Islamic State leader accepts allegiance of Nigeria’s Boko Haram
BEIRUT (Reuters) – The leader of the Islamic State militant group that controls tracts of Syria and Iraq has accepted a pledge of allegiance from Nigerian Islamists Boko Haram, his spokesman said, calling on supporters to fight in Africa.
Exclusive: Major nations hold talks on ending U.N. sanctions on Iran – officials
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Major world powers have begun talks about a United Nations Security Council resolution to lift U.N. sanctions on Iran if a nuclear agreement is struck with Tehran, a step that could make it harder for the U.S. Congress to und…
Syria war criminals will face justice, U.N. rights boss vows
GENEVA (Reuters) – Suspected war criminals in Syria will face justice for gross violations against civilians someday as the evidence against all sides grows, the U.N. human rights chief said on Thursday.
PM Renzi presents reform to boost Italy’s sub-standard schools
ROME (Reuters) – Prime Minister Matteo Renzi unveiled long-delayed education reforms on Thursday that he said would raise the quality of sub-standard schools which are often blamed for Italy’s weak economic performance
Iraqi forces slowed by snipers and bombs in Tikrit
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraqi security forces and mainly Shi’ite militia fought Islamic State fighters in Tikrit on Thursday, a day after they pushed into Saddam Hussein’s home city in their biggest offensive yet against the militants.
Iceland confirms will not enter EU membership talks
REYKJAVIK (Reuters) – Iceland will not start negotiations with the European Union about joining the bloc, its foreign ministry said, confirming the ruling party’s 2013 election promise and formalizing a freeze on accession talks since it came to power….
U.S. students losing interest in China as dream jobs prove elusive
SHANGHAI (Reuters) – American students are getting cold feet about studying Chinese in China, with many study abroad programs in the country seeing a substantial drop in enrolment over the last few years.
About 25 people may be under rubble of fire in Russia’s Kazan: Ifax
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Around 25 people may have been killed and are still under the rubble of a shopping center that caught fire in the Russian city of Kazan, Interfax news agency cited the head of the regional emergencies ministry as saying on Thursday.
Rival Libyan parliament says eastern port force tried selling oil on its own
SKHIRAT, Morocco/BENGHAZI (Reuters) – Libya’s rival parliament has accused forces loyal to the country’s official government of trying to arrange a crude oil sale from outside the Tripoli-based state oil firm NOC, a deputy speaker of the parliament sai…
Netanyahu’s main challenger widens lead in Israeli pre-election polls
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched a last-minute media blitz on Thursday to counter what appears to be a rising tide of support for his main opponent in next week’s election, the centrist Zionist Union.
