‘I’ve never seen such war’ says 90-year-old rescued from Mosul
MOSUL, Iraq (Reuters) – Ninety-year-old Khatla Ali Abdallah has survived decades of turbulence in northern Iraq, but the frail grandmother who fled the battle for Mosul this week says the fighting there is the worst she has ever seen.
Bolivia complains to France about its portrayal in video game
LA PAZ (Reuters) – The Bolivian government has filed a formal complaint with the French embassy about a video game produced by a French company that portrays the South American country as an area controlled by drug traffickers, authorities said.
More cracks emerge in Fillon campaign as rivals push ahead
PARIS (Reuters) – French conservative presidential candidate Francois Fillon’s shrinking supporter base was eroded further on Thursday, a day after news that he faces a formal investigation for allegations he misused public funds.
Syrian government says opposition holding Geneva talks hostage
GENEVA (Reuters) – Syrian government negotiator Bashar al-Ja’afari said on Thursday the main Saudi-backed opposition group was holding peace talks hostage, and accused some of its members of “high treason” by receiving support from Saudi Arabia, Israel…
Mali jihadist groups announce they will merge: report
NOUAKCHOTT (Reuters) – Mali’s main jihadist groups said on Thursday they will merge under Islamist leader Iyad Ag-Ghali whose fighters have claimed multiple attacks on Malian, French and U.N. peacekeeping forces, Mauritania’s Nouakchott News Agency (AN…
Hungary builds new high-tech border fence – with few migrants in sight
GARA, Hungary (Reuters) – A daunting new barrier is beginning to loom over Hungary’s southern border, capable of delivering electric shocks to unwanted migrants and armed with heat sensors, cameras, and loudspeakers that blare in several languages.
Investigators search house of French presidential candidate Fillon: newspaper
PARIS (Reuters) – Investigators searched the house of French presidential candidate Francois Fillon on Thursday morning as part of an investigation into payments made to his wife, Le Parisien newspaper reported, citing unidentified sources.
No work means Ethiopia is no home for refugees – report
ADDIS ABABA (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – A ban on Eritrean refugees working in Ethiopia is hampering efforts to reduce illegal “secondary” migration, with tens of thousands risking violence and drowning in pursuit of a better life, the Overseas Development Institute said on Thursday.
U.S. pounds al Qaeda in Yemen with more than 20 strikes
WASHINGTON/ADEN, Yemen (Reuters) – The United States said it carried out more than 20 precision strikes in Yemen targeting al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula on Thursday, in the first major operations against the group since a January raid by U.S. comma…
Syrian army says it has recaptured Palmyra from Islamic State
BEIRUT (Reuters) – The Syrian army said it recaptured the ancient city of Palmyra from Islamic State on Thursday with help from allied forces and Russian air strikes.
