Iraq’s Kurds beef up, move back defense line around oil-rich Kirkuk
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Kurdish authorities said on Friday they had sent thousands more troops to Kirkuk to confront “threats” of Iraqi military attack, but also slightly pulled back defense lines around the disputed oil-producing area to ease tensions.
Brazil Supreme Court blocks extradition of Italian leftist ex-guerilla Battisti
BRASILIA (Reuters) – A Supreme Court injunction on Friday temporarily blocked the extradition of Cesare Battisti, an Italian left-wing former guerrilla convicted of murder in his country.
Despite deaths, German military eyes recruitment bump from new reality show
BERLIN (Reuters) – The German military, buoyed by 45 million views of its previous social media reality show “The Recruits”, is to launch a new show on Monday that shows the lives of eight soldiers serving in U.N. peacekeeping mission in Mali.
WHO says attack on Syria vaccine store leaves children at risk
LONDON (Reuters) – The World Health Organization said on Friday it had received reports of an attack on medical facilities in eastern Syria that had destroyed a store containing more than 130,000 vaccine doses against measles and polio.
Russia questions future of Syria chemical weapons inquiry
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Russia on Friday questioned the work and future of an inquiry into who is to blame for toxic gas attacks in Syria and said it would decide whether to support extending the mandate after investigators submit their next report …
Mattis says U.S. working to ensure situation around Kirkuk does not escalate
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Friday that tensions between Kurdish and Iraqi authorities around Kirkuk had the full attention of the United States and was working to ensure it does not escalate.
Peru opposition-ruled Congress approves Kuczynski’s new cabinet
LIMA (Reuters) – Peru’s opposition-controlled Congress approved President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski’s new cabinet with a 83-17 vote of confidence on Friday, the latest resetting of relations between the executive and legislative branches in his year-old go…
A picture and its story: tear gas in Nairobi
NAIROBI (Reuters) – In a dramatic picture, Kenyan opposition lawmaker Caleb Amisi Luyai leans through the window of his car as tear gas billows out, police having fired it at a convoy of opposition politicians in Nairobi on Oct. 13.
Trump strikes blow at Iran nuclear deal in major U.S. policy shift
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump struck a blow against the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement on Friday in defiance of other world powers, choosing not to certify that Tehran is complying with the deal and warning he might ultimately termina…
Investigative journalist attacked in Kosovo
PRISTINA (Reuters) – A Kosovo journalist known for his investigative stories on corruption and crime was beaten in a crowded café bar in central Pristina on Friday.
