First Iraqi Kurdish forces enter Syria’s Kobani: monitoring group
BEIRUT (Reuters) – The first Iraqi Kurdish peshmerga fighters entered the beseiged Syrian town of Kobani through the border crossing with Turkey on Thursday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
France investigates mystery drone activity over nuclear plants
PARIS (Reuters) – France has launched an investigation into unidentified drones that have been spotted over nuclear plants operated by state-owned utility EDF , its interior minister said on Thursday.
Putin’s spokesman casts doubt on Crimea report, says never heard of source
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman said on Thursday he had no idea who the Ukrainian diplomat behind a news story that Putin and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko had reached an official deal on Crimea was.
China expresses concern about Indian plan to build border posts
BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s defense ministry on Thursday expressed concern over reports that India plans to build 54 new border posts along their disputed border, long a source of tension between the two giant neighbors.
China says agrees with U.S. to speed up military conduct talks
BEIJING (Reuters) – China and the United States agreed at a meeting earlier this month in Washington to speed up talks on a mutual reporting mechanism on major military operations and a code of safe conduct, China’s Defense Ministry said on Thursday.
One year after devastating super typhoon, Philippines approves rebuilding plan
MANILA (Reuters) – Almost a year after a super typhoon devastated wide areas of the central Philippines killing thousands, President Benigno Aquino only this week approved a $3.74 billion master plan to rebuild housing, social services and public infra…
Egypt targets universities as last haven for political expression
CAIRO (Reuters) – Hundreds of police surround its walls, patrolling in armored vehicles with sirens blaring, while muscle-bound security guards man metal detectors, searching all who enter.
Egypt bans pro-Mursi pressure group
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egypt on Thursday banned a pressure group that has pushed for the reinstatement of President Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood, who was overthrown by the army last year, dealing a new blow to the country’s oldest Islamist moveme…
Pakistan civilians flee as military steps up Khyber offensive on Taliban
PESHAWAR Pakistan (Reuters) – Twenty-nine people were killed and thousands of civilians forced to flee Pakistan’s northwestern region of Khyber, the military said on Thursday, as it stepped up a two-week-old offensive against Taliban militants in the a…
China calls on Japan to end jet scrambles
BEIJING (Reuters) – China called on Japan on Thursday to stop scrambling its jets against Chinese aircraft following a rise in the number of such operations, saying it was source of flying safety concerns.
