s flagship newspaper on Thursday provided more evidence that President Xi Jinping should be regarded as China’s most powerful leader since Mao Zedong after this week’s party congress.
