EU tells Russia to free hunger-striking Ukrainian pilot Savchenko
MOSCOW (Reuters) – The European Union’s foreign policy chief on Thursday told Russia to free Nadezhda Savchenko, a Ukrainian pilot accused over the killing of two Russian journalists, as Savchenko relaxed a hunger strike by starting to take liquids.
Insurgents in Syria attack government positions
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Insurgent groups attacked several Syrian government positions in Hama province on Thursday in what a rebel commander said was the biggest rebel assault in the area since a cessation of hostilities agreement came into effect two weeks…
China says Taiwan president-elect must prove does not back independence
BEIJING (Reuters) – Taiwan president-elect Tsai Ing-wen must “prove” her Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is not pro-independence before Beijing will deal with her, a senior member of China’s largely rubber stamp parliament said on Thursday.
Foreign captives held by Philippine militants appeal for help
MANILA (Reuters) – Three foreigners kidnapped by militants in the Philippines nearly six months ago have appealed to their governments for help to secure their release, as their al Qaeda-linked captors issued a one month deadline for their demands to b…
Stephen Hawking joins 150 top scientists calling for Britain to stay in EU
LONDON (Reuters) – Stephen Hawking has joined more than 150 top scientists in calling for Britain to stay in the European Union, saying that leaving would be “a disaster for UK science and universities”.
French government says open to labor reform tweaks after street protests
PARIS (Reuters) – The French government is willing to make some tweaks to its pro-business labor reforms to ease concerns about them, Labour Minister Myriam El Khomri said on Thursday, a day after a series of street protests.
South African peace-keepers ambushed in Darfur, one killed: govt
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – One South African soldier was killed in Sudan’s war-torn Darfur region and another was wounded in an ambush on a military convoy escorting humanitarian aid trucks, Pretoria said on Thursday.
Turkey EU minister: Migrants readmitted only after EU deal goes into effect – Anadolu
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – A deal between Turkey and the European Union to readmit migrants does not apply to refugees already on Greek islands but to those who arrive once the agreement is in effect, Anadolu Agency quoted EU Affairs Minister Volkan Bozkir a…
Nearly 500,000 migrants reached Greece in fourth-quarter: EU border agency
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Nearly half a million irregular migrants arrived in Greece in the last three months of 2015, most of whom then moved north through the Balkans, data from EU border agency Frontex showed on Thursday.
Iraq’s al-Sadr supporters back PM’s move for non-partisan cabinet to fight graft
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraq’s powerful Shi’ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr wants Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to stay in power but replace his cabinet with professionals with no party affiliation so he can fight corruption, the head of the Sadrist bloc in pa…
