Somalia hopes to redirect more military in anti-militant fight: PM
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Somalia must bolster its police presence in towns retaken from the al Shabaab militant group in order to free its overstretched military to focus on offensive action, the prime minister said in an interview on Friday.
White House calls for investigation into civilian deaths in Yemen
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The White House on Friday called for an investigation into reports that civilians and Red Crescent volunteers were killed in air strikes in Al-Mokha and Taiz in Yemen earlier this week, and urged precise targeting by the Saudi-le…
At U.N., Sudan accuses ICC of targeting African leaders
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Sudan’s Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour on Friday used the annual gathering of the 193 members of the United Nations to rail against the International Criminal Court (ICC), which he said has become a political tool to targe…
Iran expels second-ranking Bahraini diplomat in Tehran
DUBAI (Reuters) – Iran’s Foreign Ministry has declared Bahrain’s second-ranking diplomat in Tehran persona non grata and given him 72 hours to leave the country, a day after Bahrain withdrew its ambassador, Iranian media reported on Friday.
Bombed Syrian family lands in France after long visa wait
PARIS (Reuters) – A Syrian Christian family targeted by a September bomb attack in Damascus flew into Paris on Friday to start a new life, roughly a year after they requested entry visas from the French authorities.
Ukraine’s Minsk process will run into next year: Hollande
PARIS (Reuters) – It will take time to organize elections in Ukraine that respect international standards and as a result, the so-called Minsk peace process will run into next year, French President Francois Hollande said on Friday.
Colombian rebels want text of peace deal made public
HAVANA (Reuters) – Seeking to quell controversy back home, Colombia’s leftist FARC guerrillas on Friday advocated making public the entire 18-page agreement they reached with the government last week to end their 50-year-long war within six months.
Saudi Arabia signals easing of tension with Islamist cleric
DUBAI (Reuters) – The spiritual leader of the Muslim Brotherhood attended a ceremony organized by Saudi Arabia in Qatar on Friday, signaling an easing of Riyadh’s hostility toward the Islamist movement.
U.S., allies short on options as Russia, Iran flex muscle in Syria
BEIRUT (Reuters)- – Across the Middle East, America’s traditional allies are watching with disbelief as Russia and Iran mount a show of force in Syria, and they are wondering how it will end.
Taliban hold out in northern Afghan city, district in northeast falls
KABUL (Reuters) – Taliban fighters were holding out against Afghan troops in Kunduz on Friday, a day after government forces recaptured most of the northern city that had fallen to the militants in their biggest victory of a 14-year insurgency.
