Across arc of conflict, ‘Obama Doctrine’ shows signs of failure
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – In Syria, U.S.-trained rebels surrender supplies and ammunition to al Qaeda-linked insurgents. In Iraq, the battle by American-backed government forces against Islamic State is at a stalemate. In Afghanistan, the Taliban seize a …
China says arrests two Japanese for spying
BEIJING/TOKYO (Reuters) – China has arrested two Japanese for spying, the Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday, and Japan said the two had been held since May and diplomats were doing all they could to help.
U.S. stops sending new Syria recruits to troubled rebel training program
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States has stopped pulling new recruits from the battlefield in Syria for training outside the country as the U.S. military program to forge a force of moderate rebels undergoes review, a Pentagon spokesman said on Tue…
Finland suspends decisions on Iraqi and Somali asylum claims
HELSINKI (Reuters) – Finland on Wednesday said it has suspended its decision-making on Iraqi and Somali asylum claims due to an ongoing assessment of the security situation in the two countries.
India sentences five men to death for 2006 Mumbai train blasts
MUMBAI (Reuters) – An Indian court sentenced five men to death and jailed seven for life on Wednesday for planning bomb blasts that ripped through Mumbai commuter trains in 2006, killing more than 180 people and wounding hundreds.
Powers struggle to agree on Syria; Russia urged to strike Islamic State
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – France challenged Russia to back its words with deeds over fighting Islamic State militants in Syria as major powers on Tuesday struggled to resolve differences between Moscow and the West over ending the civil war in the Mid…
U.S.-Cuban aviation deal possible this year, official says
HAVANA (Reuters) – Cuba and the United States advanced toward restoring scheduled airline service during two days of talks that concluded in Havana on Tuesday, with the potential to reach a deal this year, a U.S. official said.
Taliban audacity trumps Afghan forces’ weak defenses in Kunduz
KABUL (Reuters) – Under cover of darkness, groups of Taliban fighters carrying rocket-propelled grenades and automatic weapons sneaked through fields and villages toward the northern Afghan city of Kunduz from four directions.
At U.N., Yemen accuses Iran of pursuing its destruction
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Yemen’s president accused Iran on Tuesday of pursuing the destruction of his country, where government forces and a Saudi Arabia-led coalition are fighting Tehran-backed rebels.
Japan boosts support for war refugees from Syria, Iraq
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Japan’s prime minister said on Tuesday that his country would provide some $1.6 billion to assist Syrians and Iraqis displaced by conflict and for building peace across the Middle East and Africa.
