Sahara jihadist groups merge, threaten French interests: report
NOUAKCHOTT/PARIS (Reuters) – Two Islamist groups that broke away from al Qaeda’s North African wing and fought in Mali have merged, pledging to attack French interests, according to a statement published on Thursday.
Russia: Syria, U.N. should agree on inquiry into alleged chemical attack
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia urged the Syrian government and the United Nations on Thursday to agree on a visit by chemical weapons experts to the site of an alleged gas attack by troops loyal to President Bashar al-Assad that killed hundreds of people.
North Nigeria’s poor beat path to nascent mining boom
BAGEGA, Nigeria (Reuters) – Like almost everything else in Nigeria’s economy, mining of metals and other solid minerals fell by the wayside when the West African nation discovered oil.
Yemen asks U.S. for drones to fight al Qaeda
SANAA (Reuters) – Yemen has asked the United States to supply it with drones, President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi said on Thursday, to help it fight an al Qaeda threat that recently forced Western countries to temporarily close diplomatic missions in Sana…
Greek PM meets billionaire Saudi prince to discuss investments
ATHENS (Reuters) – Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras met Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal on Thursday to discuss investment opportunities, government officials said, as Athens pushes for foreign investment for its depressed economy.
British phone hacking trial delayed until end of October
LONDON (Reuters) – The trial of Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson, former editors of British tabloids owned by Rupert Murdoch who face charges relating to phone hacking and illegal payments to public officials, was delayed on Thursday until the end of Oc…
Tunisian Islamists accept union plan to resolve crisis
TUNIS (Reuters) – Tunisia’s governing Islamists edged closer to negotiations with secular opponents on Thursday by agreeing in principle to a plan for a transition toward new elections proposed by the powerful trade unions.
Kazakh tycoon sought by Russia, Ukraine to stay in French jail
MARSEILLE, France (Reuters) – Kazakh oligarch Mukhtar Ablyazov, accused of embezzling up to $6 billion from his former bank, was denied release on bail from a French jail on Thursday while he awaits a decision on whether he will be extradited.
Egypt’s Mubarak flown from prison to hospital: sources
CAIRO (Reuters) – Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak was flown from prison to a nearby hospital on Thursday, officials said, after judicial authorities ordered his release from jail.
PM pledges to spare crisis-hit Greeks from home foreclosures
ATHENS (Reuters) – Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras pledged on Thursday banks would not seize the homes of borrowers unable to pay their mortgages, seeking to soothe fears that plans to lift a ban on repossessions will make thousands homeless.
