Kurds dream of independence as they defend perilous border
VALLEY OF THE CROWS, northern Iraq, (Reuters) – The black banner of the Islamic State, fixed to a shack within sight of this frontline, is evidence of the existential threat menacing the Kurds from across the 1,000-km long frontier.
Britain hopes third time lucky for VIP child abuse inquiry chairman
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain has turned to a New Zealand High Court judge in a third attempt to find a chairman of a major inquiry into decades of child abuse and whether powerful figures covered it up.
Nigeria may delay February vote if card distribution too low: INEC
ABUJA (Reuters) – Nigeria may delay its Feb. 14 presidential election if the electoral commission cannot distribute enough voter I.D. cards by Feb. 8, an electoral commissioner told Reuters on Wednesday.
Sri Lanka’s new president to visit India, steers away from China
COLOMBO (Reuters) – Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena will visit India on Feb. 16, his first state visit abroad, a government official said on Wednesday, part of efforts to repair relations with New Delhi which soured under the previous govern…
Egyptian court sends activist Ahmed Douma to jail for life
CAIRO (Reuters) – An Egyptian court sentenced prominent activist Ahmed Douma to life in prison on Wednesday, judicial sources said, part of a sustained crackdown on Islamist and liberal government opponents.
Exclusive: Germany wants new Greek rulers to ditch promises – document
BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany wants Greece’s new left-wing government to go back on anti-austerity promises made in its first days in office and revert to economic policies its predecessors’ agreed with international lenders, a document showed on Wednesda…
U.S., allies focus airstrikes on Syrian city of Kobani: task force
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States and its allies staged 11 airstrikes near the Syrian city of Kobani, where Kurdish militia have been pushing back Islamic State forces, and also targeted the insurgent group with six strikes in Iraq, according to…
At least 21 killed in machete attack in northeast Congo
KINSHASA (Reuters) – At least 21 people were killed overnight in the town of Mayangose in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo by machete-wielding assailants, a civil society leader said on Wednesday.
Philippines says Chinese ship rammed fishing boats in Scarborough Shoal
MANILA (Reuters) – The Philippines said on Wednesday that a Chinese coast guard ship had rammed three Philippine fishing boats in the disputed Scarborough Shoal area of the South China Sea last week and Manila had protested to Beijing over the incident…
U.N. Mali mission struggling in desert north with no peace to keep
DAKAR/BAMAKO (Reuters) – After U.N. helicopters strafed separatist rebels in northern Mali last month, residents of the region’s largest town Gao took to the streets to celebrate the long-awaited burst of action by the peacekeeping mission.
