Islamic State photos purport to show unharmed Palmyra ruins
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Islamic State posted photographs online which it said were taken in the central Syrian city of Palmyra and appeared to show its ancient ruins unharmed since the hardline group seized it from government forces.
Outgoing U.N. aid chief paints harrowing portrait of Syria war
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The United Nations’ outgoing humanitarian chief on Thursday painted a harrowing portrait of savagery in Syria’s civil war, now in its fifth year, and urged the Security Council to take collective action to put an end to the c…
Fractious handover clouds Buhari’s Nigeria succession
ABUJA, Nigeria – As he entered his final week in office, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan offered up a prayer for the success of Muhammadu Buhari, the former military ruler who takes the helm of Africa’s biggest economy on Friday.
U.S. hopes Chinese island-building will spur Asian response
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – By releasing video of Beijing’s island reclamation work and considering more assertive maritime actions, the United States is signaling a tougher stance over the South China Sea and trying to spur Asian partners to more action.
Islamic State settles into Ramadi, but the lull unlikely to last
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – The blind man with just one hand arrived at the main mosque in the center of the Iraqi city of Ramadi at dusk on Wednesday, flanked by Islamic State fighters.
UK takes hard line on EU reform as Cameron starts European tour
LONDON/PARIS (Reuters) – Prime Minister David Cameron said Britain’s relationship with the European Union was “not good enough” after his foreign minister warned the bloc had to change its founding treaties and give London a meaty reform deal to keep i…
U.N. council has first-ever briefing on rights in Myanmar
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The United Nations Security Council on Thursday held its first closed-door briefing on the human rights situation in Myanmar, focusing on the dire situation of the country’s Rohingya Muslim minority, council diplomats said.
U.S. think tank urges continued human rights pressure on Sri Lanka
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – There is little hope of post-war reconciliation in Sri Lanka unless the new government acts to end the oppression of minority Tamils and ensure reconciliation, a U.S. think tank said on Thursday, urging continued pressure on the …
UK’s Cameron tells France’s Hollande EU status quo ‘not good enough’
PARIS (Reuters) – France wants Britain to remain in the European Union, President Francois Hollande said on Thursday after talks with UK Prime Minister David Cameron, who insisted the status quo in Europe was “not good enough”.
Spain charges Boko Haram militant chief with crimes against humanity
MADRID (Reuters) – Spain’s state prosecutor charged the leader of Nigerian Islamist militant group Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, with terrorism and crimes against humanity over a 2013 attack on a Nigerian town in which a Spanish nun was assaulted, court…
