With sledgehammer, Islamic State smashes Iraqi history
ARBIL/BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Ultra-radical Islamist militants in northern Iraq have destroyed a priceless collection of statues and sculptures from the ancient Assyrian era, inflicting what an archaeologist described as incalculable damage to a piece of s…
Coalition partners threaten to challenge Ivory Coast president at polls
ABIDJAN (Reuters) – Prominent members of Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara’s main coalition partner on Thursday rejected a deal by their party’s leader to support Ouattara’s bid for re-election later this year.
Ukraine begins artillery withdrawal, recognizing truce is holding
PARASKOVIYVKA/DONETSK, Ukraine (Reuters) – Ukrainian troops towed artillery away from the front line in the east on Thursday, a move that amounted to recognizing that a ceasefire meant to take effect on Feb. 15 was holding at last.
Indian climate chief told to stay away from thinktank after harassment claim
NEW DELHI (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – An Indian court on Thursday ordered Rajendra Pachauri, a leading global voice on climate change, to stay away from his Delhi thinktank after a female employee accused him of sexual harassment.
This time around, Russia-Ukraine gas feud is mostly hot air
KIEV (Reuters) – The rhetoric is as melodramatic as ever, but this time around Russia’s threat to cut off Ukraine’s natural gas is mostly hot air.
Saudi ambassador moves to Aden from Houthi-controlled capital: Hadi aide
SANAA (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Yemen is moving to the southern city of Aden, an aide to President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi said on Thursday, in an apparent snub to the Shi’ite Houthi faction that has taken control of the capital Sanaa.
Sudan’s Bashir says will quit in 2020 if re-elected president
PARIS (Reuters) – Sudan’s President Omar Hassan al-Bashir said he will stand aside in 2020 if he is elected for one more term in April elections, in an interview published by France’s Le Monde newspaper on Thursday.
Air strikes hit Islamic State in Syria after Christians abducted
BEIRUT (Reuters) – A U.S.-led alliance launched air strikes against Islamic State on Thursday in an area of northeast Syria where the militants are now estimated to have abducted at least 220 Assyrian Christians this week, a group monitoring the war re…
Le Pen woos French farm vote as malaise deepens
PARIS (Reuters) – French far-right leader Marine Le Pen was admiring a prize Charolais cow at a Paris farm fair on Thursday when five young farmers appeared before her demanding to take ‘selfie’ photographs with their favorite politician.
As address to U.S. Congress nears, Netanyahu treads a thinning line
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – When Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accepted an invitation to address the U.S. Congress two weeks before an Israeli election, there appeared to be little downside. As the appointment draws near, the potential pitfalls are growi…
