Saudi-led coalition bombs Yemen despite calling off air campaign
CAIRO/ADEN (Reuters) – Saudi-led coalition warplanes bombed Yemen on Wednesday despite an announcement by Riyadh that it was ending its campaign of air strikes, while renewed fighting erupted on the ground between rebels and forces loyal to the exiled …
EU leaders to restore rescue operations after migrant boat disaster
BRUSSELS/ROME (Reuters) – European Union leaders who decided last year to halt the rescue of migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean will reverse their decision on Thursday at a summit hastily convened after nearly 2,000 people died at sea.
Nigerian forces invade last known stronghold of Boko Haram
BAUCHI, Nigeria (Reuters) – Nigerian forces backed by warplanes invaded Islamist group Boko Haram’s last known stronghold, the Sambisa forest, on Wednesday, in an effort to finally defeat their six-year-old insurgency, two military sources said.
Proposed U.S., UK, French visit to Darfur was ‘odd’: Sudan
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Sudan’s U.N. mission on Wednesday criticized a proposed visit to its conflict-torn Darfur region earlier this year by senior U.S., British and French diplomats, describing the plan that Khartoum never approved as “odd.”
Active online, foreign women become Islamic State widows
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – At least 15 young Western women who joined Islamic State and married jihadi fighters are now widows after the militant group suffered losses in clashes in Syria and Iraq, according to researchers who closely monitor Islamist radi…
Armenian president says ready to restart reconciliation with Turkey
YEREVAN (Reuters) – Armenia’s president said on Wednesday he was ready to normalize relations with Turkey, two months after he withdrew peace accords from parliament, blaming a Turkish lack of political will to end 100 years of hostility.
Iraqi forces fight to rout Islamic State militants from Ramadi
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraqi security forces fought to rout Islamic State militants from the western city of Ramadi on Wednesday, slowly regaining some ground from the militant group, security and local officials said.
Pope to visit Cuba en route to U.S., capping diplomatic role
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Pope Francis will visit Cuba en route to the United States in September, the Vatican said on Wednesday, capping his success in bringing the former enemies together after more than half a century of frozen antagonism.
Europe’s security challenges should mean more defense spending: Carter
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Europe should be spending more on its military given the security challenges facing the region, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said on Wednesday, adding that falling investment had eroded Europe’s ability to be a capable U.S. …
Aid groups express fear of renewed South Sudan fighting
JUBA (Reuters) – Fighting in South Sudan’s oil-producing Upper Nile State in the past two days has killed at least 38 and the toll could rise, a military spokesman said on Wednesday, while aid groups said they may be forced to trim operations.
