Exclusive: Islamic State crushes rebellion plot in Mosul as army closes in
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Islamic State has crushed a rebellion plot in Mosul, led by one of the group’s commanders who aimed to switch sides and help deliver the caliphate’s Iraqi capital to government forces, residents and Iraqi security officials said.
Roadside bombs kill three Turkish soldiers in largely Kurdish south east: sources
DIYARBAKIR, Turkey (Reuters) – Three Turkish soldiers were killed and 12 were wounded on Friday when three separate roadside bombs hit military vehicles in Turkey’s largely Kurdish southeast, security sources said.
Rockets hit Turkish fish store near tourist town in Antalya: Dogan
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Two rockets, apparently aimed at a fuel tanker, hit a fish store and open ground near a resort town in the province of Antalya in southern Turkey on Friday and did not cause any casualties, the privately owned Dogan news agency rep…
China says backs Philippines’ anti-narcotics campaign
BEIJING (Reuters) – China backs Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-narcotics campaign and will cooperate with the Southeast Asian country in the war against drugs, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Friday.
Anti-Russia blogger stands trial in Belarus
MINSK (Reuters) – A Belarussian court started on Friday a closed trial of a blogger – known for his fierce criticism of Russia – who is accused of inciting hatred and distributing pornography in a case activists say is politically motivated.
Turkey could hold referendum on presidential system by spring: minister
ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkey could hold a referendum on changing the constitution and introducing a presidential system before the spring, its justice minister said on Friday, days after the government revived plans that would hand incumbent Tayyip Erdoga…
Nigeria’s Boko Haram frees 21 kidnapped Chibok girls after 2-1/2 years
ABUJA (Reuters) – Jihadist group Boko Haram has freed 21 of more than 200 girls it kidnapped in April 2014 in the northern Nigerian town of Chibok, after mediation by Switzerland and the International Red Cross, officials said on Thursday.
Japan withholds UNESCO funding after Nanjing Massacre row
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan has withheld its 2016 funding for the UN heritage body UNESCO, Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said on Friday, following its decision last year to include documents about the 1937 Nanjing Massacre in its “Memory of the World” pro…
Nigerian president’s wife may not back him at next election
ABUJA (Reuters) – The wife of Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari says she may not back her husband at the next election unless he shakes up his government.
Japan defense contractors get to grips with foreign military buyers
TOKYO(Reuters) – Until recently, public meetings between Japanese defense contractors and uniformed foreign military delegations would have stirred controversy in Japan, but this week’s aerospace show in Tokyo saw plenty.
