Four killed, several injured as train collides with army vehicle in Finland
HELSINKI (Reuters) – Four people were killed and several injured when a train crashed into an army truck during a military exercise in southern Finland on Thursday, police and defense forces said.
Strike brings Athens Metro to a standstill, streets gridlocked
ATHENS (Reuters) – The Athens Metro came to a standstill on Thursday when workers in the Greek capital began a 24-hour strike to oppose the possible privatization of the rail operator.
Indonesia fireworks factory explosion kills 27, injures 35: media
JAKARTA (Reuters) – An explosion and a fire at a fireworks factory in an area west of Indonesia’s capital of Jakarta have killed 27 people and injured 35, media said on Thursday, citing police and firefighters.
Iraq launches final offensive on Islamic State, near Syrian border
(Reuters) – Iraqi forces launched on Thursday an offensive to recapture the last patch of Iraqi territory still in the hands of Islamic State, on the border area with Syria, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said.
Iraqi PM Abadi insists outcome of Kurdish independence referendum be canceled
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraq’s prime minister insisted on Thursday that the Kurdish independence referendum be declared void, an apparent rejection of the Kurdistan region’s offer to “freeze” its independence push as part of efforts to resolve the crisis t…
Sea of black as thousands gather in Thailand for late king’s funeral
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Amid beating drums, the whistle of an ancient flute and an artillery salute, Thailand began a lavish and elaborate ceremony on Thursday steeped in ancient rites for the funeral and cremation of revered late King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
Turkey to detain 121 ex-foreign ministry staff over Gulen links: media
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkish police began an operation to detain 121 former foreign ministry staff across the country on Thursday over their alleged links to the U.S.-based cleric who Ankara says orchestrated last year’s attempted coup, state-run Anado…
Burning barricades mark start of Kenya election re-run
KISUMU, Kenya (Reuters) – Polling stations in Kenyan opposition strongholds were shuttered on Thursday and youths burnt street barricades, heeding an election boycott set to hand victory to President Uhuru Kenyatta, but with a mandate compromised by lo…
Iraq launches military operation to recapture western border region
(Reuters) – Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi announced early on Thursday an offensive to recapture the western border region of al-Qaim and Rawa, close to the Syrian border, from the Islamic State militant group.
NZ Prime Minister heads to trade talks with foreign investment ban on her mind
WELLINGTON (Reuters) – New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Thursday she will seek to renegotiate the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement in Vietnam in two weeks’ time to allow the government to ban foreign speculators buying New Zea…
