Japan’s Obuchi: Political ‘princess’ could be first female PM
TOKYO (Reuters) – With a telegenic presence, powerful ruling party mentors and a talent for avoiding making political enemies, Japan’s new trade and industry minister, Yuko Obuchi, may have what it takes to become the country’s first female prime minis…
Swiss Red Cross worker killed by shell in Ukraine’s Donetsk
DONETSK Ukraine (Reuters) – A Swiss Red Cross worker was killed by a shell that landed near the international organization’s office in Ukraine’s separatist-held city of Donetsk on Thursday.
U.S. commander in Afghanistan says recent Taliban gains fleeting
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Afghan military casualties have spiked in recent weeks amid an increase in Taliban attacks, but the top U.S. commander in the country said on Thursday that rebel gains were fleeting and he was confident Afghan forces could stop t…
Almost 30 Libyan soldiers killed in Benghazi attacks
BENGHAZI Libya (Reuters) – Almost 30 Libyan soldiers were killed and 70 wounded in a double suicide bombing and clashes in the port city of Benghazi on Thursday, medics said.
France urges Israel to call off East Jerusalem settlement plans
PARIS (Reuters) – France called on Israel on Thursday to drop plans for new settlements in East Jerusalem, joining the United States and Berlin in criticism of the move.
France’s Moscovici struggles to convince EU lawmakers
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – France’s Pierre Moscovici struggled to convince European Union lawmakers on Thursday he could enforce budget rules that his own country has repeatedly breached, as the formation of a new European Commission turned into a tit-for-ta…
Greek police arrest man over alleged attack plans
ATHENS (Reuters) – Greek police said on Thursday they had arrested a man linked to an outlawed leftist guerrilla group, in connection with alleged plans for an attack this week on business or political targets.
Facing fears over extremism, Austria unveils new law on Islam
VIENNA (Reuters) – Austria called on Thursday for standardized German-language translations of the Koran and moved to prohibit foreign funding of Muslim organizations on its soil in a draft law aimed in part at tackling Islamic extremism.
Saudi authorities on Ebola watch as millions gather for haj
MECCA (Reuters) – Anxious to safeguard Islam’s haj pilgrimage from the threat of Ebola, Saudi authorities are screening pilgrims arriving from West Africa and have deployed mobile laboratories to test any suspected cases quickly.
French troops edge closer to Libya border to cut off Islamists
PARIS (Reuters) – France is setting up a base in northern Niger as part of an operation aimed at stopping al Qaeda-linked militants from crisscrossing the Sahel-Sahara region between southern Libya and Mauritania, officials said.
