Boko Haram kills at least 30 in attacks on Niger villages: sources
NIAMEY (Reuters) – Boko Haram militants attacked two villages in southern Niger’s Diffa region overnight, killing at least 30 civilians, two security sources said on Thursday.
Hong Kong vetoes China-backed electoral reform proposal
HONG KONG (Reuters) – Hong Kong’s legislature on Thursday vetoed a China-backed electoral reform package criticized by opposition pro-democracy lawmakers and activists as undemocratic, easing for now the prospect of fresh mass protests in the financial…
Islamic State targeted in 22 air strikes by U.S., allies: military statement
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States and coalition allies staged 22 air strikes on Islamic State targets in Iraq and Syria in the latest daily attacks on the militant group, the Combined Joint Task Force said in a statement on Thursday.
Scioli rival in Argentina ruling party presidential primary said to step down
BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – Daniel Scioli’s sole rival for the ruling party candidacy in Argentina’s primary for presidential elections has dropped out of the race, Cabinet chief Anibal Fernandez told reporters on Thursday.
Britain defends invite to Egypt’s Sisi after Mursi death sentence
LONDON (Reuters) – The British government on Thursday defended its plan to invite Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to visit, saying it was important to engage with countries and to raise “matters of concern”.
Thailand confirms first MERS case: health ministry
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand confirmed its first case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) on Thursday, becoming the fourth Asian country to register the deadly virus this year.
Kosovo urges Slovenia to release detained ex-PM
PRISTINA (Reuters) – Kosovo’s prime minister has called his Slovenian counterpart to ask for the release of a Kosovar opposition leader and former guerrilla commander detained on Wednesday on a war crimes warrant issued by Serbia.
China says willing to help drought-hit North Korea
BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that the government was willing to help drought-stricken North Korea, after the isolated country said it was suffering its worst drought in a century.
Afghan clerics protest nomination of first woman to Supreme Court
KABUL (Reuters) – Members of an influential Islamic panel in Afghanistan have protested against President Ashraf Ghani’s nomination of a woman to the Supreme Court, a milestone appointment in a country where the Taliban once banned women from most area…
Japan faces dilemma over plutonium stored in France
TOKYO (Reuters) – Still dealing with the huge clean up after the Fukushima crisis and debating its future use of atomic energy, Japan now faces another nuclear conundrum – what to do with 16 tonnes of its plutonium sitting in France after being reprocessed there.
