Huge Pacific cyclone devastates Vanuatu, at least eight dead
SYDNEY (Reuters) – One of the Pacific Ocean’s most powerful ever storms devastated the island nation of Vanuatu on Saturday, tearing off roofs, uprooting trees and killing at least eight people with the toll set to rise, aid officials said.
Islamic State targeted in 10 air strikes by U.S., allies: statement
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States and its coalition partners staged 10 air strikes on Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria in a 24-hour period, the Combined Joint Task Force said on Saturday.
Pope ready to help improve ties between Belarus and EU: Vatican
MINSK (Reuters) – Pope Francis is ready to help improve ties between Belarus and the European Union, a senior papal official said on Saturday in the latest sign of a developing thaw in relations between Brussels and Minsk.
Iraqi troops pause, await back-up in battle for Tikrit against militants
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraqi forces and mainly Shi’ite militiamen battling to wrest full control of the city of Tikrit from Islamic State militants paused their offensive for a second day on Saturday as they awaited reinforcements, a military source said….
In show of solidarity, Modi visits war-hit Tamil region in Sri Lanka
JAFFNA, Sri Lanka (Reuters) – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the former war zone of northern Sri Lanka on Saturday, in a show of solidarity with ethnic Tamils who suffered in a 26-year-old civil war.
Serbian military helicopter crashes, seven dead including child
BELGRADE (Reuters) – A Serbian military helicopter carrying a sick baby for treatment in Belgrade crashed near the capital’s main airport on Friday evening, the defense ministry said on Saturday.
Egypt sacks 41 judges for supporting the Brotherhood: sources
CAIRO (Reuters) – An Egyptian disciplinary court ordered 41 judges into compulsory retirement on Saturday for supporting the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, judicial sources said, the latest move in a sweeping crackdown on political dissent.
Kurds battle Islamic State in Syria, U.S.-led coalition jets strike
BEIRUT (Reuters) – U.S.-led coalition jets struck Islamic State positions in northeast Syria for the second day in a row, in an area where the militants are battling Kurdish forces, a Kurdish official and a group monitoring the war said on Saturday.
Philippine police report was speculative: president’s spokesman
MANILA (Reuters) – A spokesman for Philippine President Benigno Aquino on Saturday rejected findings of an official police inquiry about a clash that puts serious doubt on the government’s peace process, describing it as speculative.
About 50 dead as Myanmar ferry sinks in bad weather
YANGON (Reuters) – About 50 people were believed to have drowned off Myanmar when a ferry sank in bad weather, government officials said on Saturday, though residents said they believed more people on the overcrowded vessel had died.
