Ukrainian rebels keep up attacks on government-held airport in Donetsk
KIEV (Reuters) – Ukraine accused Russian forces on Friday of helping separatists step up pressure on government troops holding the main airport in the eastern city of Donetsk, threatening a fragile ceasefire.
Sentiment divided at haj pilgrimage over role of Islamist militants
ARAFAT Saudi Arabia (Reuters) – Former Egyptian army officer Suliman Ouda minced no words as he climbed Mount Arafat, denouncing Islamist militants in Syria and Iraq as terrorists.
Sweden to recognise state of Palestine
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) – Sweden’s new center-left government will recognise the state of Palestine in a move that will make it the first major European country to take the step, Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said on Friday.
British PM meets Afghan unity government, praises troops
KABUL (Reuters) – British Prime Minister David Cameron made an unannounced visit to Afghanistan on Friday to meet the new unity government, the first major Western leader to visit since an election stalemate was resolved, easing threats of armed confli…
Syrian army seizes villages north of Aleppo: state TV
BEIRUT (Reuters) – The Syrian army has taken control of three villages north of Aleppo, state television said on Friday, in a campaign by forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad that could encircle insurgents in the city.
Catalonia pushes ahead with referendum plans despite court move
MADRID (Reuters) – The leader of Catalonia has set up a panel to supervise a contested independence referendum next month, defying Spain’s central government which has gone to the courts to block the vote.
Moscovici set new quiz as EU executive hits political turbulence
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Pierre Moscovici, the French Socialist nominated to run the EU’s economic affairs, must answer a new round of written questions from skeptical conservative lawmakers after the vetting of a new EU executive became entangled in polit…
In rare alliance, Shi’ites join Sunnis to defend Iraqi towns
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – When Islamic State fighters tried to storm the Tigris River town of Dhuluiya north of Baghdad this week, they were repelled by a rare coalition of Sunni tribal fighters inside the town and Shi’ites in its sister city Balad on the op…
Rights groups condemn Myanmar’s Rohingya plan
YANGON (Reuters) – Human rights groups condemned on Friday a Myanmar government plan that could force thousands of minority Rohingya Muslims into detention camps indefinitely if they do not qualify for citizenship.
Syrian army fights for last major rebel route into Aleppo
BEIRUT (Reuters) – The Syrian army clashed with insurgents on the northern edge of Aleppo city on Friday, residents and activists said, threatening to take the last main rebel supply route into the city and trap opposition forces and civilians inside.
