Kiev says cannot withdraw heavy weapons as attacks persist
KIEV/DONETSK, Ukraine (Reuters) – Kiev accused pro-Russian rebels of opening fire with rockets and artillery at villages in southeastern Ukraine on Monday, all but burying a week-old European-brokered ceasefire deal.
Egyptian court jails leading activist for five years
CAIRO (Reuters) – An Egyptian court sentenced a prominent activist to five years in jail on Monday for violating limits on demonstrations, amid one of the toughest crackdowns on dissent in Egypt’s history.
U.N. panel urges increased use of drones in peacekeeping missions
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – A United Nations panel assessing the future technological needs of peacekeeping missions has recommended dramatically expanding the use of unmanned surveillance drones in U.N. military operations, the head of the panel said o…
Family of U.S. aid worker: Bergdahl deal emboldened her captors
(Reuters) – The family of Kayla Mueller, the U.S. aid worker who died while a captive of Islamic State militants in Syria, said a prisoner swap deal cut by Washington to get back a U.S. Army Sergeant held by the Taliban hurt efforts to free her.
Syria says must be part of fight against antiquities theft
DAMASCUS (Reuters) – The world will have to cooperate with Syria to halt the trade in looted antiquities that helps fund jihadist groups, Syria’s culture minister said, putting the onus on Turkey to stop the smuggling across their shared frontier.
Afghan chief executive backs Taliban peace effort ‘in coming days’
KABUL (Reuters) – The head of Afghanistan’s power-sharing government lent his support on Monday to a tentative push to begin peace talks with Taliban insurgents, an effort he said “will begin in coming days”.
Ivory Coast’s former first lady rejects charges over election violence
ABIDJAN (Reuters) – Simone Gbagbo, Ivory Coast’s former first lady, on Monday rejected charges of rebellion and xenophobia, in her first public statements at a trial over her role in a conflict that erupted after a contested 2010 election.
In soldiers’ rescue, Turkey plays off warring sides in Syria
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – By extracting dozens of its soldiers surrounded by Islamist fighters in Syria, Turkey has warded off a potential crisis and shown its ability to maneuver between rival warring parties, including Islamic State.
New U.S. defense chief hints little change in Islamic State strategy
CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait (Reuters) – New U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said on Monday America had the right “ingredients” of a strategy to combat Islamic State, emerging from talks with top U.S. military and diplomatic leaders without hinting at any fu…
Russia’s Lavrov accuses West of trying to dominate world
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Monday accused Western powers of trying to dominate and impose their ideology on the rest of world, while the United States and European delegations slammed Moscow for supporting rebe…
