Pakistani forces struggle to capture gangsters’ island stronghold
ISLAMABAD/LAHORE, Pakistan (Reuters) – Pakistani forces battled on Friday to dislodge a criminal gang holding 24 hostages from its island hideout in the prosperous province of Punjab, with a top regional official saying it had at most 48 hours in which…
Air raids intensify in Syria’s Homs, prayers canceled: doctor, monitors
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syrian government air strikes hit rebel-held areas north of the city of Homs for a second day, forcing authorities to cancel Friday prayers for the first time in six months, monitors and a doctor there said.
Belgium sets May 9 trial date over foiled Islamic State plot
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Belgian judges on Friday set a May 9 trial date for three men accused of plotting Islamic State attacks that were foiled by a police raid in the town of Verviers last year in which two men died in a gunbattle.
Pope, Orthodox leaders to visit Greek front line of refugee crisis
LESBOS, Greece/VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Pope Francis and the spiritual head of the world’s Orthodox Christians will set aside centuries of dispute on Saturday when they visit a Greek island on the front line of Europe’s migrant crisis to highlight the …
Wartime Jewish remains buried in Hungary, a reminder of dark past
BUDAPEST (Reuters) – Miklos Heisler was 17 when the Arrow Cross Party took power in Hungary in the final years of World War Two and began a short reign of terror in which thousands of Jews, previously spared from deportation, were killed in Budapest.
Aftershocks rattle southwestern Japan after quake kills nine
TOKYO (Reuters) – Aftershocks rattled southwestern Japan on Friday after a strong quake the night before killed nine people, injured at least 1,000 and cut power and water across the region, forcing the temporary shutdown of several auto and electronic…
Islamist militants in Philippines set deadline to execute foreign captives
(Reuters) – Islamist militants in the Philippines on Friday announced a new deadline of April 25 for the execution of three foreign captives and a Filipino, but scaled back their ransom demand in a video posted on social media.
Egypt protesters call for downfall of the ‘regime’
CAIRO (Reuters) – About 200 protesters called for the downfall of the Egyptian “regime” in protests on Friday triggered by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s decision to hand over two islands to Saudi Arabia, Reuters witnesses said.
Gulf-backed Yemeni forces seize city from al Qaeda: military source
ADEN (Reuters) – Yemeni forces backed by Apache helicopters from a Saudi-led coalition wrested the city of Houta from al Qaeda fighters after a gun battle on Friday morning, a local military official said.
EU’s Tusk warns Macedonia not to risk its EU, NATO ties
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – European Council President Donald Tusk warned Macedonia on Friday not to let its political crisis risk its ties with the European Union and NATO.
