Kurds issue call to arms as Islamic State gains in Syria
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Islamic State fighters besieged a Kurdish city in northern Syria on Thursday after seizing 21 villages in a major assault, prompting a call to arms from Kurds in neighboring Turkey who urged followers to go and help resist the group’…
Moroccan government proposes penalties for nationals fighting in Syria, Iraq
RABAT (Reuters) – Morocco’s government proposed legislation on Thursday which would make it a crime to join an armed group or undertake training in conflict zones, in a move aimed at some 2,000 Moroccan Islamists it believes are fighting in Syria and I…
Ailing Rob Ford urges voters to back brother for Toronto mayor
TORONTO (Reuters) – Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, in his first public remarks since doctors revealed he has cancer, has asked residents of Canada’s largest city to vote for his brother Doug, who has replaced him on the ballot in next month’s mayoral election…
U.N. to deploy Ebola mission as death toll reaches 2,630
PARIS/CONAKRY (Reuters) – The United Nations unveiled plans on Thursday for a special mission to combat the worst Ebola epidemic on record in West Africa, as the death toll hit 2,630 and France became the latest Western nation to step up its support.
Three car bombs, mortars kill 23 in Shi’ite Baghdad districts
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Three car bombs were detonated in adjacent Shi’ite Baghdad neighbourhoods on Thursday followed by a dozen mortar rounds, killing at least 23 people and wounding more than 50, security and medical sources said.
Greek police, protesters clash during rally to mark rapper killing
ATHENS (Reuters) – Greek police fired teargas at protesters who hurled petrol bombs and stones in Athens on Thursday during a rally marking one year since the killing of an anti-fascism rapper by a far-right Golden Dawn supporter.
U.N. says five peacekeepers killed, three wounded in Mali blast
DAKAR (Reuters) – The United Nations mission in Mali said five of its Chadian peacekeepers were killed and another three wounded when their vehicle was hit by an explosive device in the north of the country on Thursday.
New Slovenia government wins parliament approval, aims to cut deficit
LJUBLJANA (Reuters) – Slovenia’s parliament on Thursday approved the new centre-left coalition government of Prime Minister Miro Cerar, which will aim to cut public spending and improve tax collection to help reduce the budget deficit to within EU limi…
Hollande asks Europe for patience with France, vows reform
PARIS (Reuters) – President Francois Hollande pleaded with Germany and other European partners on Thursday to be patient with France and give it more time to reform before it meets deficit targets, admitting that results were coming too slowly.
‘Gucci Grace, PhD’ stirs up race to lead post-Mugabe Zimbabwe
HARARE (Reuters) – Soon after being shoe-horned into the top ranks of Zimbabwe’s ruling party, the wife of ageing leader Robert Mugabe has gained a PhD in orphanages, seen as the latest sign that she may be destined for high office.
