Under fire for Syria bombings, Russia denies hitting civilians
MUNICH (Reuters) – The United States and France criticized Russia on Saturday for bombing civilians in Syria, a charge Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev rejected as major powers bickered openly a day after agreeing to a pause in combat.
U.S., allies say target Islamic State with 20 strikes in Iraq, Syria
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States and its allies conducted 20 strikes against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria on Friday, the Combined Joint Task Force leading the operations said in a statement on Saturday.
French PM rejects permanent quota system for refugees
MUNICH/BRATISLAVA (Reuters) – French Prime Minister Manuel Valls rejected on Saturday the idea of a permanent quota system for distributing refugees across Europe, putting Paris at odds with Germany ahead of a summit to discuss the EU crisis over migra…
Merkel urges patience on refugees ahead of crucial state elections
MAGDEBURG, Germany (Reuters) – Chancellor Angela Merkel pleaded with German voters on Saturday to show patience with her refugee policy as anger builds over a record influx of migrants that could hurt her conservatives in three state elections next mon…
Oman leader Sultan Qaboos to travel to Germany for medical checks
MUSCAT (Reuters) – Omani leader Sultan Qaboos is to travel to Germany on Sunday for a limited period of time for medical checks, the official Oman state news agency said on Saturday.
Havel’s architect Borek Sipek dies aged 66
PRAGUE (Reuters) – Borek Sipek, the official architect for Prague Castle during Vaclav Havel’s Czech presidency, died on Saturday after a long struggle with cancer, the CTK news agency said. He was 66.
U.S. commander sees al Qaeda Africa group strengthening
DAKAR (Reuters) – Two high-profile strikes in West Africa since November by al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) could further strengthen the Islamist militant group, a U.S. commander for North and West Africa said.
Somalia’s al Shabaab says its bomber behind airline blast
MOGADISHU (Reuters) – Somalia’s al Shabaab insurgents said on Saturday they were responsible for a blast that punched a hole in the fuselage of a plane last week that the government said was caused by a bomb meant to kill everyone on board.
Gunmen kill two in Burundi as marchers rally against Rwanda
NAIROBI (Reuters) – Unidentified gunmen shot dead two people in an apparent targeted killing late on Friday in Burundi, where months of violence linked to the president’s disputed re-election have left more than 400 people dead.
After 1,000-year split, pope and Russian patriarch embrace in Cuba
HAVANA (Reuters) – Pope Francis and Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill embraced and kissed on Friday in a historic meeting, uniting to issue a global appeal for the protection of Christians under assault in the Middle East.
