Confusion over reports dissident Taliban commander killed
KABUL (Reuters) – Afghan police said on Thursday a top leader of a breakaway Taliban faction fighting for control of the Islamist movement had been killed by rival militants but the report was denied by a spokesman for his group.
Echoes of ‘Francafrique’ haunt central African democracy
DAKAR (Reuters) – On the day of a vote to allow Congo Republic President Denis Sassou Nguesso to extend his 31 years in power, opposition leader Guy Brice Parfait Kolelas was under house arrest and eating canned food smuggled in by the French ambassado…
Investment in refugees will make Europe stronger: Draghi
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Europe’s economy will strengthen if countries invest in efforts to cope with the refugee crisis, the president of the European Central Bank told EU lawmakers on Thursday.
Russia says convicts former Moscow policeman of spying for CIA
MOSCOW (Reuters) – A former Moscow policeman was convicted of spying for the CIA and of passing state secrets to a foreign intelligence agency on Thursday and sentenced to 13 years in prison, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) said in a statement….
At least 100 fighters killed in Syria during storming of besieged airbase: monitor
BEIRUT (Reuters) – At least 100 soldiers and fighters were killed in northern Syria in just over 24 hours of fierce fighting earlier this week as pro-government forces reached an airbase that had long been besieged by Islamic State, a monitoring group …
Russia’s Putin has decided to miss APEC summit in Manila: spokesman
MOSCOW (Reuters) – President Vladimir Putin has decided not to attend a summit of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation nations in Manila and Russia will be represented there instead by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, a Kremlin spokesman said on Thursday.
Australia PM says Indonesia welcome in TPP as frictions ease
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Australia would welcome Indonesia into the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said on Thursday, as the two countries set aside past friction to focus on building closer economic ties.
Around 25 dead in Boko Haram raid in Niger and clashes with army
NIAMEY (Reuters) – Around 25 people were killed on Wednesday in a Boko Haram attack on a village in southern Niger and subsequent clashes between the Islamist militants and the army, Niger military officials said.
EU countries are willing to do a deal on UK : Swedish PM
LONDON (Reuters) – European Union leaders are willing to find a way to reform Britain’s ties with the bloc but there are limits to what can be done, Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said on Thursday.
Indonesia asks China to clarify South China Sea claims
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesia has asked China to clarify its claims over the South China Sea but has yet to receive a response, the Foreign Ministry said on Thursday, a day after Indonesia’s security chief said Jakarta could take Beijing to court over …
