Philippines’ defense minister says military can cope without U.S. aid
MANILA (Reuters) – U.S.-Philippines ties are going through “bumps on the road” and the Philippine military could manage if treaty ally the United States were to withdraw aid, the defense minister said on Friday.
Heavy toll weighs on Misrata after battle for Libya’s Sirte
MISRATA, Libya (Reuters) – Next to the rusting shell cases outside Misrata’s museum of Libya’s 2011 uprising is a new addition: a scaffold used by Islamic State in Sirte to display bodies of executed prisoners, mounted on a would-be suicide bomber’s ca…
Three Turkish diplomats seeking asylum in Germany after coup: media
BERLIN (Reuters) – At least three Turkish diplomats, reportedly including one military attache, are seeking asylum in Germany in the wake of the failed military coup in Turkey, German media cited government sources as saying.
Dutch to cut role in U.N. peace mission in Mali
AMSTERDAM/BERLIN (Reuters) – The Dutch government said on Friday it would continue its peacekeeping mission in Mali in 2017 but will withdraw its helicopter contingent at the start of the year, leaving the United Nations struggling to find replacement …
Exclusive: Russia builds up forces in Syria, Reuters data analysis shows
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia has built up its forces in Syria since a ceasefire collapsed in late September, sending in troops, planes and advanced missile systems, a Reuters analysis of publicly available tracking data shows.
Swap maize for millet? Zimbabwe’s farmers just say no
BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – In the battle for food security, Fanuel Dube is resisting his government – and giving in to his children.
Kurdish militant group claims motorbike bombing in Istanbul: website
ANKARA (Reuters) – The Kurdistan Freedom Hawks (TAK), an offshoot of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militant group, said on Friday it carried out a bomb attack near a police station in Istanbul on Thursday that injured 10 people.
Turkey says Shi’ite role in Iraq’s Mosul battle will ‘increase problems’
ANKARA (Reuters) – Involving Shi’ite militias in an operation to drive Islamic State out of the Iraqi city of Mosul will not bring peace, Turkey’s foreign minister said on Friday, adding that Turkish-trained forces should be involved.
Germany to curb EU citizens’ access to welfare payments
BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany plans to sharply curb EU citizens’ access to welfare benefits with new draft legislation that would save local communities billions of euros, government officials said on Friday.
Ghana to remove Gandhi statue because of his ‘alleged racism’
DAKAR (Reuters) – Ghana will move a statue of Mahatma Gandhi from its main university because of his “alleged past racist comments”, the foreign ministry said, while paying tribute to Gandhi’s role as a civil rights leader.
