U.S. envoy says North Korean leader ‘begging for war’ as U.N. mulls sanctions
SEOUL/UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The United States accused North Korea’s trading partners on Monday of aiding its nuclear ambitions and said Pyongyang was “begging for war” after the North’s powerful nuclear test on Sunday and signs that further missil…
Saudi Arabia seeks Islamic tourism boost in test for heritage, tradition
MECCA/RIYADH (Reuters) – A few steps away from Mecca’s Grand Mosque, a dozen empty towers rise into the sky above the holy city visited by millions of Muslim pilgrims every year.
Colombia, ELN rebels agree ceasefire ahead of Pope’s visit
BOGOTA (Reuters) – Colombia and the Marxist ELN rebel group said on Monday they have agreed a bilateral ceasefire that will run through mid-January 2018, just two days before Pope Francis arrives for a visit to the Andean country.
Venezuelan President Maduro to address U.N. Human Rights Council
GENEVA (Reuters) – President Nicolas Maduro, accused of trampling on human rights and democracy in Venezuela, is expected to address the opening day of a three-week U.N. Human Rights Council session on Sept. 11.
U.S.-backed Syrian forces seize Raqqa mosque: coalition
BEIRUT (Reuters) – U.S.-backed Syrian militias have taken the historic old city of Raqqa and its ancient mosque as they press their offensive to defeat Islamic State, the U.S.-led coalition said on Monday.
Colombia’s ELN rebel group says has agreed bilateral ceasefire with government
BOGOTA (Reuters) – Colombia’s ELN rebel group said on Monday it has agreed a bilateral ceasefire with the government in honor of the visit of Pope Francis this week.
France’s Macron meets Venezuela opposition in Paris
PARIS (Reuters) – French President Emmanuel Macron, who last week called Venezuela a dictatorship, will on Monday meet with opposition representatives, including the president and vice-president of the opposition-governed congress, Macron’s office said…
Syrian army thrusts east to break siege of Deir al-Zor city
BEIRUT (Reuters) – With a sudden lunge through jihadist lines, the Syrian military and its allies on Monday came to within three kilometers of relieving the Euphrates city of Deir al-Zor, where Islamic State has besieged an army garrison and 93,000 ci…
Explosions rock Myanmar area near Bangladesh border amid Rohingya exodus
COX’S BAZAR, Bangladesh/YANGON (Reuters) – Two blasts rocked an area on the Myanmar side of the border with Bangladesh on Monday, accompanied by the sound of gunfire and thick black smoke, as violence that has sent nearly 90,000 Muslim Rohingya fleeing…
Merkel ally cites thousands of cyber attacks from Russian IP addresses
BERLIN (Reuters) – A top leader of German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative party said her website had been hit by thousands of cyber attacks — many from Russian IP addresses — before Sunday’s televised election debate.
