Iraqi forces seize Mosul bridge as thousands of civilians flee
SOUTH OF MOSUL, Iraq (Reuters) – Iraqi forces seized a damaged Mosul bridge on Monday which could link up their units on either side of the Tigris river, as thousands of civilians fled the fighting for Islamic State’s remaining stronghold in the west o…
Last letters : From Mosul schoolboys to Islamic State ‘martyrs’
MOSUL, Iraq (Reuters) – “My dear family, please forgive me,” reads the handwritten letter discarded in the dusty halls of an Islamic State training compound in eastern Mosul.
In Ukraine, separatists issue ultimatum to end rail blockade
KIEV (Reuters) – Pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine said on Monday they would take control of Ukraine-run businesses in rebel-held areas if the Ukrainian government does not end a rail blockade that has halted coal supplies.
Russian frigate heads to Mediterranean on Syria mission – source
SEVASTOPOL, Crimea (Reuters) – The Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich left the port of Sevastopol in Crimea on Monday for the Mediterranean where it will join the country’s naval forces deployed near the Syrian coast, a naval official said.
Hungary starts construction of second border fence
BUDAPEST (Reuters) – Hungary has begun building a second line of fence along its southern border with Serbia, a government spokesman said on Monday, a move likely to exacerbate criticism from some of the country’s European Union partners.
South African police say not investigating deputy finance minister Jonas
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South Africa’s Hawks elite police unit said on Monday it is not investigating Deputy Minister Mcebisi Jonas, but only making enquiries at this stage over claims that he was part of a probe into allegations of corruption at stat…
More looting in Johannesburg after wave of anti-immigrant attacks
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – About 100 people ransacked shops in Johannesburg overnight, police said on Monday, in the latest of a wave of looting incidents in South African cities.
Philippines condemns ‘barbaric beheading’ of German hostage
MANILA (Reuters) – The Philippines and Germany condemned on Monday the beheading of an elderly German captive by Islamic State-linked Abu Sayyaf militants who posted a video of the killing after a deadline for a $600,000 ransom passed.
Bulgaria’s centre-right keeps narrow lead over Socialists: poll
SOFIA (Reuters) – Bulgaria’s center-right GERB party retains a slim lead over its main political rival, the Socialists, a month before an early parliamentary election, a survey by independent pollster Alpha Research showed on Monday.
Turkey-backed Syrian rebels clash with army in north
BEIRUT/ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkey-backed Syrian rebel groups clashed with government forces near a city in northern Syria that the rebels recently captured from Islamic State, sources on both sides said, the second such confrontation in the region thi…
