Calls for aid to Syria’s Druze after al Qaeda kills 20
BEIRUT/AMMAN (Reuters) – Fighters from Syria’s al Qaeda branch, the Nusra Front, have killed at least 20 Druze villagers, raising fear for one of Syria’s minorities as insurgents including Sunni Islamists gain ground against President Bashar al-Assad.
Europe tries to compete with China’s influence in Latin America
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Unable to match China’s offer of $250 billion in investment in Latin America, the EU sought ways on Thursday to avoid being marginalized in the region, offering new trade deals, visa-free travel and deeper ties.
Syrian rebels seize parts of air base in south: monitor
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syrian rebels on Thursday captured parts of a military airport in southern Syria, adding to President Bashar al Assad’s recent setbacks after it seized a major base this week, a group monitoring the war said.
China urges end to ‘microphone diplomacy’ over U.S. differences
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Differences between the United States and China over the South China Sea and cyber security should not be addressed by “microphone diplomacy” but in “a proper way” to allow for a successful U.S. visit by President Xi Jinping this…
Migrants gather at Italian train stations on journey north
ROME/MILAN (Reuters) – Hundreds of migrants brought to Italy after being rescued at sea camped on streets near Rome’s Tiburtina train station and gathered in Milan’s main terminal on Thursday, making a brief stop on their journey to northern Europe.
Striking conciliatory note, Turkey’s Erdogan urges new government quickly
ANKARA (Reuters) – President Tayyip Erdogan urged Turkey’s political parties to work quickly to form a new government on Thursday, saying egos should be left aside and that history would judge anyone who stood in the way.
UK terrorism law watchdog calls for major surveillance overhaul
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s terrorism law watchdog said on Thursday the legal framework underpinning security services’ ability to spy on the public’s communications was fragmented, undemocratic and “in the long run intolerable.”
China urges Suu Kyi to maintain positive ties, no mention of dissident
BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese President Xi Jinping told Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Thursday that he hoped Myanmar would maintain a consistent and positive position on relations, state media said, regardless of any changes in Myanmar’s …
Iran envoy declines to commit to nuclear transparency measures
VIENNA (Reuters) – Iran’s envoy to the U.N. nuclear agency declined on Thursday to commit to nuclear transparency measures that were part of a preliminary deal Tehran and world powers reached in April, deflecting U.S. demands to implement such provisio…
Rebels say they shoot down Syrian military jet in south
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syrian rebels said they had shot down a military jet on Thursday in southern Syria, where insurgents fighting to topple President Bashar al-Assad seized a major army base earlier this week.
