With seizures up, Indian gold smuggling loses its shine
MUMBAI (Reuters) – Gold smuggling into India, the world’s second-biggest consumer of the precious metal, is becoming more risky for couriers following a surge in seizures and less profitable for the gangs behind the practice.
Ramped-up air strikes stall Islamic State advance on Syrian town
MURSITPINAR Turkey (Reuters) – Two days of heavy air strikes by U.S. warplanes have slowed an advance by Islamic State militants against Kurdish forces defending the Syrian border town of Kobani.
Libyan Red Crescent calls for Benghazi ceasefire as fighting rages
BENGHAZI Libya (Reuters) – Libya’s Red Crescent called on Thursday for a ceasefire in the eastern city of Benghazi to allow the evacuation of families trapped by street fighting between Islamist militants and pro-government forces supported by local yo…
Hong Kong police clear barricades in Mong Kok area, meet little resistance
HONG KONG (Reuters) – Hong Kong police carried out a dawn raid to remove barricades and other obstacles erected by pro-democracy protesters around the bustling area of Mong Kok, moving in while many demonstrators were still asleep.
Milan summit offers Putin and Poroshenko time to talk
MILAN (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian leader Petro Poroshenko are looking to patch up a faltering ceasefire in eastern Ukraine and resolve a dispute over natural gas supplies when they meet in Milan on Friday.
Britain warns of ‘exceptionally high’ level of anti-terrorism activity
LONDON (Reuters) – British police are carrying out security investigations at an “exceptionally high” pace not seen in years to disrupt potentially deadly plots directed from abroad, notably Syria, the country’s top counter-terrorism officer said on Fr…
RPG attack kills two policemen in Egypt’s Sinai: state TV
CAIRO (Reuters) – An attack with a rocket propelled grenade killed two policemen and wounded another in the capital of Egypt’s restive North Sinai province, state media reported late on Thursday.
Japan PM Abe sends offering to Yasukuni Shrine for war dead: Kyodo
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sent a ritual offering to Tokyo’s controversial Yasukuni Shrine, the Kyodo news agency said on Friday, a move that might complicate his push for bilateral meetings with leaders in China and South Kor…
Moscow says U.S. working on military ‘scenarios’ at Russia’s borders
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu accused the United States on Thursday of working on military “scenarios” near Russia’s borders that he said were a source of grave concern.
Albania’s PM ‘disappointed’ but undaunted by drone incident
CAMBRIDGE Mass. (Reuters) – Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said he was “disappointed” at Serbian officials’ comments following a drone stunt at a soccer match this week but vowed on Thursday to push ahead with plans to meet his counterpart in Belgrad…
