Somalia’s al Shabaab say fire mortars at presidential palace
MOGADISHU (Reuters) – Somalia’s al Shabaab militants said they carried out a mortar attack on the presidential palace in the capital Mogadishu on Thursday, but there were no immediate reports of casualties.
China doing ‘large scale’ reclamation in disputed islands: media
BEIJING (Reuters) – China is conducting “large scale” land reclamation and construction on a reef in the disputed Spratly Islands, state-backed media reported on Thursday, in an unusual acknowledgement of its controversial work in the region.
Russia, Cyprus sign military deal on use of Mediterranean ports
(This February 25 story was corrected to show Russia lost $151 billion in capital outflows last year, not Cyprus)
Ukrainian army to start withdrawing heavy weapons in east Ukraine
KIEV (Reuters) – The Ukrainian army will start withdrawing heavy weapons in east Ukraine on Thursday, a military spokesman said.
UAE armed forces to buy two Boeing C-17 planes for $618 million: spokesman
ABU DHABI (Reuters) – The United Arab Emirates armed forces has signed a deal with Boeing worth 2.27 billion dirhams ($618 million) to purchase two C-17 aircraft, said Obaid al-Ketbi, chairman of the organizing committee for the International Defence E…
Russia’s Gazprom says can exempt rebel-held areas from Ukraine gas contract
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Kremlin-controlled Gazprom said on Thursday it would exempt gas supplies to rebel-held regions from its main contract with Ukrainian Naftogaz, days before Kiev uses up gas volumes it has already paid for.
Air strike kills 17 Islamic State militants, Baghdadi said nearby
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – A coalition air strike in western Iraq killed at least 17 Islamic State militants overnight, a hospital source said on Thursday, and an Arabic TV channel said the group’s leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi had been in the area several hour…
U.S. deserter needs Iraq war crimes evidence to be refugee: EU court
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – A U.S. soldier who deserted because he thought the Iraq war was illegal could have grounds for seeking asylum in Germany but only if he can show he would have been involved in war crimes, Europe’s highest court said on Thursday.
German lawmakers to back Greek extension despite misgivings
BERLIN (Reuters) – German lawmakers signaled that they will approve an extension of Greece’s bailout with an overwhelming majority in parliament on Friday although many will do so reluctantly amid fears Athens will not deliver on its reform promises.
Suicide bomb strikes top NATO envoy team in Afghanistan
KABUL (Reuters) – A suicide bomber rammed a car laden with explosives into a vehicle belonging to NATO’s top envoy in Afghanistan, killing one Turkish soldier and wounding at least one person, Turkish officials said.
