Kenyan election official flees country ahead of presidential poll
NAIROBI (Reuters) – A top Kenyan election commissioner has quit and fled the country a week before a re-run of the presidential vote, citing political intimidation and saying the election would be a “mockery” of democracy.
Smugglers offer new routes to Europe for jobless Tunisians
OFF THE TUNISIAN COAST (Reuters) – Tunisian smugglers are offering migrants seeking a fresh start in Europe a new route from Africa to Italy.
Iraqi forces take control of Kurdish-held areas in Mosul’s Niveveh’s province
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraqi forces have taken control of areas previously held by Kurdish forces in Mosul’s Nineveh province in northern Iraq, a military statement said on Wednesday.
Swiss man stands trial in Germany on spying charges
FRANKFURT (Reuters) – A Swiss man accused of spying on a German tax authority to find out how it obtained details of secret Swiss bank accounts set up by Germans to avoid tax is due in court on Wednesday for the start of his trial on espionage charges….
Defeat of Islamic State in Raqqa may herald wider struggle for U.S.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The defeat of Islamic State in its de facto capital Raqqa may only be the start of a wider struggle by the United States to contain any insurgency launched by the militant group and to stabilize the region, as Washington grapples…
New Zealand’s kingmaker party sets Thursday to unveil result of talks to form government
WELLINGTON (Reuters) – New Zealand’s small nationalist party, which holds the balance of power after last month’s inconclusive elections, will make an announcement on Thursday on the result of talks with the two major parties to form the next governmen…
Pakistan blast kills at least six in southwestern city
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – An explosion ripped through a police truck on Wednesday to kill at least six people in Pakistan’s southwestern city of Quetta, police said.
Explosion damages Swedish police station, none injured
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) – An explosion overnight in the southern Swedish town of Helsingborg caused extensive damage to the entrance of a police station, authorities said on Wednesday.
New Zealand’s kingmaker party to make announcement on government formation on Thursday
WELLINGTON (Reuters) – New Zealand’s small nationalist party said on Wednesday it would be in a position to make an announcement on the formation of the next government on Thursday afternoon, New Zealand First said in a statement.
China’s Xi pledges to build ‘modern socialist country’
BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese President Xi Jinping opened a critical Communist Party Congress on Wednesday with a pledge to build a “modern socialist country” that will never copy the political systems of others and will remain open to the world.
