Iraqi forces gain foothold in northwest Mosul after surprise new push
HULAYLA, Iraq (Reuters) – Iraqi forces pushed further into Mosul from the north on the second day of a new push to speed up the nearly seven-month attempt to dislodge Islamic State, commanders said on Friday.
Afghan former warlord Hekmatyar rallies supporters in Kabul
KABUL (Reuters) – Thousands of supporters of Afghan former warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar rallied in Kabul’s main football stadium on Friday, making a stark demonstration of force in the city his fighters helped destroy during civil war two decades ago.
Renegade general Cirillo says ready to enter South Sudan’s civil war
ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) – A renegade general said he was weighing launching his new rebel force into South Sudan’s civil war, and called for President Salva Kiir to go, accusing him of spearheading ethnic violence that rights groups fear is slipping towa…
UK police checking report of suspicious item at Heathrow airport
LONDON (Reuters) – British police are investigating a report of a suspicious item detected during a baggage check at London’s Heathrow airport, which led to one of its terminals being briefly closed.
India’s top court upholds death penalty in Delhi gang rape case
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – India’s top court on Friday upheld death sentences against four men who fatally gang raped a woman on board a bus in 2012, a crime that sparked widespread protests and drew international attention to violence against women.
Can South Korea’s Moon make ‘sunshine’ again with defiant North?
SEOUL (Reuters) – In February 2016, Yoo Chang-geun and around 120 other South Korean businessmen frantically pulled their staff out of the Kaesong Industrial Zone, jointly run with North Korea. Seoul had ordered it closed after Pyongyang defied interna…
China’s C919 jet lands successfully after maiden flight
SHANGHAI (Reuters) – China’s home-grown C919 passenger jet landed successfully in Shanghai after an 80-minute maiden flight on Friday, a major step for Beijing as it looks to boost its profile in the global aviation market.
Russia: Syria safe zones to be shut for U.S., coalition planes – agencies
MOSCOW (Reuters) – The safe zones which are being created in Syria will be closed for warplanes of the United States and those of the U.S.-led coalition, Russian news agencies quoted Russian envoy at Syria peace talks Alexander Lavrentyev as saying on …
Islamic State leader in Egypt tells Muslims to avoid Christian gatherings
CAIRO (Reuters) – Islamic State’s leader in Egypt has warned Muslims to stay away from Christian gatherings as well as government, military and police facilities, suggesting that the militant group will keep up attacks on what he referred to as “legiti…
Brexit minister Davis says EU trying to bully Britain
LONDON (Reuters) – The European Commission is trying to bully Britain, Brexit minister David Davis said, ratcheting up the rhetoric before a national election in which the ruling Conservatives are asking voters to back them ahead of tough talks to leav…
