Castro’s death could change Cuba reform dynamic, much depends on Trump
HAVANA (Reuters) – Fidel Castro’s death could give his younger brother, President Raul Castro, more space to pursue economic reforms, but change will also depend on whether U.S. President-elect Donald Trump decides to work with or challenge Cuba’s comm…
Libyan forces face deadly Islamic State defense in Sirte holdout
SIRTE, Libya (Reuters) – Libyan forces faced fierce resistance on Saturday from Islamic State militants defending a final strip of land in their former stronghold of Sirte, losing at least five men, officials said.
Rouhani urges Iran-Turkey joint efforts in Iraq, Syria
DUBAI (Reuters) – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani called on Saturday for greater cooperation between regional rivals Iran and Turkey to help establish stability in Syria and Iraq.
Don’t underestimate EU warnings on membership talks, Juncker tells Turkey
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Turkey should heed European Union warnings over halting membership talks and carry out reforms demanded by the bloc, the president of the European Commission said on Saturday in a newspaper interview.
Two new rebel evacuation deals near Damascus: monitor
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Two deals to evacuate rebels and their weapons from parts of the Damascus suburbs have been reached, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Saturday, as government attacks on the remaining opposition-held areas around the ca…
Kuwaitis vote in austerity-focused poll, energized by opposition
KUWAIT (Reuters) – Kuwaitis voted on Saturday in an election energized by the participation of opposition candidates for the first time since 2012 and focused on recent government austerity measures aimed at tackling the oil-rich nation’s deficit.
Suspected car bomb kills at least 10 people in Somali capital
MOGADISHU (Reuters) – A suspected car bomb killed at least 10 people when it exploded at a police checkpoint next to a busy market in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, on Saturday, police and witnesses said.
Warplanes hit Islamic State targets in northern Syria: Turkish army
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkish warplanes destroyed 12 Islamic State targets while one Turkish soldier was killed in a clash with militants during an offensive in northern Syria, Turkey’s military said on Saturday.
Ukraine’s missile test plans near Crimea heat up row with Russia
MOSCOW/KIEV (Reuters) – Moscow protested against Ukraine’s plans to carry out missile tests near Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014 following the toppling of a pro-Russian Ukrainian president, raising the temperature in the dispute between the two co…
In northern Iraq, Yazidis risk all to flee Islamic State
DUHOK, Iraq (Reuters) – When shells began crashing around the town of Tal Afar as Shi’ite militias brought the fight to Islamic State in northern Iraq, Abu Faraj saw his chance to escape captivity.
