How Iranian general plotted out Syrian assault in Moscow
BEIRUT (Reuters) – At a meeting in Moscow in July, a top Iranian general unfurled a map of Syria to explain to his Russian hosts how a series of defeats for President Bashar al-Assad could be turned into victory – with Russia’s help.
Tajikistan widens crackdown on Islamist party
ALMATY (Reuters) – Authorities in Tajikistan have arrested almost two dozen members of the opposition Islamic Renaissance Party (IRPT) accused of plotting a coup, continuing a crackdown which critics say stokes fresh tension.
Troika urges delay to plan for new South Sudan states
OSLO (Reuters) – South Sudanese President Salva Kiir’s plans to replace the country’s 10 states with 28 new states is a source of serious concern, the United States, Britain and Norway said in a joint statement on Tuesday.
EU seeks Turkey help to block migrant flows, offers cash
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Union wants more Turkish cooperation with Greece and other EU neighbors to stem migration flows and in return is ready to offer more funding for Syrian and Iraqi refugees in Turkey, according to an EU plan published on…
Flogged Saudi blogger Badawi named ‘writer of courage’ in Britain
LONDON (Reuters) – Saudi blogger Raif Badawi, who has been sentenced to 1,000 lashes and 10 years in jail for “insulting Islam”, was named on Tuesday as the International Writer of Courage and PEN Pinter Prize co-recipient for 2015.
Spain, France arrest member of Basque group ETA near Paris
MADRID (Reuters) – Spanish and French police arrested a long-sought leading member of the militant Basque separatist group ETA in a Paris suburb on Tuesday after a series of recent operations against the group.
Bosnian court jails four over recruitment of militants for Syria
SARAJEVO (Reuters) – A Sarajevo court convicted four Bosnians on Tuesday of financing terrorist activities and recruiting people to fight for Islamic State in Syria, sentencing them to up to 3 1/2 years in prison.
Church should shun derogatory words on gays, Vatican synod told
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Catholics should stop using condescending language such as “pity” toward homosexuals and find ways to welcome them as sons and daughters of the Church, bishops have told a major gathering on the family.
Taliban fighters launch hit-and-run attacks in Afghanistan’s Kunduz
KABUL (Reuters) – Taliban fighters on motorbikes have carried out hit-and-run attacks on Afghan forces trying to clear Kunduz city of insurgents, more than a week after the militant movement briefly seized the provincial capital.
Arpad Goncz, Hungary’s first post-Communist president, dies at 93
Arpad Goncz, who was jailed after the country’s failed 1956 uprising against Soviet rule and went on to become its first post-Soviet president, died on Tuesday at 93, after what he had called a somewhat “grotesque and surreal” life of constant new begi…
