Israel strikes Gaza after Palestinian rocket fire
GAZA (Reuters) – Israeli aircraft bombed two rocket launchers in the Gaza Strip on Thursday, the military said, hours after Palestinian militants had fired mortars into Israel.
Libya has lost $6 billion from oil protests: minister
TRIPOLI (Reuters) – Libya has lost some $6 billion due to protests at ports and oil fields that have reduced the North African country’s crude exports to a trickle, its economy minister said on Thursday.
Putin discusses Syria peace moves with Assad
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad discussed plans for a peace conference and progress in the elimination of chemical weapons during a telephone call on Thursday, the Kremlin said.
Ukraine’s Yanukovich pushes hard line on Tymoshenko release
KIEV (Reuters) – Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich signaled on Thursday that he would sign a law to release his jailed opponent Yulia Tymoshenko to go to Germany for medical treatment only if it meant she went there as a convicted person.
Insight: Revival of Islamists in Mali tests French, U.N. nerve
DAKAR/NOUAKCHOTT (Reuters) – Nine months after they were scattered across the Sahara by waves of French air strikes, Islamists in Mali are making a comeback – naming new leaders, attacking U.N. peacekeepers and killing two French journalists.
Ex-Beatle McCartney asks Putin to help free Greenpeace activists
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Former Beatle Paul McCartney said on Thursday he had written to President Vladimir Putin to enlist his help in securing the release of a group of Greenpeace activists detained in Russia.
Suicide bomber attacks Iraqi Shi’ite pilgrims, killing 35
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – A suicide bomber blew himself up during a Shi’ite Muslim religious ritual in the eastern Iraqi city of al-Sadiya on Thursday, killing at least 35 people and wounding 75, a senior official and security sources said.
Egypt’s Sisi sees new Russia defense cooperation
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egypt’s top general hailed a new era of defense cooperation with Russia on Thursday during a visit by Russian officials, signaling Egyptian efforts to revive ties with an old ally and send a message to Washington after it suspended mi…
Turkish decision on China defense deal could take 6 months
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkey aims to make an definitive decision in about six months on whether to co-produce an air and missile defense system with a Chinese firm that is under U.S. sanctions, a senior Turkish defense official said on Thursday.
Bangladesh factories agree to pay rise, but protests go on
DHAKA (Reuters) – Bangladeshi garment factory owners said on Thursday they had agreed to a proposed 77 percent rise in the minimum wage, but police used teargas and rubber bullets to break up new protests by stone-throwing workers calling for a bigger …
