African, Somali troops retake town on way to rebel stronghold
MOGADISHU (Reuters) – African peacekeeping troops and Somali forces recaptured a southern town from Islamist al Shabaab rebels on Saturday, bringing them a step closer to the insurgent stronghold of Barawe, commanders said.
Islamic State militants behead captive Lebanese soldier: video
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Islamic State militants beheaded a Lebanese soldier who was one of 19 captured by hardline Syrian Islamists when they seized a Lebanese border town for few days this month, a video posted on social media showed on Saturday.
EU chooses Polish PM as chairman, Mogherini to run foreign policy
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – European Union leaders chose Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk as the new president of their Council on Saturday and Italian Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini as the bloc’s new foreign policy chief, outgoing European Council Pres…
Swedish police clash with counter demonstrators at extreme right rally
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) – About 10,000 people turned out to demonstrate against a small rally by Sweden’s extreme right in Stockholm on Saturday, just two weeks ahead of an election where immigration is a key issue.
Iraqi and Kurdish forces bid to break Islamic State siege of town
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraqi army and Kurdish forces closed in on Islamic State fighters on Saturday in a push to break the Sunni militants’ siege of the Shi’ite town of Amerli, army sources said.
No resolution of Gulf Arab split after ministers meet
JEDDAH (Reuters) – Gulf Arab foreign ministers met in Jeddah on Saturday but took no big step toward ending a diplomatic row that has undermined their ability collectively to influence Middle East events.
Celebration in Liberia slum as Ebola quarantine lifted
MONROVIA/CONAKRY (Reuters) – Crowds sang and danced in the streets of a seaside neighborhood in Liberia on Saturday as the government lifted quarantine measures designed to contain the spread of the deadly Ebola virus.
China and Hong Kong poised for showdown over democracy
HONG KONG (Reuters) – Hong Kong is poised for a showdown with China when the Chinese parliament meets later on Sunday, with the largely rubber-stamp body likely to snuff out hopes for a democratic breakthrough in the regional financial hub at elections…
Iran nuclear talks to continue on fringes of U.N. assembly: Ashton
MILAN (Reuters) – The six global powers will discuss ways to reach a comprehensive nuclear deal with Iran on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September, the European Union’s foreign policy chief said on Saturday.
India says Pakistan border clashes ‘extremely serious and provocative’
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – Clashes along India’s border with Pakistan are “extremely serious and provocative” and not conducive to improving relations between the nuclear-armed neighbours, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley said on Saturday.
