UK inquiry to examine Grenfell Tower fire but not broader social issues
LONDON (Reuters) – A public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire in London that killed 80 people in June began on Tuesday with a mission to examine the cause of and response to the tragedy, but not broader issues such as social housing policy.
Ousted Pakistani PM Sharif seeks review of court ruling
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Ousted Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday sought a review of a Supreme Court decision that disqualified him from office over undeclared assets, an official from his ruling party said on Tuesday.
Three aid workers killed in Afghanistan: officials
KABUL (Reuters) – Three Afghan aid workers employed by Catholic Relief Services were gunned down and killed in central Afghanistan, officials said on Tuesday.
Iraq oil city governor quits, travels to Iran after corruption investigation
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – The governor of the oil city of Basra has stepped down and gone to Iran after Iraq’s anti-corruption body began investigating graft allegations against him, people close to him and officials said on Tuesday.
Indonesia police uncover alleged plot to bomb presidential palace
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesian police on Tuesday arrested five suspected Islamist militants and seized chemicals near the capital, Jakarta, that they said were being used to make bombs for attacks on the presidential palace at the end of August.
Thai activist jailed for two and a half years for posting BBC article
BANGKOK (Reuters) – A Thai student activist was jailed for two and a half years on Tuesday for posting on Facebook a BBC article deemed offensive to Thailand’s king, his lawyer said.
Former senior al Shabaab leader says militants should leave group
MOGADISHU (Reuters) – The one-time deputy leader of Somali Islamist militants al Shabaab called on Tuesday for others to quit the group following his defection to the government side in Mogadishu.
Grace Mugabe back in Zimbabwe after being accused of assault in South Africa
JOHANNESBURG/HARARE (Reuters) – Zimbabwe’s first lady Grace Mugabe returned home on Tuesday from South Africa after failing to turn herself in to police in Johannesburg to face accusations of assaulting a model in a hotel room.
Afghan Taliban warns Trump against sending in more troops
KABUL (Reuters) – The Taliban told U.S. President Donald Trump in an open letter on Tuesday that the military situation in Afghanistan was “far worse than you realize”, and sending in more troops would be self-destructive.
Iran says its drones near U.S. vessels are safe, following rules
LONDON (Reuters) – Iran’s powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) rejected U.S. criticism that it flew a drone unsafely near a U.S. aircraft carrier in the Gulf and it defended its right to carry out air patrol missions in the area.
