French state of emergency a threat to human rights: NGO
PARIS (Reuters) – France’s decision to extend a state of emergency for six months undermines human rights and the rule of law, Human Rights Watch said on Friday, joining the country’s top magistrate union in criticizing the legislation.
Syrian opposition turns to Pokemon to win support
(Reuters) – Syrian opposition groups have taken advantage of a global Pokemon craze to draw the world’s attention to the plight of children caught up in the country’s five-year civil war.
Exclusive: Top Obama aide to take call for South China Sea calm to Beijing
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. National Security Adviser Susan Rice will urge Beijing next week to avoid escalation in the South China Sea when she makes the highest-level U.S. visit to China since an international court rejected its sweeping claims to th…
American fighting with Kurds against Islamic State killed in Syria
BEIRUT (Reuters) – An American man who died fighting alongside Syrian Kurdish fighters to oust Islamic State from the northern Syrian city of Manbij has been named as Levi Jonathan Shirley.
Libyan forces report gains against IS in battle for Sirte
SIRTE, Libya (Reuters) – Libyan forces said on Friday they had edged further into the center of Sirte as they seek to recapture the city from Islamic State, following heavy fighting until late the previous evening that left dozens dead.
Grenade explodes near mosque in Yemen’s Sanaa
CAIRO (Reuters) – A grenade exploded on Friday outside a mosque in Yemen’s capital Sanaa, controlled by the Iran-allied Houthi group, residents said, as worshippers were leaving after midday prayers.
U.N. envoy eyes new Syrian peace talks in Geneva in August
BERLIN (Reuters) – The United Nations hopes to convene a new round of intra-Syrian peace talks in Geneva in August, the UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura said on Friday.
German train attacker tried to destroy SIM card: Spiegel magazine
BERLIN (Reuters) – The 17-year-old asylum-seeker who wounded train passengers in an ax attack claimed by Islamic State tried to destroy his SIM card and internal mobile phone storage, Der Spiegel magazine reported on Friday.
Colombia reaches deal with truckers to lift 45-day strike
BOGOTA (Reuters) – Colombia’s government and truckers reached a deal on Friday to lift a strike that has stretched 45 days, snarling coffee exports and pushing inflation higher as foodstuff was blocked from moving around the nation.
Nearly 3,000 dead in Mediterranean already this year: IOM
GENEVA (Reuters) – Nearly 3,000 migrants and refugees have perished in the Mediterranean Sea already this year while almost 250,000 have reached Europe, the International Organization for Migration said on Friday.
