U.S. government watchdog calls for changes in Afghan training effort
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Even as thousands of additional American troops head to Afghanistan, a U.S. government watchdog is warning that tens of billions of dollars could be wasted unless changes are made in the training of Afghan security forces.
Syria’s Kurds to hold historic vote in ‘message’ to Assad
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Kurdish-led regions of northern Syria will hold elections on Friday, a historic expression of free will and a message to President Bashar al-Assad as he seeks to reassert control over the whole country, a senior Syrian Kurdish politi…
U.N. team to collect evidence of Islamic State crimes in Iraq
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The United Nations Security Council on Thursday approved the creation of a U.N. investigative team to collect, preserve and store evidence in Iraq of acts by Islamic State that may be war crimes, crimes against humanity or ge…
Trump says will be putting more sanctions on North Korea
NEW YORK (Reuters) – President Donald Trump said on Thursday the United States would be adding more sanctions on North Korea.
Pope candidly admits Church ‘arrived late’ in confronting abuse
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Pope Francis, in some of his most candid and personal comments on the sexual abuse of children by priests, said on Thursday that the Catholic Church had “arrived late” in dealing with the problem.
South Korea’s Moon says North Korea crisis must be handled in ‘stable’ manner
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – South Korean President Moon Jae-in called on Thursday for the North Korean nuclear crisis to be handled in a stable manner, so that peace was not destroyed.
Russia says will target U.S.-backed fighters in Syria if provoked
MOSCOW/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Russia warned the United States on Thursday it would target U.S.-backed militias in Syria if Russian troops again came under fire, as the United States disclosed an unusual face-to-face meeting between U.S. and Russian gen…
Thousands rally in Philippines, warn of Duterte ‘dictatorship’
MANILA (Reuters) – Thousands of Filipinos rallied on Thursday to denounce Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte and warn of what they called an emerging dictatorship, in a major show of dissent against the controversial but hugely popular leader.
Iran nuclear deal cannot be renegotiated: Rouhani
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Iran’s president said on Thursday its nuclear accord with world powers cannot be renegotiated, after the Trump administration warned it was weighing whether the deal signed by its predecessor served U.S. security interests.
Fearing far-right surge, Merkel tells Germans to vote on Sunday
BERLIN (Reuters) – Fears that apathy could boost the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in an election on Sunday have driven Chancellor Angela Merkel and her main rival to urge their backers to go out and vote.
