U.S., allies conduct 16 strikes against Islamic State: U.S. military
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States and its allies targeted Islamic State militants in Iraq with 14 strikes on Friday and two strikes in Syria, the U.S. military said on Saturday.
Turkey must cut migrant flows to Europe, top EU official says
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – Europe needs Turkey to dramatically cut the number of migrants reaching Greece within weeks or the pressure for more border closures and fences will grow, the EU’s top official in charge of ties with Ankara warned on Saturday.
Syria warns Saudis against incursion, says will be resisted
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syria will see any incursion on its territory as an act of aggression, Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem said on Saturday, days after Saudi Arabia announced it was ready to send in ground troops.
Al Qaeda claims responsibility for attack on U.N. base in Mali
BAMAKO (Reuters) – Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb has claimed responsibility for Friday’s deadly attack on a U.N. police base in the northern Malian city of Timbuktu, a statement monitored by the SITE Intelligence group showed on Saturday.
Afghan interior minister close to quitting as crisis deepens: sources
KABUL (Reuters) – Afghan Interior Minister Noor-ul-Haq Olomi has offered his resignation to President Ashraf Ghani after mounting criticism of the worsening security situation over recent months, people familiar with the matter said.
Nigerians have image problem abroad, hampers emigration to West: president
LONDON (Reuters) – Nigerians have an image problem abroad which makes it difficult to emigrate to the West, but they can stay at home where their services are needed, President Muhammadu Buhari was quoted as saying by a British newspaper on Saturday.
Merkel urges better protection of EU external borders
BERLIN (Reuters) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel called on Saturday for better protection at the European Union’s external borders in order to maintain the passport-free Schengen zone.
Austria’s finance minister asks EU to cover costs of additional migrants
VIENNA (Reuters) – Austria’s Finance Minister Hans-Joerg Schelling has asked the European Commission to provide 600 million euros ($670 million) to cover the costs of taking in additional refugees, a ministry spokesman said on Saturday.
Thousands flee as Russian-backed offensive threatens to besiege Aleppo
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Tens of thousands of Syrians fled an intensifying Russian assault around Aleppo on Friday, and aid workers said they feared the major city could soon fall under a full government siege.
Three British troops injured in covert operation in Iraq – Mirror
LONDON (Reuters) – Three members of Britain’s special forces were injured in fighting with Islamic State gunmen in Iraq, the Mirror newspaper reported on Saturday without giving any details about its sources.
