Iraq PM Abadi secures Shi’ite support for cabinet change plan: state TV
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraq’s main Shi’ite groups on Sunday voiced support for Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi’s plan to overhaul the government and combat corruption, state TV said.
Renzi says won’t send troops to Libya for now; freed Italian hostages fly home
MILAN/ROME (Reuters) – Prime Minister Matteo Renzi denied on Sunday suggestions by the U.S. ambassador in Rome that Italy could send up to 5,000 troops to Libya, saying conditions were not in place for military intervention in the former Italian colony…
Boat sinks off Turkish coast, at least 18 migrants drown
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – At least 18 people attempting to reach Greece drowned after their boat sank off the Turkish coast on Sunday, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported, on the eve of a European meeting aimed at tackling the number of migrants.
Turkish police fire rubber bullets to break up Women’s Day rally
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkish police on Sunday briefly detained at least one woman and fired rubber bullets to disperse a crowd of hundreds of people trying to mark International Women’s Day in central Istanbul.
Turkish prime minister says no bargaining on new constitution
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – There will be no bargaining over a new constitution for Turkey which could enhance the powers of the president and the government will seek to put the matter to a referendum, the prime minister said on Sunday.
Benin votes in presidential election as incumbent steps down
COTONOU (Reuters) – Vote counting began in Benin after an election on Sunday to choose a successor to President Thomas Boni Yayi who is stepping down after two terms, leaving 33 candidates to compete for power in the West African country.
Libyan forces target Islamic State in Sirte with air strikes
TRIPOLI (Reuters) – Libyan forces based in the city of Misrata have carried out air strikes against Islamic State militants in their stronghold of Sirte, a military source said on Sunday.
Bomb-making materials found in North Ireland country park: police
LONDON (Reuters) – A “significant” amount of bomb-making components and explosives has been found at a country park around 25 miles north of Belfast in Northern Ireland, police said on Sunday.
Russia will cut defense budget by 5 percent in 2016, RIA reports
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia’s defense budget will be cut by 5 percent in 2016, Russian Deputy Defence Minister Tatiana Shevtsova said, according to the RIA news agency.
Islamic State truck bomb kills at least 60 people south of Baghdad
HILLA, Iraq (Reuters) – A truck bomb at an Iraqi checkpoint south of Baghdad killed at least 60 people and wounded more than 70 on Sunday, medical and security officials said, and Islamic State claimed responsibility for the blast.
