U.S.-backed anti-Islamic State forces to announce Raqqa assault start date on Tuesday
BEIRUT (Reuters) – U.S.-backed Syrian rebels fighting Islamic State will announce the start date for the final assault on Raqqa city on Tuesday, aiming to oust the militants from their de facto capital in Syria, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said …
Bracing for Russian military exercise, Lithuania puts up a border fence
RAMONISKIAI BORDER CROSSING POINT, Lithuania (Reuters) – Lithuania has began constructing a two-meter high wire fence along its border with the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad ahead of military exercises Moscow is planning to hold there in September.
South African police investigating leaked emails on government contracts
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South Africa’s elite police unit, the Hawks, has opened an inquiry into thousands of leaked emails involving alleged improper dealings in awarding government contracts, the unit’s spokesman said on Monday.
India rejects Trump charge that it linked Paris climate accord for aid
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – India on Monday rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s comments that it had linked its accession to the Paris climate control accord to receiving foreign aid and said it was committed to protecting the environment on its own.
Venezuela opposition sit-in blocked, lawmaker says pushed in manhole
CARACAS (Reuters) – Two Venezuelan lawmakers said they were roughed up on Monday with one pushed into a manhole by soldiers blocking an opposition sit-in against President Nicolas Maduro, among chaotic scenes around Caracas.
Aftermath of bloody Afghan blasts stokes government tensions
KABUL (Reuters) – Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s main government partner said on Monday his national security adviser and other top security officials should be removed after four days of violence last week left around 100 people dead.
UK police reveal names of London attackers, say one investigated before
LONDON (Reuters) – British police and security services had previously investigated one of the Islamist militants who carried out Saturday’s attack in London, but with resources scarce, he was not deemed enough of a threat to warrant close monitoring, …
Syrian rebels say Syrian army plane downed east of Damascus
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Two Syrian rebels and a war monitor said a Syrian military plane had come down about 50 km east of Damascus on Monday in rebel-held territory near a frontline with government-held land.
Al Shabaab claims bomb attack on Somali police station
MOGADISHU (Reuters) – A bomb planted in a police station killed at least one policeman in Somalia’s southern port city of Kismayu on Monday, and militant Islamist group al Shabaab claimed responsibility.
Hiker, rescuer plunge to death in Austria as helicopter line gives way
ZURICH (Reuters) – A stranded Austrian mountain hiker and her would-be rescuer fell to their deaths when a line hoisting them into a police helicopter gave way, sending them and the woman’s husband plunging into a gorge below.
