French PM defends burkini ban but some in cabinet wary
PARIS (Reuters) – French Prime Minister Manuel Valls defended a ban on burkinis in more than a dozen coastal towns on Thursday, saying France was locked in a “battle of cultures” and that the full-body swimsuit symbolized the enslavement of women.
Exclusive: Chinese-Mexican man at center of $205 million seizure could be extradited to Mexico in days – lawyer
WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) – A Chinese-Mexican businessman accused of drug trafficking could be handed over by U.S. authorities to Mexican authorities as early as next week as he has nearly exhausted his legal options, ending a years-long extraditio…
Italy quake toll hits 250 as rescuers search flattened towns
AMATRICE, Italy (Reuters) – The death toll from a devastating earthquake in central Italy climbed to 250 on Thursday as rescue teams scoured mounds of rubble for a second day in towns and villages flattened by the natural disaster.
Poverty will hobble Colombia’s anti-drugs push after peace deal
TACUEYO, Colombia (Reuters) – Jose Toconas picks at branches hanging in rows from the roof of his marijuana drying house and smells their spiky flower buds.
Al Shabaab militants bomb Somali beach restaurant, gunfight ongoing
MOGADISHU (Reuters) – Al Shabaab militants attacked a beach restaurant in the capital Mogadishu on Thursday, with gunmen raiding the building after setting off a car bomb, police and the insurgent group said.
Iran vessels make ‘high speed intercept’ of U.S. ship: U.S. official
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Four of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) vessels “harassed” a U.S. warship on Tuesday near the Strait of Hormuz, a U.S. defense official said, amid Washington’s concerns about Iran’s posture in the Gulf and in the …
Zuma says backs finance minister but can’t stop investigation
PRETORIA (Reuters) – South African President Jacob Zuma said on Thursday he backed Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan but was powerless to stop a police investigation into him, signaling a prolonged tussle that could rock markets further.
Kerry calls for unity government in Yemen to end war
JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Thursday he had agreed in talks with Gulf Arab states and the United Nations in Saudi Arabia on a plan to restart peace talks Yemen with a goal of forming a unity government.
Gun, bomb attack on American University in Kabul kills 13
KABUL (Reuters) – Thirteen people, including students and a professor, were killed in an attack on the American University in Kabul that had students leaping from the windows in panic, the Afghan government said on Thursday.
Peace much cheaper than war, Colombia tells critics of FARC deal
HAVANA (Reuters) – Colombia’s government peace negotiators hit back on Thursday at critics of a deal to end half a century of war with leftist FARC guerrillas, saying the cost of bringing the rebel fighters into society was much lower than spending on …
