France to use unarmed U.S.-made drones to hunt al Qaeda in Mali
PARIS (Reuters) – France will deploy its first U.S.-made unarmed surveillance drones to West Africa by the end of the year, Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Thursday, as it seeks to “eliminate all traces of al Qaeda”.
Central African Republic to bring forward elections to 2014: PM
BANGUI (Reuters) – Central African Republic will bring forward presidential elections to next year, Prime Minister Nicolas Tiangaye said on Thursday, bowing to pressure from former colonial power France to speed up a transition after a March coup.
Two Muslim converts found guilty of murdering British soldier
LONDON (Reuters) – Two British Muslim converts were found guilty of murder on Thursday for hacking a soldier to death in broad daylight on a London street in a gruesome killing that horrified the nation.
Istanbul police chief removed over graft inquiry
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Istanbul’s powerful police chief was dismissed from his post on Thursday over an anti-corruption action striking at the heart of Turkey’s ruling elite and threatening the authority of Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan at home and abroa…
Insight: A London jihadist’s Kenyan connection
LONDON/MOMBASA (Reuters) – Like many teenage boys growing up in soccer-obsessed Britain, Michael Adebolajo enjoyed kicking a ball around the school yard. Those who knew him then say he was just a regular lad: not the next David Beckham, nor bottom of t…
UK spies told to ignore U.S. detainee abuse after 9/11: inquiry
LONDON (Reuters) – British intelligence officers in Afghanistan knew about the mistreatment of suspected militants by the United States after the September 11, 2001 attacks, but were told not to intervene for fear of offending Washington, an inquiry fo…
Fidel Castro hails brother for Obama handshake
HAVANA (Reuters) – Fidel Castro praised his brother, Cuban President Raul Castro, on Thursday for shaking hands with U.S. President Barack Obama at a memorial for Nelson Mandela, saying he demonstrated courtesy and dignity with the gesture.
Iran deal removes need for U.S. missile shield, Russia says
WARSAW (Reuters) – A successful deal to curb Iran’s nuclear program would remove the need for the United States to build an anti-missile shield in Europe, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday.
Central African Republic to bring forward elections to 2014: PM
BANGUI (Reuters) – Central African Republic will bring forward its presidential election to next year, Prime Minister Nicolas Tiangaye said on Thursday, bowing to pressure from former colonial power France to speed up the transition after a March coup….
EU leaders face moment of reflection over Ukraine debacle
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – European leaders face a session of soul-searching and strategy planning over Ukraine at their year-end summit on Friday when they will discuss why Kiev rejected an EU free trade deal and took a bailout from Russia instead.




