Congo opposition accuses Sassou Nguesso of pre-election fraud
BRAZZAVILLE (Reuters) – Three opposition candidates accused Congo Republic President Denis Sassou Nguesso on Friday of preparing for widespread vote-rigging two days before an election in which he is expected to win another term of office, extending hi…
U.S. military punishes more than a dozen for Afghan hospital air strike
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. military has disciplined more than a dozen personnel, including officers, following a deadly October air strike in Afghanistan that destroyed a hospital run by Medecins Sans Frontiers and killed at least 42 people, U.S. …
South Africa’s Zuma under pressure as Eskom ex-boss alleges Gupta influence
PRETORIA (Reuters) – The crisis engulfing South Africa’s ruling ANC intensified on Friday as the ex-boss of South Africa’s state power firm became the latest figure to accuse a business family with ties to President Jacob Zuma of wielding undue influen…
Somalia’s Puntland says gains ground in fight with Islamists
BOSASSO, Somalia (Reuters) – Security forces in Somalia’s semi-autonomous region of Puntland killed more than 60 Islamist militants and regained some territory in a counter-offensive against al Shabaab, regional officials said.
Syrian government says has ‘useful’ talks on substance at U.N.
GENEVA (Reuters) – The head of the Syrian government delegation at peace talks in Geneva said he had a useful meeting with U.N. mediator Staffan de Mistura on Friday, focusing on a government position paper on the “basic elements of a political solutio…
EU urges more countries to impose sanctions on Russia over Crimea
BRUSSELS/MOSCOW (Reuters) – The European Union called on Friday for more countries to impose sanctions on Russia over its annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula two years ago, but the Kremlin said Crimea was Russian land and its status non-negotiabl…
Three Iraqis jailed in Switzerland for aiding Islamic State
ZURICH (Reuters) – A Swiss court sentenced three Iraqis for terrorism offences on Friday, a verdict that the senior prosecutor said should send a message to jidhadists not to see the country as an easy target.
Israeli troops shoot dead a Palestinian wielding knife
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israeli soldiers shot dead a Palestinian man who tried to stab them in the occupied West Bank on Friday, the military said.
Bomb kills policeman in southeast Turkey, embassies warn on security
DIYARBAKIR, Turkey (Reuters) – A bomb attack by Kurdish militants killed a police officer in southeast Turkey on Friday and another device was defused outside a local government building, as embassies issued security warnings about expected demonstrati…
Obama to host summit with Nordic leaders in May: White House
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama will host the leaders of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden in May for a U.S.-Nordic Leaders Summit, the White House said on Friday.
