China has the right to ‘step in’ to Hong Kong election, top official says
HONG KONG (Reuters) – China’s third most powerful leader said on Monday that Beijing had the right to “step in” to Hong Kong’s leadership contest, according to local politicians who met him, in remarks fuelling fears of meddling from Communist Party le…
Mosul train tunnel reveals assault course for elite Islamic State fighters
SOUTH OF MOSUL, Iraq (Reuters) – The mouth of the tunnel is hardly visible on a muddy hillside overlooking Mosul, where fighting now rages between Iraqi forces and Islamic State militants.
France’s Fillon wins party backing after Juppe rules out election bid
PARIS/BORDEAUX (Reuters) – Francois Fillon fought off a rebellion that had threatened to end his candidacy for the French presidency on Monday as party leaders swung behind the center-right former prime minister despite allegations that he had misused …
Suspected U.S. drones hit al Qaeda targets in Yemen: residents
DUBAI (Reuters) – Suspected U.S. drones fired missiles at al Qaeda targets in two separate attacks in Yemen on Monday, residents said, extending several days of U.S. strikes against the militants.
Palestinian gunman killed in clash with Israeli forces
RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) – A Palestinian gunman fired at Israeli soldiers and military police during a raid in the occupied West Bank on Monday and the Israeli forces shot and killed the attacker in response, the army and police said in a statemen…
Syrian militia says Manbij under protection of U.S.-led alliance
BEIRUT (Reuters) – The northern Syrian city of Manbij is under the protection of the U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State after an increase in “Turkish threats” against the city, a Kurdish-allied militia that controls the city said.
U.S.-backed Iraqi forces capture Mosul bridge, close in on state buildings
MOSUL, Iraq/BAGHDAD (Reuters) – U.S.-backed Iraqi forces captured the second of Mosul’s five bridges on Monday, giving a boost to their onslaught on Islamic State’s remaining stronghold in the western part of the city.
Malaysian PM chides North Korea, as ‘rude’ envoy sent packing
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak rebuked North Korea on Monday as his government expelled its envoy for casting doubt over the impartiality of the investigation into the bizarre murder of the North Korean leader’s estranged…
Outgoing French President Hollande says ‘ultimate duty’ is to prevent Le Pen victory
PARIS (Reuters) – Outgoing French President Francois Hollande said in European newspaper interviews published on Monday that his “ultimate duty” was to prevent a victory of far-right National Front leader Marine Le Pen in this year’s election.
Cuba’s Raul Castro blasts Trump’s Mexican wall and trade policy
HAVANA (Reuters) – Cuban President Raul Castro harshly criticized U.S. President Donald Trump’s immigration, trade and other policies on Sunday as Trump reviews a fragile detente with Communist-run Cuba begun by his predecessor Barack Obama.
