Polish refocus on Smolensk crash could hurt relations with Russia
WARSAW (Reuters) – The West may be considering a thaw with Moscow, but Poland’s new conservative government could further strain relations with the country’s former Soviet overlord by reopening an investigation into the death of President Lech Kaczynsk…
Afghan president sacks security officials over fall of Kunduz
KUNDUZ, Afghanistan (Reuters) – Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Thursday dismissed national security agency officials who he said had neglected their duty to defend the northern city of Kunduz, which Taliban militants briefly captured in September.
Pope offers lesson in humility to flashy African leaders
NAIROBI (Reuters) – In actions and words on his first tour of the world’s poorest continent, Pope Francis has sent a message to African leaders that they could do with less pomp and a bit more humility.
Prominent Pakistani opposition figure charged with aiding terrorists
KARACHI, Pakistan (Reuters) – A Pakistani court ordered a prominent opposition politician close to former president Asif Ali Zardari into police custody on Thursday on charges of aiding terrorists in a case his party has called politically motivated.
Iraqi forces cut last IS supply line to Ramadi by retaking bridge
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraqi forces have cut Islamic State’s last supply line into the western city of Ramadi by seizing a key bridge, Iraqi officials and a military officer said on Thursday.
Dutch anti-Ukraine activists are helping Putin: Poroshenko
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said on Thursday that Dutch activists seeking to undo Ukraine’s association agreement with the European Union are unwitting pawns of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Miss World Canada stopped in HK from reaching China pageant ‘over rights comments’
TORONTO (Reuters) – Canada’s China-born Miss World contestant was stopped in Hong Kong on Thursday and denied permission to board a flight to the beauty pageant finals in China, a move she said was punishment for speaking out against human rights abuse…
Saudi Arabia to execute more than 50 convicted of terrorism, local media say
RIYADH (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia plans to execute more than 50 people convicted of terrorism, two Saudi newspapers reported this week, in what appears to be a warning to would-be jihadists at a time of militant attacks on the kingdom.
Russia buries a fallen soldier, but won’t confirm where he fell
PALTSO, Russia (Reuters) – Russian serviceman Fyodor Zhuravlyov left home in a rush. He only managed to scrawl a phone number and a few words to his wife on a sheet of paper.
Dutch court rules that migrants’ right to food, shelter not unconditional
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – A Dutch high court on Thursday upheld a government policy of withholding food and shelter to rejected asylum-seekers who refuse to be repatriated, giving legal backing to one of Europe’s toughest immigration policies.
