Afghan forces struggle to drive back Taliban from besieged city
KUNDUZ CITY, Afghanistan (Reuters) – The Afghan army and police on Thursday failed to expel Taliban fighters from the outskirts of a besieged provincial capital as a seventh day of fierce fighting put pressure on national forces struggling largely with…
Erdogan say new political system would be taste of Turkish honey
ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkish leader Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday the strong executive presidency he seeks would bear no resemblance to Asian or African dictatorships but would be “like a bee… taking something from every flower” to create a uniquely …
Russia looks set to extend import ban on Western food
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia looks likely to extend a ban on Western food imports beyond an Aug. 7 deadline, with a lack of incentive to lift its embargo due to the prospect of extended European sanctions.
Iraq poised to deploy Iran-backed Shi’ite militia in offensive in West
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraq is poised to deploy Shi’ite paramilitaries backed by Iran to Sunni tribal areas west of Baghdad, a move supporters say is needed to defeat Islamic State militants but opponents say could inflame more sectarian violence.
North Korean leader will not visit Moscow in May – Kremlin
MOSCOW (Reuters) – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will not attend events in Moscow next week commemorating the 70th anniversary of the end of World War Two in Europe, the Kremlin said on Thursday.
Earthquake of magnitude 6.9 strikes off PNG: USGS
(Reuters) – An earthquake of magnitude 6.9 struck off Papua New Guinea on Thursday, 154 km south of Rabaul, at a depth of 85 km (53 miles), the United States Geological Survey reported.
Italy’s Renzi wins second confidence vote on electoral law
ROME (Reuters) – Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi won the second of three confidence votes on a fiercely contested new electoral law on Thursday, defying the anger of opposition parties and dissidents within his own Democratic Party (PD).
China says worried by new U.S. cyber strategy
BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s Defence Ministry expressed concern on Thursday at the Pentagon’s updated cyber strategy that stresses the U.S. military’s ability to retaliate with cyber weapons, saying this would only worsen tension over Internet security….
EU chief demands Orban drop Hungary death penalty revival
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – European Union chief executive Jean-Claude Juncker issued a strong demand to Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban on Thursday to drop his suggestion that the country might reintroduce capital punishment.
Philippines may seek clemency anew for drug convict in Indonesia
MANILA (Reuters) – The Philippines may renew its appeal for clemency for a Filipina drug convict granted a temporary reprieve from a death sentence in Indonesia, depending on the outcome of a related human trafficking case, a foreign ministry spokesman…
