Merkel: must prevent Greece running out of cash before deal
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday everything must be done to prevent Greece running out of money before it reaches a cash-for-reform deal with its international creditors, amid heightened concern that Athens is neari…
Rocket from Gaza fired at Israel on its independence day -army
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Militants in the Gaza Strip fired a rocket at Israel as it celebrated its independence day on Thursday, the first such attack this year, causing no injuries or damage, Israeli authorities said.
Ex-adviser says U.N. Syria envoy ‘out of his depth’: report
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – A former political adviser to U.N. peace mediator for Syria Staffan de Mistura sharply criticized his former boss on Thursday for his failed efforts at securing local ceasefires in the four-year-old civil war.
Pentagon dismisses Moscow claim of U.S. troops in Ukraine combat zone
MOSCOW/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday that U.S. troops were training Ukrainian forces in the conflict zone in eastern Ukraine, but the Pentagon flatly denied it, accusing Moscow of a “ridiculous attempt” to obscure…
U.S. strike inadvertently killed U.S., Italian hostages; Obama apologizes
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A U.S. drone strike in January targeting an al Qaeda compound in Pakistan near the Afghan border inadvertently killed an American and an Italian who had been held hostage for years by the group, U.S. officials said on Thursday.
Saudi-led coalition launches air strikes throughout Yemen: residents
ADEN (Reuters) – Warplanes from a Saudi-led coalition pounded Houthi militiamen and military bases with at least 20 air strikes throughout Yemen on Thursday, residents said, despite Riyadh saying it was winding down its campaign.
Nigeria military says still in Boko Haram stronghold despite mines
BAUCHI, Nigeria (Reuters) – Nigeria’s military said on Thursday it was still advancing in Islamist group Boko Haram’s last known stronghold, dismissing reports that land mines had forced them to retreat.
Fighting in South Sudan’s Upper Nile drags into third day
JUBA (Reuters) – Opposing groups of government soldiers in South Sudan’s Upper Nile state fought for a third day on Thursday, a ruling party official said, adding that the defense minister will travel to the region in a bid to defuse the situation.
Chechen leader tells security forces to shoot if Russian police intrude
MOSCOW (Reuters) – The leader of the Russia’s southern region of Chechnya has ordered his police to “shoot to kill” if servicemen from other parts of the country encroach on their territory.
On 100th anniversary, German president condemns Turkish ‘genocide’ against Armenians
BERLIN (Reuters) – German President Joachim Gauck on Thursday condemned the massacre of 1.5 million Armenians by Ottoman Turkish forces a century ago as “genocide”, a term that the Berlin government had long rejected.
