Iraq’s Zebari accuses ex-PM Maliki of arranging dismissal as finance minister
ERBIL, Iraq (Reuters) – Deposed Iraqi Finance Minister Hoshiyar Zebari on Thursday accused former Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki of orchestrating his removal from office, publicly exposing rifts within an increasingly unstable government.
Iraqi army says it recaptured key town south of Mosul
TIKRIT, Iraq (Reuters) – Iraqi forces backed by air strikes from the U.S.-led coalition gained complete control of the northern district of Shirqat on Thursday, bringing the military a step closer to a main push on Mosul later this year.
Palestinians’ Abbas seeks British apology for 1917 Jewish homeland declaration
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Britain should apologize for its 1917 declaration endorsing the founding of a Jewish homeland in Palestine and should recognize Palestine as a state, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Thursday.
Gabon constitutional court starts hearing on disputed election
LIBREVILLE (Reuters) – Gabon’s Constitutional Court began hearing arguments on Thursday in advance of its ruling on an election that opposition leader Jean Ping said was rigged to give President Ali Bongo victory.
Libyan forces say foil Islamic State car bombings in Sirte
SIRTE, Libya (Reuters) – Libyan forces said they foiled three attempted car bombings in renewed heavy fighting against Islamic State holdouts in the group’s former stronghold of Sirte on Thursday.
Death toll rises to 52 after migrant boat capsizes off Egypt
CAIRO (Reuters) – Nine more bodies have been recovered from the Mediterranean a day after a boat carrying hundreds of migrants capsized off the coast of Egypt, officials said on Thursday, bringing the death toll to 52.
Pope says journalism based on fear-mongering, gossip is form of ‘terrorism’
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Journalism based on gossip or rumors is a form of “terrorism” and media that stereotype entire populations or foment fear of migrants are acting destructively, Pope Francis said on Thursday.
At least 12 killed by suicide bomber in southern Syrian town
AMMAN (Reuters) – A suicide bomber killed at least 12 people when he blew himself up on Thursday at the opening of a local police station in a rebel-held town in southern Syria, rebels and residents said.
Secret mediator helped guide Colombia to peace deal
CALI, Colombia (Reuters) – For more than a decade, Henry Acosta regularly headed into Colombia’s mountains and jungles on foot and mule, fording rivers and evading military intelligence on a secret mission to promote peace between the government and Ma…
Gabon braces for violence on eve of election ruling
LIBREVILLE (Reuters) – The scars from earlier violence in Gabon’s palm-lined capital warn of what may lie ahead: the parliament building gutted by fire; the opposition headquarters riddled with bullet holes; shops looted and their windows smashed.
