From Senegal to Libya: an African student joins Islamic State
ZIGUINCHOR, Senegal (Reuters) – When Sadio Gassama decided to go into medicine, he started by giving free check-ups at his mosque in Senegal’s poor southern region of Casamance. Now, the 25-year-old medical student says he is treating Islamic State fig…
China warns Taiwan over new law governing cross-strait relations
BEIJING (Reuters) – The Chinese government warned Taiwan on Wednesday that the passage of a proposed new law governing relations between the two could seriously damage the basis for talks, and that Beijing opposed any obstacles to developing ties.
Indonesia pushes to unshackle victims of mental illness
SERANG, Indonesia (Reuters) – Indonesian rice farmer Usman has kept his 19-year-old son chained in the family’s tiny wooden hut for more than a month, reluctant to release the mentally disturbed boy for fear he might wander off and steal neighbors’ liv…
Obama to hold informal talks with Turkey’s Erdogan as ties show strain
ISTANBUL/ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE (Reuters) – President Barack Obama will hold informal talks with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan in Washington this week, the White House said on Tuesday, dismissing suggestions that the lack of a formal meeting represent…
EgyptAir hijack ends with passengers freed
LARNACA, Cyprus/CAIRO (Reuters) – An EgyptAir plane flying from Alexandria to Cairo was hijacked and forced to land in Cyprus on Tuesday by a man with what authorities said was a fake suicide belt, who was arrested after giving himself up.
Mexico says experts investigating 43 students will cease work in April
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – An international panel of experts that picked apart the Mexican government’s account of what happened to 43 students who disappeared in 2014 will cease work in the country by late April, a senior government official said on Tues…
Blasts and heavy gunfire heard in Tripoli
TRIPOLI (Reuters) – Several loud explosions followed by heavy gunfire were heard over Tripoli in the early hours of Wednesday, a Reuters reporter said.
Thailand eyes luxury tourists, operators say keep them safe
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand needs to do more to keep its tourists safe if it wants to achieve its objective of attracting more high-end travelers, operators say, or it risks losing out to its up-and-coming neighbors.
Overhaul urged for scandal-hit U.N. assembly chief’s office
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – A United Nations task force recommended in a report on Tuesday new ethical rules and financial disclosures for the office of the presidency of the U.N. General Assembly after a bribery scandal involving a former assembly head…
Newly displaced feel joy and fear as Iraqi army returns ahead of Mosul campaign
MAKHMOUR, Iraq (Reuters) – Joy and fear were what Um Mahmoud felt when she saw the Iraqi flag for the first time since Islamic State insurgents raised their black banner over her village of Khurbardan nearly two years ago.
