Nigeria’s presidential candidates sign new peace appeal
ABUJA (Reuters) – Nigeria’s main presidential candidates have signed a “peace accord” ahead of hotly contested elections on Saturday in an effort to prevent religious or ethnic violence, the government said on Thursday.
Niger, Chad troops pursue Boko Haram in Nigerian border area
DIFFA, Niger (Reuters) – Troops from Chad and Niger pursued Boko Haram fighters across a northern Nigeria border area on Thursday, driving them out of a village they held there and causing some to flee into Niger, two senior Niger military officers sai…
No U.N. troop cut in Congo until progress against Rwandan rebels
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The United Nations Security Council on Thursday refused to cut the number of peacekeepers in Democratic Republic of Congo until progress is made in an offensive against Rwandan rebels in the country’s east, snubbing governmen…
Pope Francis to visit Obama at White House on Sept 23
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Pope Francis will visit U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House on September 23, the White House said on Thursday in a statement on the meeting, scheduled as part of the pontiff’s first visit to the United States.
Putin says Western spies plot against Russia before polls
MOSCOW (Reuters) – President Vladimir Putin accused Western spies on Thursday of plotting to undermine his rule and “destabilize” Russia before elections by using public organizations for their own goals.
Germany bans Islamist militant group Tauhid Germany
BERLIN (Reuters) – The German government banned the militant jihadist group Tauhid Germany as a threat to society on Thursday and launched raids in four states on its supporters, Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said.
Germanwings co-pilot likely crashed jet deliberately: prosecutor
PARIS (Reuters) – The co-pilot of a Germanwings jet that went down in the French Alps, killing 150 people, appears to have crashed the plane deliberately, a Marseille prosecutor said on Thursday.
Syrian Islamist insurgents advance around Idlib city: monitor
BEIRUT (Reuters) – An alliance of Syrian Islamist rebels including al Qaeda’s Nusra Front have overrun 17 defense posts around Idlib in an offensive to take the city from the army and allied militia, a monitoring group said on Thursday.
Four dead in Chile floods, military rescues stranded residents
SANTIAGO (Reuters) – The death toll in Chile rose to four after rains battered the north and caused flooding, the government said on Thursday, while 22 others were unaccounted for as the military rescued stranded villagers.
UK court rules Prince Charles letters to ministers can be disclosed
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that 27 “frank” letters written by Prince Charles to ministers in 2004-2005 can be disclosed to the media, a step that could cast doubt over the political neutrality of the future king.




