U.S. shoots down pro-Syrian government drone firing on coalition forces: spokesman
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States shot down a pro-Syrian regime armed drone that was attacking U.S.-led coalition forces in Syria on Thursday, a U.S. military spokesman said, the first time the regime had attacked coalition forces.
Brazil court excludes Odebrecht testimony against Temer
BRASILIA (Reuters) – Brazil’s top electoral court on Thursday excluded testimony of engineering company executives from an illegal campaign funding trial against President Michel Temer, a move that suggested it would throw out a case that had threatene…
Islamic State says it killed two Chinese teachers kidnapped in Pakistan
CAIRO/QUETTA, Pakistan (Reuters) – Islamic State has killed two Chinese teachers it kidnapped in Pakistan’s southwestern Baluchistan province last month, the militant group’s Amaq news agency said on Thursday, in a blow to Islamabad’s efforts to safegu…
Ethnic tensions bubble in Nigeria in echo of Biafra civil war
KADUNA, Nigeria (Reuters) – A northern Nigerian state’s governor on Wednesday ordered the arrest of activists for demanding the eviction of eastern Igbo people, amid rising tensions between ethnic groups that hark back to the country’s Biafra civil war…
Britain drops opposition to new EU military command center
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Union approved a new military command center for foreign training missions on Thursday after Britain dropped its opposition, the latest step in EU efforts to integrate its militaries and defense industries.
Italy ruling party says deal on new electoral law ‘dead,’ blames 5-Star
ROME (Reuters) – A deal struck among Italy’s main political parties over a new electoral law has unraveled, a senior figure from the ruling Democratic Party said on Thursday after his group lost a parliamentary vote on a proposed amendment.
Boko Haram make biggest raid on Nigeria’s Maiduguri in 18 months
MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (Reuters) – Boko Haram insurgents launched their biggest attack on the northeast Nigerian city of Maiduguri in 18 months on Wednesday night, the eve of a visit by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo to war refugees sheltering there.
Iran attackers fought for Islamic State in Syria, Iraq: ministry
ANKARA (Reuters) – Iran said on Thursday that gunmen and bombers who attacked Tehran were Iranian members of Islamic State who had fought in the militants’ strongholds in Syria and Iraq – deepening the regional ramifications of the assaults.
Qatar vows no surrender in Gulf crisis as U.S., Kuwait seek solution
DOHA (Reuters) – Qatar vowed on Thursday to ride out the isolation imposed on it by fellow Arab states over its alleged support for terrorism and said it would not compromise its sovereignty over foreign policy to resolve the region’s biggest diplomati…
Al Shabaab kills 38 in Somalia’s Puntland: military
BOSASO, Somalia (Reuters) – Al Shabaab militants killed 38 people, mostly soldiers, in an attack on a military base in Somalia’s semi-autonomous Puntland region on Thursday, an army officer said.
