Nigeria to pull many troops from U.N. Mali force: sources
ABUJA (Reuters) – Nigeria plans to withdraw much of its 1,200-strong contingent from the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Mali, saying the troops are needed to beef up security at home, sources familiar with the matter said on Thursday.
Hamas urges new Egyptian rulers to keep tunnels open
GAZA (Reuters) – The Islamist group Hamas appealed to Egypt’s new rulers on Thursday not to pursue its destruction of smuggling tunnels into the Gaza Strip, warning they risked throttling the small Palestinian territory.
Jailed Navalny embodies generation of rebellious Russians
MOSCOW (Reuters) – If any single figure embodies the rebellious generation of young Russians who have taken to the streets to try to force out President Vladimir Putin, it is surely Alexei Navalny.
Italy court orders rail chief to stand trial over 2009 explosion
ROME (Reuters) – A judge on Thursday ordered 33 people, including the head of Italian railways, to stand trial over a 2009 explosion in the town of Viareggio in which 32 people were killed.
Angry Syrian refugees demand help from Kerry at camp
(This story contains material from a member of the pool of State Department correspondents in Jordan, of which Arshad Mohammed of Reuters is a member; adds detail from U.N. official)
Europe’s top court rejects sanctions against Saudi businessman
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Europe’s highest court ruled on Thursday that EU sanctions on Saudi businessman Yassin Kadi were unjustified and that governments had failed to provide enough evidence that he was involved in terrorist activities.
Abbas delays decision on renewing peace talks with Israel
RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) – Palestinian leaders put off a decision on Thursday about restarting peace talks with Israel, with most saying Israel must first meet their terms before negotiations can start, a Palestinian official said.
Bulgaria says clear signs Hezbollah behind Burgas bombing
SOFIA (Reuters) – Bulgaria has no doubts that the Lebanese Islamist group Hezbollah was behind a bus bombing that killed five Israeli tourists and a Bulgarian driver at the Black Sea city of Burgas exactly a year ago, the interior minister said on Thur…
World pays tribute as ‘improving’ Mandela turns 95
PRETORIA (Reuters) – South Africa and the world showered tributes on Nelson Mandela on Thursday as the anti-apartheid leader turned 95 in hospital and his doctors reported he was “steadily improving” from a six-week lung infection.
UAE transferred $3 billion in aid to Egypt, Saudi to follow shortly
CAIRO (Reuters) – The United Arab Emirates has transferred $3 billion in promised aid to Egypt and another $2 billion from Saudi Arabia will arrive shortly, Egypt’s central bank governor told the state newspaper al-Ahram on Thursday.
