Obama boosts support, elevates status for ally Tunisia
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama on Thursday pledged to elevate Tunisia as a major non-NATO ally of the United States, a gesture that recognizes the country’s democratic progress after the 2011 Arab Spring uprising.
Bugged phones and double barbed wire: far fewer North Koreans defect
SEOUL (Reuters) – It’s much more dangerous, and twice as expensive, to defect from North Korea since Kim Jong Un took power in Pyongyang three and a half years ago, refugees and experts say, and far fewer people are escaping from the repressive and imp…
U.S. admits two children killed in Islamic State campaign
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Two children were likely killed by a U.S. air strike in Syria in November, the U.S. military said on Thursday, the first time the Pentagon has acknowledged civilian casualties since it began an air campaign against Islamic State …
Ireland looks set to back gay marriage in landmark referendum
DUBLIN (Reuters) – Ireland votes on Friday on whether to allow gay marriage in a referendum that could make the once deeply Catholic country the first in the world to adopt the policy by popular vote.
Air strikes kill 15 suspected militants in northwest Pakistan
PARACHINAR, Pakistan (Reuters) – Air strikes killed at least 15 suspected militants in Pakistan’s northwestern Shawal Valley on Thursday, intelligence officials said, a week after security forces moved toward Taliban strongholds there.
Italy passes law to tackle rampant corruption
ROME (Reuters) – Italy made a fresh attempt at tackling rampant corruption on Thursday when the Chamber of Deputies approved a strongly contested law stiffening penalties for various types of graft and balance sheet fraud.
Saudi shells hit Yemen aid office, killing five refugees: local official
CAIRO/DUBAI (Reuters) – Saudi shells hit an international aid office in Yemen on Thursday killing five Ethiopian refugees, a local official said, while violence across the country put United Nations-led peace talks in doubt.
Islamic State fighters overrun Iraqi govt lines east of Ramadi
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Islamic State militants overran Iraqi government defences east of the city of Ramadi on Thursday, police and pro-government tribal fighters said.
U.S. says South China Sea reclamations stoke instability
JAKARTA (Reuters) – China’s land reclamation around reefs in the disputed South China Sea is undermining freedom and stability, and risks provoking tension that could even lead to conflict, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken told a conferenc…
Russia offers military aid to Iraq during PM visit
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia offered visiting Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi military and other aid on Thursday to help push back Islamic State militants who have made further sweeping gains in both Iraq and Syria this week.
