Britain says European leaders ready to push ahead with Russia sanctions
LONDON (Reuters) – European leaders spoke early on Thursday and agreed to push ahead with a package of sanctions against Russia by the end of the week, due to its aggression towards Ukraine, British Prime Minister David Cameron’s spokesman said.
Congo Republic jails ex-intel official for life over gunbattle
BRAZZAVILLE (Reuters) – A Republic of Congo court convicted former deputy intelligence chief Colonel Marcel Ntsourou to life in prison with forced labor on Thursday for his involvement in a gunbattle that exposed political rifts in the oil-producing na…
Freed Fijian U.N. peacekeepers arrive at Golan crossing: al Jazeera
DUBAI (Reuters) – Al Jazeera television said on Thursday that vehicles carrying dozens of Fijian U.N. peacekeepers, released by an al Qaeda-backed group, arrived at a Golan Heights crossing.
German eurosceptics eye new election gains
BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany’s new eurosceptic party is poised to make strong gains in two regional elections this weekend, ratcheting up pressure on Chancellor Angela Merkel who faces a threat on her right flank for the first time since taking power nin…
Polish president accepts resignation of Brussels-bound PM Tusk
WARSAW (Reuters) – Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski accepted the government’s resignation on Thursday, clearing the way for Prime Minister Donald Tusk to take up the new job of head of the European Council later this year.
Afghan regional leader threatens protests over disputed election
MAZAR-I-SHARIF Afghanistan (Reuters) – A powerful backer of Afghan presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah said on Thursday his supporters would launch street protests and occupy government buildings if they were unhappy with the outcome of a disputed…
Obama orders U.S. airstrikes in Syria against Islamic State
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama told Americans on Wednesday he had authorized U.S. airstrikes for the first time in Syria and more attacks in Iraq in a broad escalation of a campaign against the Islamic State militant group.
EU seeks compromise with Russia over Ukraine free-trade pact
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The EU will offer Russia more time to adjust to a European trade pact with Ukraine, diplomats say, moving to ease bilateral tensions over an accord at the center of the crisis in Ukraine as a ceasefire there takes hold.
Human Rights Watch accuses Israel of war crimes in Gaza
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Human Rights Watch accused Israel of committing war crimes by attacking three U.N.-run schools in the Gaza Strip in fighting in July and August, killing Palestinian civilians who had sheltered there.
Thai junta tells rights group to ‘get its facts straight’
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand’s ruling junta urged Amnesty International to “get its facts straight” after the human rights group issued a scathing appraisal of 100 days under military rule.
