Ukraine leader says he hopes ‘fragile truce’ will hold
ASTANA (Reuters) – Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko struck a conciliatory tone on Friday in his comments on Russia and Moscow-backed rebels during his visit to Kazakhstan, the Kremlin’s ally in Central Asia.
Family mourns Nigerian pilgrim who fled Boko Haram but died in Haj crush
KADUNA, Nigeria (Reuters) – Three years after his family fled their northeastern Nigerian home to escape threats from Boko Haram militants, Mudasir Gambo must have thought his luck had changed when he won a ticket to attend the annual haj pilgrimage in…
Refugee arrivals in Greece surge with bad weather ahead: IOM
GENEVA (Reuters) – There has been a surge in refugees arriving on Greek islands in the past week, with 7,000 landing each day against 4,500 at the end of September, which may be linked to worsening weather, the International Organization for Migration …
Syria extends major offensive to retake territory in west
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syrian troops and allied militia backed by a fresh wave of Russian air strikes and cruise missiles fired from warships attacked rebel forces on Thursday as the government extended an offensive to recapture territory in the west of th…
Turkey dismisses potential PKK ceasefire as ‘tactic’
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Yalcin Akdogan has dismissed the prospect of a ceasefire declaration by Kurdish militants as a “tactic” ahead of a Nov. 1 election, reiterating government demands that the militants lay down arms and l…
Thailand expects seven million Chinese visitors in 2015, despite Bangkok bomb
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand expects a record 7 million visitors from China in 2015 compared with 4.63 million last year, the tourism minister said on Friday, despite a bomb attack at a major tourist spot that killed 20 people, more than half of them f…
Baby dies after migrant boat breaks down off Greek island
ATHENS (Reuters) – A baby died after the rubber boat carrying him and another 56 migrants broke down and was left adrift off the Greek island of Lesbos, the Greek coastguard said on Friday.
Australian PM calls for calm amid planned anti-Islam protest
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull called for calm on Friday as police prepared for clashes between protesters at a planned rally outside a Sydney mosque that was attended by a teenager who killed a police officer a week ago….
Pope Francis, anti-nuclear activists among Nobel Peace Prize contenders
OSLO (Reuters) – Pope Francis and a line-up of anti-nuclear campaigners headed lists of favorites to win the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize on the eve of Friday’s announcement.
Australia, Philippines negotiating asylum seeker transfer deal
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia is negotiating a deal with the Philippines to transfer asylum seekers being held indefinitely in controversial detention centers on remote, impoverished islands, Australia’s immigration minister said on Friday.
