Rwanda’s president thanks nation after referendum allowing him to stay on
KIGALI (Reuters) – Rwanda’s president Paul Kagame thanked the nation on Monday for voting in a referendum last week that overwhelmingly backed constitutional changes to let him extend his rule beyond 2017, but he did not say if he would seek re-electio…
Would-be Japan PM says defense shift could be excuse for attack
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s defense policy shift to allow the military to fight abroad for the first time since 1945 could be used by militants as an excuse to attack Japan, a ruling party lawmaker who hopes one day to succee…
Islamic State stopping civilians leaving Ramadi before attack: Iraq Defence Ministry
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Islamic State militants are preventing civilians from leaving Ramadi ahead of an attack planned by the Iraqi army to retake the western city that the militants captured in May, an Iraqi Defence Ministry spokesman said on Monday.
Syria funds suggest IS link to militants arrested in Indonesia
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Some of the Indonesian men arrested at the weekend after tip-offs that they were planning a string of militant attacks had received funding from Syria, hardening evidence of their links to Islamic State, police said on Monday.
Russia’s PM Medvedev orders legal action against Ukraine over debt: agencies
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Monday ordered its government to prepare legal action against Ukraine if it does not repay $3 billion debt, Russian news agencies reported.
Shanghai vice major roasted for banquet amid graft crackdown
BEIJING (Reuters) – The graft watchdog for China’s ruling Communist Party said on Monday said it had given a “serious warning” to a vice mayor in the country’s glamorous financial hub of Shanghai for attending a banquet that had been paid for using pub…
Indian finance minister sues rival politician for slander
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – India’s finance minister sued the Delhi chief minister for 100 million rupees ($1.51 million) on Monday for slander, escalating a battle between the ruling party and the opposition that has stalled key reform legislation in parlia…
Russia reinforces Armenia base with attack, defense helicopters: Interfax
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia has reinforced its air base in Armenia with attack and transport helicopters, Interfax news agency cited the Russian military as saying on Monday.
Israel’s David Sling missile defense passes final test
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – A new Israeli air defense system developed in partnership with the United States has passed its final round of tests, putting it on course for deployment in 2016, the Israeli Defense Ministry said on Monday.
Obama chides Republicans for lack of alternatives on Islamic State
HONOLULU (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama said his administration is open to some “legitimate criticism” for failing to adequately explain its strategy to counter Islamic State, though he chided Republican presidential candidates for criticizing…
