U.S. plans third patrol near disputed South China Sea islands: source
(Reuters) – The U.S. Navy plans to conduct another passage near disputed islands in the South China Sea in early April, a source familiar with the plan said on Friday, the third in a series of challenges that have drawn sharps rebukes from China.
Nusra Front, Syrian rebels attack government forces near Aleppo, gain ground
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syrian rebels and the al Qaeda-affiliated Nusra Front have mounted an offensive against Syrian government forces and on Saturday took a strategic hill south of Aleppo from government control, a monitoring group said.
Burundi says ‘fine’ with request for U.N. police deployment
NAIROBI (Reuters) – Burundi accepts the United Nations security council’s resolution to send in police, the foreign affairs minister told Reuters on Saturday, after months of political tension.
Austria wants to deploy soldiers on Italy border, defence minister says
BERLIN (Reuters) – Austria plans to deploy soldiers at the Brenner border with Italy to stem an expected increase in migrants trying to get to northern Europe, Defence Minister Hans Peter Doskozil told news outlets on Saturday.
Turkish coastguard halts migrants as preparations for EU deal begin
DIKILI, Turkey (Reuters) – Turkey’s coastguard stopped nearly 200 people trying to reach Greece on Saturday, underlining the challenge security forces face in convincing migrants contemplating the voyage that they will not be allowed to enter the EU.
German migrant numbers plunge due to Balkan route border controls
BERLIN (Reuters) – The number of migrants entering Germany from Austria fell more than seven times in March to below 5,000 due to the introduction of border controls by countries along the Balkans migrant route, an interior ministry official said on Sa…
Belgian police arrest protesters, stand off with youths
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Belgian police made a series of arrests of right-wing and anti-racist protesters in Brussels on Saturday, and riot squads engaged in a tense confrontation with local youths in the district of Molenbeek.
In ‘sign of hope’, bombed Brussels Airport to reopen Sunday
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Brussels Airport will partially reopen for passengers on Sunday, 12 days after suicide bombers destroyed its departure hall and killed 16 people.
Mass grave found in Palmyra after recapture from Islamic State: military
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syrian troops have identified 45 bodies so far in a mass grave found in the city of Palmyra after it was recaptured from Islamic State, a military source told Reuters on Saturday.
‘Madmen’ must not be allowed to get nuclear material: Obama
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama urged world leaders on Friday to do more to safeguard vulnerable nuclear facilities to prevent “madmen” from groups like Islamic State from getting their hands on an atomic weapon or a radioactive “dirty bomb.”
