More women lawmakers needed in UK as numbers ‘shockingly low’: report
LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – The number of women parliamentarians in Britain is “shockingly low” and the government should set targets to achieve equal representation by 2030, British lawmakers said in a report on Tuesday.
Iraq special forces advance in east Mosul, close to linking with army
MOSUL, Iraq (Reuters) – Iraqi special forces made further advances against Islamic State in Mosul on Monday, pushing militants from another eastern district and edging closer to army units nearby, officers in the city said.
U.S. sanctions Russia’s top investigator, four others for rights abuses
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States on Monday blacklisted Alexander Bastrykin, Russia’s top investigator and a close aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, and four other Russian officials for human rights abuses.
Gambia minister defects amid political impasse
DAKAR (Reuters) – Gambia’s communication minister, Sheriff Bojang, said on Monday he had left his post in the first high-profile Cabinet defection since President Yahya Jammeh refused to accept losing a December election.
Venezuela Congress says Maduro ‘abandoned post’; Congress called ‘disobedient’
CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuela’s opposition-led Congress on Monday approved a resolution declaring that President Nicolas Maduro had “abandoned his post,” a symbolic move unlikely to break a year-long stalemate between the executive and the legislature….
Italy reopening embassy in Libya two years after closure
ROME (Reuters) – Italy is sending its ambassador back to Libya, its foreign ministry said on Monday, making it the first Western diplomatic mission to reopen in the divided country.
Unclear whether truck attack in Israel inspired by Islamic State
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel’s government has been quick to suggest a Palestinian who rammed a truck into a group of Israeli soldiers at the weekend was inspired by Islamic State, raising questions over how it came to that conclusion.
U.S. Navy ship fired warning shots at Iranian vessels
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A U.S. Navy destroyer fired three warning shots at four Iranian fast-attack vessels near the Strait of Hormuz after they closed in at high speed and disregarded repeated requests to slow down, U.S. officials said on Monday.
Ex-premier Valls seen lagging in bid for French Socialist presidential ticket
PARIS (Reuters) – The campaign of French presidential hopeful Manuel Valls is losing steam as the Socialists enter a crucial week in picking their candidate, polls show, a scenario that could help Emmanuel Macron.
Kenyan president signs election amendments law despite opposition rigging fears
NAIROBI (Reuters) – Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta approved a law on Monday requiring back up plans for an August election if electronic voting systems fail, despite fierce opposition from rivals who say any manual arrangements will open the ballot to…
