Last-minute scramble as Nigeria closes capital’s airport for six weeks
KADUNA, Nigeria (Reuters) – Workmen were attempting to finish electrical fittings and lay tiles at a new terminal in northern Nigeria’s Kaduna airport on Wednesday just hours before it takes over responsibility for handling passengers bound for the cap…
German police break up suspected online crime ring
BERLIN (Reuters) – German police have raided over 120 apartments and business premises across the country in an investigation into a suspected online crime ring, the BKA federal police said on Wednesday.
Striking Kenyan doctors defy government, will not resume work
NAIROBI (Reuters) – Kenya’s state sector doctors, who have been on strike for three months, said on Wednesday they would not resume work after a government order the day before, and would wait for the conclusion of court-supervised resolution of the di…
Israel moves to mute mosques’ call to prayer over loudspeakers
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – A law to muffle mosques’ amplified calls to prayer in Israel and occupied East Jerusalem won preliminary approval on Wednesday in a charged parliamentary session where Arab legislators denounced the measure as racist.
Poland warns EU against reappointing Tusk as Council chair
WARSAW/BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Poland’s euroskeptic government urged other EU states on Wednesday not to reappoint Donald Tusk, a former Polish prime minister, as chairman of the European Council, saying it would further damage the fragile unity of the bl…
Three mass graves discovered in central Congo: U.N.
KINSHASA (Reuters) – Three mass graves have been discovered in central Democratic Republic of Congo, where hundreds have been killed since July in clashes between security forces and a local militia, the top U.N. rights official said on Wednesday.
French envoy to Japan says he would not serve under Le Pen
PARIS (Reuters) – France’s ambassador to Japan has pledged not to serve under far-right leader Marine Le Pen if she becomes president, saying her policies are at odds with French principles.
Islamic State leader Baghdadi abandons Mosul fight to field commanders, U.S. and Iraqi sources say
MOSUL, Iraq/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. and Iraqi officials believe the leader of Islamic State, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, has left operational commanders behind with diehard followers to fight the battle of Mosul, and is now hiding out in the desert, focu…
EU tries to contain East-West schism as Brexit bites
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – As Britain hands the European Union its formal notice to quit this month, Brussels is resigned to losing part of the EU’s western flank but is increasingly stressed that upset in the east is pulling the survivors further apart.
Lebanon appoints new army chief-media
BEIRUT (Reuters) – The Lebanese government appointed General Joseph Aoun as army commander on Wednesday, Lebanese media reported, replacing General Jean Kahwaji at the head of a force that has been guarantor of civil peace since the 1975-90 civil war.
