Iraqi militia leader condemns Turks’ abduction, but slams Ankara policy
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – The head of Asaib Ahl al-Haq, one of Iraq’s fiercest Shi’ite militias, on Thursday denounced the abduction of 18 Turkish workers in Baghdad earlier this month but condemned Turkey as Iraq’s biggest enemy.
Exclusive: Syrian army starts using new weapons from Russia – military source
BEIRUT (Reuters) – The Syrian military has recently started using new types of air and ground weapons supplied by Russia, a Syrian military source told Reuters on Thursday, underlining growing Russian support for Damascus that is alarming the United St…
Croatia overwhelmed by flood of migrants, EU calls summit
TOVARNIK, Croatia (Reuters) – Croatia threatened to close its border with Serbia on Thursday as migrants fled from overwhelmed police, trekked through fields and tried to steal into Slovenia by train in a desperate march westwards that is sowing discor…
U.S. says concerned over barring of candidates in Myanmar vote
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States on Thursday expressed concern over reports that 100 mostly Muslim candidates in Myanmar’s Nov. 8 general election have been disqualified and called on the authorities in the Southeast Asian country to address it…
Cuba has first ambassador to U.S. in half a century
HAVANA (Reuters) – Veteran diplomat Jose Cabanas on Thursday became Cuba’s first ambassador to the United States in 54 years, thanks to the recent rapprochement between the former Cold War foes.
Romanian PM Ponta faces trial in corruption case
BUCHAREST (Reuters) – Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta was indicted on Thursday on charges of forgery, money-laundering and being an accessory to tax evasion, piling pressure on a premier also facing mounting criticism and elections.
Chileans pick through debris after powerful quake; 11 dead
TONGOY, Chile (Reuters) – Residents sifted through rubble on Thursday and saved what they could from homes destroyed by a magnitude 8.3 earthquake in central Chile that killed 11 people, forced 1 million from their homes and sent giant waves crashing i…
Polls confirm no favorite in Greek election going down to wire
ATHENS (Reuters) – Four opinion polls on Thursday underlined the tightness of Greece’s election campaign, offering different outcomes but all pointing to no outright winner when ballots are cast.
UK spy chief calls for more powers to fight terrorism threat
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s security agencies need greater powers to deal with a growing terrorism threat and the advanced technology being used by militants, the head of the country’s domestic spy service said on Thursday in the first live media inte…
Blasts in central Baghdad leave 23 dead, 68 wounded
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – At least 23 people were killed and 68 others wounded when three bombs went off in mainly Shi’ite neighborhoods in central Baghdad on Thursday, security and medical sources said.
