McCain seeks defense funding to help Asia against China challenges
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A leading U.S. senator has proposed that the United States provide hundreds of millions of dollars to help train and equip the armed forces of Southeast Asian countries faced with Chinese territorial challenges.
Twin bombs in Nigeria’s Borno state kill seven and injure 12
MAIDUGURI, Nigeria – At least seven people died and 12 were injured when twin bomb blasts by suspected Boko Haram militants struck a wedding party in northeast Nigeria’s Borno state on Friday, locals said.
New Nigerian president seeks to crush ‘godless’ Boko Haram
ABUJA (Reuters) – New Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari promised on Friday to eradicate the “mindless, godless” militants of Boko Haram and rescue hundreds of women and children held captive, including 200 girls taken from the town of Chibok a year a…
Cameroon food stocks dwindle as Boko Haram violence disrupts farming
LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Food shortages threaten some 200,000 people in northern Cameroon after cross-border raids by Islamist sect Boko Haram forced people to flee their homes and fields, the World Food Programme (WFP) said on Friday.
Video purports to show Turkish intelligence shipping arms to Syria
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – A Turkish newspaper published video footage on Friday which it said showed security forces discovering weapons parts being sent to Syria on trucks belonging to the MIT state intelligence agency.
SE Asia vows to rescue ‘boat people’; Myanmar seizes migrant vessel
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Southeast Asian nations agreed on Friday to intensify search and rescue efforts to help vulnerable “boat people” stranded in the region’s seas, as Myanmar said its navy had seized a vessel off its coast with more than 700 migrants a…
Explosions rock Burundi capital as deadly protests continue
BUJUMBURA (Reuters) – Two explosions shook Burundi’s capital on Friday but no one was hurt, police and a witness said, as deadly unrest against President Pierre Nkurunziza’s bid for a third term in office rumbled on.
Merkel promises to work with Britain’s Cameron on reform of EU
BERLIN (Reuters) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel promised on Friday to work with David Cameron to clinch a deal on reforming the European Union that would keep Britain in the bloc, saying “where there’s a will there’s a way”.
Hollande, Merkel call for rapid implementation of Minsk agreement
PARIS (Reuters) – French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to rapidly implement measures agreed under the Feb.12 Minsk ceasefire, Hollande’s office said in a statement.
Insurgents advance in areas around captured Syrian town: monitor
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Insurgents who captured the last government-held town in Syria’s Idlib province celebrated inside on Friday and made more advances in surrounding areas, in a further blow to the stretched army and allied militia.
