Paris attack suspect Abdeslam to be extradited to France ‘in a few weeks’: lawyer
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Salah Abdeslam, a key suspect in November’s Paris attacks, will be extradited to France from Belgium in a few weeks to allow for additional questioning by Belgian investigators, his lawyer said on Thursday.
Vietnam tells China to shift its rig and stop complicating ties
HANOI (Reuters) – Vietnam demanded China move a controversial oil rig on Thursday and abandon plans to start drilling in waters where jurisdiction is unclear, the latest sign of festering unease among the two communist neighbors.
Morocco expels eight Europeans supporting Western Sahara prisoners
RABAT (Reuters) – Moroccan authorities have expelled eight European activists they said were in the country to undermine public order by supporting prisoners from Western Sahara protests in 2010, the interior ministry said on Thursday.
Lebanon detains Australian TV crew over child custody row
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Lebanese police have detained an Australian film crew and accused them of involvement in a kidnapping of two children from their Lebanese father on behalf of their Australian mother.
Jobs project helps Afghan asylum seeker finds work in ‘good life’ Germany
REGENSBURG, Germany (Reuters) – Afghan asylum seeker Yar Mohammad Haiqar can’t stop smiling because he’s finally found a job after arriving in Germany almost three years ago. Now he spends his days painting, plastering and sanding at a dry construction…
Iraqi Shi’ite paramilitaries say will join offensive to retake Mosul
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – An Iraqi Shi’ite paramilitary group said it will join government forces preparing to fight Islamic State for Mosul despite objections of politicians who fear this could instigate sectarian bloodshed in the mostly Sunni Muslim city.
Pope Francis to visit Greek migrant island of Lesbos on April 16
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Pope Francis will make a lightning trip to the Greek island of Lesbos on April 16, the Vatican said on Thursday, in a visit aimed at supporting refugees and drawing attention to the front line of Europe’s migrant crisis.
Hundreds of migrants arrive in Italy on boat from Egypt
ROME (Reuters) – Italy’s coast guard said on Thursday it had rescued more than 300 migrants from a packed boat in which they had traveled hundreds of kilometers (miles) from Egypt to the Strait of Sicily.
Rouhani says Iran not a threat, wants interaction with world
ANKARA (Reuters) – President Hassan Rouhani said on Thursday Iran posed no threat to any other nation and that it wanted interaction with the rest of the world – remarks contrasting with the view of the country’s hardline supreme leader.
Dutch voters overwhelmingly reject Ukraine-EU treaty
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – Dutch voters have overwhelmingly rejected a Ukraine-European Union treaty on closer political and economic ties, in a rebuke to their government and to the European Union establishment.
