Exclusive: U.N. support for Congo campaign against Rwanda rebels in doubt over abuses
UNITED NATIONS/KINSHASA (Reuters) – United Nations support for a planned military operation against Rwandan rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo could be in doubt because Congo named a general accused of rights abuses to head the offensive, d…
Syria battle between al Qaeda and Western-backed group spreads
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Fighting between the Syrian arm of al Qaeda and Western-backed rebels in northern Syria spread from Aleppo province into neighboring Idlib on Friday, the rebel group and an organization monitoring the civil war said.
Ukraine peace talks aborted as civilians die in east
DONETSK, Ukraine/MINSK (Reuters) – Civilians were killed on both sides in heavy fighting in eastern Ukraine on Friday, while an attempt to reopen peace talks in neighboring Belarus was aborted before it began.
Canada security bill provides new powers to combat terror
RICHMOND HILL, Ontario (Reuters) – New anti-terror legislation in Canada would make it a crime to call for attacks on the country and give a much larger role to the government’s main spy agency.
Aviation leaders seek new safety mandate after deadly 2014
MONTREAL (Reuters) – Aviation leaders will try to secure a mandate to implement new safety standards when they meet next week after a string of high-profile accidents around the world made 2014 the deadliest year for commercial airlines in almost a dec…
Venezuela confirms shooting down small plane near Aruba
CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuela said on Friday it shot down a civilian plane after it ignored communications off its Caribbean coast near the island of Aruba, but denied any violation of international airspace.
Mexico tests DNA of babies who survived blast in search for parents
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Plunged into chaos just hours after entering this world, nine babies found alive after a gas blast in a Mexican maternity hospital underwent DNA tests on Friday in a bid to reunite them with their parents.
Islamic State attacks Kurdish outposts across Iraq
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Islamic State militants struck at Kurdish forces southwest of the Iraqi city of Kirkuk on Friday, while bombs in Kirkuk, Baghdad, Samarra and Ramadi killed at least 27 people.
Turmoil at congress of Germany party swiping votes from Merkel
BREMEN, Germany (Reuters) – The congress of a eurosceptic German party that is stealing votes from Angela Merkel’s conservatives got off to a turbulent start on Friday, with delegates in the Alternative for Germany (AfD) squabbling over the agenda and …
Greece says will not cooperate with “troika” or seek aid extension
ATHENS (Reuters) – Greece’s new leftist government opened talks on its bailout with European partners on Friday by flatly refusing to extend the program or to cooperate with the international inspectors overseeing it.
