U.S. troops in Iraq increasingly active as Mosul battle nears
GREAT ZAB RIVER, Iraq (Reuters) – Kurdish Peshmerga forces retook a swath of northern Iraq late last month from Islamic State and days later American forces appeared in the area, the latest sign of increasing U.S. military activity in the country.
Merkel, under pressure, stresses need to deport failed asylum-seekers
BERLIN (Reuters) – In a sharp change of tone, Chancellor Angela Merkel wants German authorities to accelerate the deportation of foreigners who are denied asylum, in response to growing public fears over the soaring numbers of migrants, members of parl…
Australia must choose between United States and China: U.S. Army official
SYDNEY (Reuters) – A senior U.S. soldier said on Thursday Australia must choose between a stronger U.S. alliance or closer ties with China, and urged Canberra to take a tougher stance against Chinese claims in the South China Sea.
Syrian opposition says Aleppo battle hides ‘cleansing’ of siege towns
GENEVA (Reuters) – Russian air cover and Iranian-backed militias are enabling Syria’s government to keep fighting in Aleppo, distracting the world from the planned “cleansing” of besieged areas across Syria, an opposition negotiator told Reuters on Thu…
Brazil’s ousted President Rousseff appeals to Supreme Court
BRASILIA (Reuters) – Brazil’s ousted President Dilma Rousseff appealed to the Supreme Court on Thursday to overturn the Senate’s decision to remove her from office for breaking budgetary rules.
Bolivia announces mining crackdown after murder of government official
LA PAZ (Reuters) – Bolivia on Thursday announced a crackdown on the operations of mining co-operatives, a week after the murder of a government official who had attempted dialogue with protesting miners.
Philippine president turns down meeting with U.N. chief after drug war dispute
MANILA (Reuters) – Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has turned down a meeting with U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, the United Nations and the Philippine government said on Thursday, after threatening to quit the body last month over criticism o…
First known TV interview with Nelson Mandela comes to light
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – The first known television interview with South Africa’s late anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela has emerged, featuring a bearded activist defiantly vowing to fight racism in footage believed to have dated from 1956.
Germany, Italy, France to meet with Turkey on migrants: Merkel
BERLIN (Reuters) – The leaders of Germany, France and Italy will discuss the migrant crisis with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of a meeting of the G20 countries in China next week, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday.
Exclusive: U.S. set to approve sales of Boeing fighters to Qatar, Kuwait, sources say
DOHA/BERLIN (Reuters) – The United States is poised to sell $7 billion worth of Boeing Co fighter jets to Qatar and Kuwait after years of delays, and it may start notifying U.S. lawmakers as early as next week, four U.S.- and Gulf-based sources familia…
