Gulf-backed Yemeni forces seize city from al Qaeda: military source
ADEN (Reuters) – Yemeni forces backed by Apache helicopters from a Saudi-led coalition wrested the city of Houta from al Qaeda fighters after a gun battle on Friday morning, a local military official said.
EU’s Tusk warns Macedonia not to risk its EU, NATO ties
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – European Council President Donald Tusk warned Macedonia on Friday not to let its political crisis risk its ties with the European Union and NATO.
U.S. defense secretary visits carrier in disputed South China Sea
ABOARD THE USS JOHN C. STENNIS, SOUTH CHINA SEA/BEIJING (Reuters) – The chief U.S. defense official visited an American aircraft carrier transiting the disputed South China Sea on Friday, as China said one of its top military officers had visited islan…
Taliban launch major push to retake northern Afghan city
KUNDUZ, Afghanistan (Reuters) – Hundreds of Taliban insurgents have launched an offensive to seize the northern Afghan city of Kunduz, which they captured and held for several days last year, provincial officials said on Friday.
Exclusive: U.S. considers supporting new U.A.E. push against al Qaeda in Yemen
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States is considering a request from the United Arab Emirates for military support to assist a new offensive in Yemen against al Qaeda’s most dangerous affiliate, U.S. officials tell Reuters.
Religion, rights and politics clash over Sierra Leone abortion bill
FREETOWN (Reuters) – When she was 15, long before she became gender adviser to Sierra Leone’s president, Naasu Fofanah was raped by her church pastor. With her mother’s help, she had an abortion, a decision she does not regret, even though it involved …
UK police arrest five in inquiry linked to Paris, Brussels attacks
LONDON (Reuters) – British police have arrested five people on suspicion of preparing acts of terrorism as part of an investigation which a security source said was linked to the attacks in Paris and Brussels.
China to discuss controversial foreign NGO law again
BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s largely rubber stamp parliament will this month again review its controversial draft law governing foreign non-government organizations, state news agency Xinhua said on Friday.
Saudi minister says donation to Malaysia’s Najib was genuine: state media
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir said funds wired into Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak’s personal bank account were a “genuine” donation originating from Saudi Arabia, Malaysian state media reported on Friday.
Iran’s General Soleimani in Moscow for talks: three sources
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Iranian Major General Qassem Soleimani has flown to Moscow for talks with Russia’s military and political leadership, three sources with knowledge of his trip said on Friday.
