New Syrian jihadist alliance vows to step up attacks against army
AMMAN (Reuters) – The head of a new alliance of Syrian Islamist factions, including a former affiliate of al Qaeda, has promised to escalate attacks against the Syrian army and its Iranian-backed allies with the goal of toppling President Bashar al-Ass…
EU top diplomat discusses Russia, Iran nuclear deal with Tillerson
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – In their first meeting, the European Union’s foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson spoke “at length” about terrorism, Russia, the Iran nuclear deal and Ukraine, the EU said in a stateme…
Shifting Afghan frontlines make aid work harder, more dangerous
KABUL (Reuters) – When a convoy of Red Cross workers drove into remote northern Afghanistan on Wednesday with supplies for victims of snow storms, they were entering a region that had recently seen dangerous and unpredictable changes.
Keynote Zuma speech disrupted as lawmakers brawl, walk out
CAPE TOWN (Reuters) – A session of South Africa’s parliament convened for a keynote address by the president descended into chaos on Thursday as far-left lawmakers brawled with orderlies after interrupting the speech and the main opposition party walke…
Over 100 dead in Brazil as police strike spurs anarchy
VITORIA, Brazil (Reuters) – More than 100 people have been reported killed during a six-day strike by police in the Brazilian state of Espirito Santo, as hundreds of troops patrolled streets attempting to keep order with schools and businesses closed a…
Dutch police say seize materials to make one billion Ecstasy pills
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – Dutch police said they seized enough materials to make a billion Ecstasy pills in a truck near the border with Belgium on Thursday.
Egypt shuts torture victims treatment center: lawyer
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egyptian police raided and shut down on Thursday a prominent local organization that documents alleged human rights abuses and treats torture victims, the group’s lawyer told Reuters.
Merkel says euro zone must remain one bloc
BERLIN (Reuters) – The euro zone must remain as one bloc, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday, urging members of the single currency bloc to deliver on their common commitments.
U.S. general wants thousands more troops to break Afghan stalemate
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan said on Thursday he needs several thousand more international troops in order to break a stalemate in the long war with Taliban insurgents, signaling the matter may soon be put before Preside…
U.S. VP Pence heralds ‘new day’ in relations with Turkey: Turkish PM’s office
ANKARA (Reuters) – U.S. Vice President Mike Pence told Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim it was a “new day” in Turkish-U.S. relations in a phone call on Thursday to discuss cooperation in the fight against terrorism, Yildirim’s office said in a st…
