Kurds and Shi’ite forces to coordinate in push to encircle Mosul
ERBIL/BAGHDAD, Iraq (Reuters) – Kurdish and Shi’ite forces near Mosul have agreed to coordinate their operations in support of a U.S-backed offensive seeking to encircle and capture Islamic State’s last major urban stronghold in Iraq, U.S. and Iraqi of…
Merkel fears social bots may manipulate German election
BERLIN (Reuters) – Chancellor Angela Merkel’s biggest contender in next year’s German election campaign may not be a rival party leader but so-called “social bots” – software programmed to sway opinion on social media sites.
Syrian refugee arrested in Germany with bomb-making materials
BERLIN (Reuters) – German police arrested a 20-year-old Syrian refugee who sympathized with Islamic State after he tried to cross into Denmark with potential bomb-making materials, a spokesman for the Stuttgart prosecutor’s office said on Thursday.
Aleppo rebels agree aid plan, Russia, Syria yet to approve: U.N.
GENEVA (Reuters) – Syrian rebels in besieged east Aleppo have agreed to a U.N. plan for aid delivery and medical evacuations, but the United Nations is awaiting a green light from Russia and the Syrian government, humanitarian adviser Jan Egeland said …
Peru government renews bid to keep conflicts from turning deadly
LIMA (Reuters) – A government commission in Peru traveled to a remote Andean region this week to reassure locals that sorely-needed public works were on the way, part of a renewed bid to keep conflicts in the mineral-rich country from turning deadly, t…
Basque Country leader to push for more autonomy from Spain
MADRID (Reuters) – The Basque Country will seek more autonomy from Spain, its regional government chief said as he was sworn in for a second four-year term on Thursday, potentially putting him on course for a showdown with Madrid.
EU lawmakers back data-sharing deal on security, terrorism with U.S.
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – European Parliament lawmakers backed a data-sharing deal on Thursday with the United States for security and terrorism investigations which aims to safeguard data exchanged between national authorities.
U.S. soldiers celebrate thanksgiving in a military base north of Iraq
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – U.S. troops celebrated Thanksgiving at an Iraqi army base in Qayyara, some 60 km (38 miles) south of Mosul, where a U.S.-led coalition is helping Iraqi forces battle Islamic State.
At least 67 killed in China power plant mishap
BEIJING (Reuters) – A platform under construction at a power plant in eastern China collapsed early on Thursday, killing 67 people and injuring two, while rescuers pulled one worker from the debris, state media said.
Swiss nuclear exit vote raises prospect of more fossil fuels
ZURICH/FRANKFURT (Reuters) – Switzerland votes in a referendum on Sunday on whether to make a speedy withdrawal from atomic energy production, a move that would reduce nuclear risks but raise reliance on fossil fuels from Germany or imported nuclear po…
