Iraq’s Abadi cuts 11 ministerial positions in reform push
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi ordered an immediate reduction in the number of ministers on Sunday to 22 from 33, as part of a sweeping campaign to reduce corruption and mismanagement affecting the highest reaches of governmen…
Iraqi panel finds Maliki, others responsible for fall of Mosul
BAGHDAD/BEIRUT (Reuters) – An Iraqi parliamentary panel called on Sunday for former Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and dozens of other top officials to stand trial over the fall of the northern city of Mosul to Islamic State last year.
Greek opposition party refuses to back PM in any confidence vote
ATHENS (Reuters) – Greece’s socialist PASOK party joined the main opposition on Sunday in saying it would not back Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras if he calls a confidence vote following a rebellion in the governing party over a new bailout deal.
Sri Lankans to elect parliament in ‘referendum’ on Rajapaksa comeback
COLOMBO (Reuters) – Sri Lankans elect a new parliament on Monday in what amounts to a referendum on ex-president Mahinda Rajapaksa’s comeback bid, with the reformist alliance that swept him from power in January seeking a stronger mandate for reforms.
U.S., allies conduct 22 air strikes against Islamic State – U.S. military
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States and its allies have conducted 22 air strikes against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria in the past 24 hours, the U.S. military said on Sunday.
Derelict Kos hotel a haven for migrants trapped in Greece
KOS, Greece (Reuters) – Mohammed Ibrahim fled fighting in Afghanistan for a better life in Germany but found himself trapped in a derelict hotel on the Greek island of Kos. He has little food and water, but still hopes to find a way to leave soon.
Brazil protests aim to oust embattled President Rousseff
SAO PAULO (Reuters) – Tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered across Brazil on Sunday to call for the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff, whom they blame for a vast corruption scandal and the economy’s worst slump in a quarter century.
Plane with 54 on board crashes in remote Indonesian region
JAKARTA (Reuters) – An aircraft with 54 people on board crashed in Indonesia’s remote and mountainous region of Papua on Sunday, a government official said, the latest in a string of aviation disasters in the Southeast Asian nation.
Air strikes near Damascus kill at least 80 people: activists
BEIRUT (Reuters) – A Syrian government air strike northeast of Damascus killed at least 80 people in a marketplace on Sunday, rescue workers in the rebel-held area and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
Myanmar ruling party leaders to meet Monday before parliamentary showdown
NAYPYITAW (Reuters) – Myanmar’s ruling party has called a hastily arranged leadership meeting on Monday to prepare for a showdown with their ousted party chairman in parliament this week, two senior party members told Reuters on Sunday.
