No Iraq request for coalition air support in Tikrit campaign
ERBIL, Iraq (Reuters) – Iraq has not requested air support from the U.S.-led coalition for its campaign to retake Tikrit from Islamic State insurgents, a senior military official in the coalition said on Thursday, as the assault on the city remained on…
For Hong Kong, a chill sets in as rich China tourists shop elsewhere
HONG KONG (Reuters) – Chinese tourists are rapidly deserting Hong Kong, leaving retailers who built businesses around once insatiable demand from mainland neighbors with bigger but emptier stores and squeezing the whole city’s visitor-dependent economy…
U.S. to move ahead with training Ukrainian guardsmen: Pentagon
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – About 290 U.S. Army paratroopers will travel to western Ukraine next month to train three battalions of Ukrainian national guard troops, the Pentagon said on Thursday, moving ahead with a long-planned mission that was delayed due…
Exclusive: Japan civilian R&D agency to get military role to spur arms innovation – sources
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan plans to get its biggest state-funded research and development agency involved in military research for the first time in a bid to lure more Japanese companies into the development of cutting-edge weapons technology, two sources…
U.S. ‘deeply disturbed’ by reports of chemical weapons in Syria: Kerry
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States is deeply disturbed by reports that Syrian government forces attacked the town of Sarmin using chlorine as a weapon on Tuesday, Secretary of State John Kerry said in a statement on Thursday.
Assange likely to remain in embassy pending U.S. Wikileaks probe
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is likely to remain at the Ecuadorean Embassy in London where he has taken refuge as long as U.S. authorities pursue a criminal investigation of his anti-secrecy group, one of his lawyers said.
European negotiator says framework accord with Iran unlikely soon
LAUSANNE, Switzerland (Reuters) – Six world powers are unlikely to reach a framework agreement with Iran on its nuclear work in the coming days as the sides are still far apart on key issues, a senior European negotiator said on Thursday, blaming Tehra…
African troops’ morale ‘sky high’ as they push back Boko Haram
DAMASAK, Nigeria (Reuters) – “Boko Haram is finished” shouted a jubilant soldier from Niger as his comrades danced and waved their rifles in the air to celebrate the liberation of the northern Nigerian town of Damasak.
U.S. has flown 2,320 strikes against Islamic State at a cost of $1.83 billion: official
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. military has flown 2,320 air strikes against Islamic State militants since Aug. 8 at a cost of $1.83 billion, hitting thousands of targets including tanks, oil infrastructure and fighting positions, the Pentagon said on …
Italian minister to quit over corruption scandal
ROME (Reuters) – Italy’s Transport Minister Maurizio Lupi said he would step down on Friday after his ministry was embroiled in a corruption inquiry involving billions of euros in public works contracts.
