Vietnam launches special ‘sovereignty’ cruise, likely to irk China
HANOI (Reuters) – Vietnam is offering scores of patriotic citizens the holiday of a lifetime with a cruise to some of Asia’s most hotly contested islands, in a move likely to stoke its simmering dispute with Beijing over South China Sea sovereignty.
Obama to press EU on Russia sanctions, meet Abadi at G7
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama will urge European Union leaders to maintain sanctions against Russia over its aggression in Ukraine at the upcoming G7 meeting, where he will also hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Haider a…
In Turkish border region, Syria policy dents ruling party support
GAZIANTEP, Turkey (Reuters) – Levent Hocazade makes no apology for taking part in violent protests against Syrian refugees in this Turkish border province, where an influx of hundreds of thousands fleeing war has heightened competition for jobs and sen…
Merkel says EU may need to consider treaty change to keep UK in: BBC
LONDON (Reuters) – European Union leaders might have to consider changing the bloc’s treaties in order to make the reforms Britain is seeking ahead of an in-out referendum, German Chancellor Angela Merkel was quoted as saying on Thursday.
U.N. appeals for $500 million in humanitarian aid for Iraq
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The United Nations launched an appeal on Thursday for half a billion dollars in international aid to tackle a worsening humanitarian crisis in Iraq triggered by the conflict with Islamic State militants.
Mubarak to stand trial again over 2011 killing of protesters
CAIRO (Reuters) – Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak will face a second and final retrial over the killing of protesters during the 2011 uprising that ended his 30-year rule, a high court said on Thursday.
Kenya charges five men over Garissa attack
NAIROBI (Reuters) – Five men were charged on Thursday in connection with an attack by Somali Islamist gunmen on Garissa University in northeast Kenya that killed 148 students, the worst militant attack in the east African nation in almost two decades.
Attacks on Shi’ites create pivotal moment for Saudi state
DAMMAM, Saudi Arabia (Reuters) – When Sunni suicide bombers belonging to an Islamic State cell targeted mosques of Saudi Arabia’s minority Shi’ite community last month, the government quickly pledged national unity across sectarian lines and offered co…
German minister says G7 should welcome back Russia longer term
BERLIN (Reuters) – German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on Thursday the Group of Seven industrialized nations should welcome back Russia in the longer term, striking a different tone from Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Islamic State mounts suicide attacks around Syria’s Hasaka city: official
AMMAN (Reuters) – Islamic State bombers have blown up about a dozen explosive-packed trucks at Syrian army checkpoints around the government-held northeastern city of Hasaka city over the past five days, the city governor said on Thursday.
