Defying allies, Qatar unlikely to abandon favored Syria rebels
DOHA (Reuters) – Qatar’s backing for Syrian rebels widely regarded as jihadi militants might appear a diplomatic liability at a time when global alarm about al Qaeda is on the rebound.
Israeli defense chief wounds relations with U.S. ally
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon is in hot water again with the United States for caustic criticism of his country’s main ally that has put more strain on already testy relations with the Obama administration.
EU sees big gaps in nuclear talks but Iran ‘commitment’ to deal
VIENNA (Reuters) – Positions between Iran and world powers diverge widely in some areas but Iranian negotiators seem “very committed” to reach an agreement on the country’s disputed nuclear program, a senior EU official said in an email seen by Reuters…
Town that withstood wartime siege shows the way in troubled Bosnia
GORAZDE, Bosnia (Reuters) – The people of Gorazde pride themselves on their resilience, forged during Bosnia’s 1992-95 war. Gorazde survived while other Muslim Bosniak enclaves in the country’s east, Srebrenica most notoriously, fell to separatist Serb…
Taliban suicide attack on Afghan police station kills 11
JALALABAD, Afghanistan (Reuters) – Taliban fighters killed at least 11 people and wounded 22 in a suicide bomb attack and gunbattle at a police station in Afghanistan’s eastern Jalalabad city early on Thursday morning, according to police and health of…
Losses for Hollande, far right gains expected in French town-hall vote
PARIS/MARSEILLE (Reuters) – President Francois Hollande’s Socialists fear heavy mid-term losses that could jeopardize reforms and the far-right National Front is seen making major gains when voters elect mayors in towns and villages across France from …
Turkey’s Erdogan threatens to ‘ban the ban’ on his electoral film
ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has threatened to “ban a ban” imposed on his party’s main campaign video after electoral authorities blocked it for misusing national symbols.
Former top China army officer under house arrest in graft probe: sources
BEIJING (Reuters) – A top retired Chinese general has been put under virtual house arrest while he assists with an investigation into the military’s worst corruption scandal in almost a decade, two sources said, an indication the probe might be expandi…
Two members of security forces killed in attack in southern Turkey
ANKARA (Reuters) – Two members of the security forces were killed on Thursday in the southern Turkish province of Nigde when gunmen opened fire from a truck, local news agencies reported.
Abbas asks U.S. help to free jailed Palestinian leader Barghouti
RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has asked Washington to mediate with Israel for the release of Marwan Barghouti, a Palestinian leader and possible presidential contender jailed a decade ago over a spate of suicide bo…
