Iraqi forces push into Tikrit, bombers hit Ramadi
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraqi security forces and militias fought their way into Saddam Hussein’s home city of Tikrit on Wednesday, advancing on two fronts in their biggest counter-offensive so far against Islamic State militants.
U.N report details Gambia rights abuse as EU considers aid
DAKAR (Reuters) – A report by the U.N. special rapporteur on torture has found evidence of significant human rights violations in Gambia, placing pressure on European governments as they consider whether to press ahead with a major aid package.
Hundreds protest against Mali peace proposal as factions mull response
KIDAL/BAMAKO (Reuters) – Hundreds of protesters rallied for a second day in the northern Malian town of Kidal against a preliminary, U.N.-brokered peace proposal on Wednesday, as Tuareg separatist leaders gathered to discuss the agreement with their su…
U.N. aviation agency names Chinese veteran as secretary general
TORONTO (Reuters) – The United Nations aviation body’s governing council elected Fang Liu, a veteran of China’s aviation authority, as its new secretary general on Wednesday, the first woman to hold the position in the agency’s 70-year history.
U.S. may be unable to defend its Syria recruits against Assad
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States does not appear to have clear-cut legal authority to protect Syrian rebels it trains from attack by forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, even under new war powers, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter …
Morocco recalls its ambassador to Nigeria over royal phone call
RABAT (Reuters) – Morocco has recalled its ambassador to Nigeria, in a row over whether the president of Nigeria is trying to use the king of Morocco to win over Muslim voters before Nigeria’s elections this month.
Child in Islamic State video may be linked to French gunman: source
PARIS (Reuters) – French officials are investigating whether a child shown shooting dead an Israeli Arab in a video posted by Islamic State militants is French and has ties to an al Qaeda-inspired gunman who killed seven people in March 2012, a police …
Colombia president’s bombing halt on rebels slammed by inspector general
BOGOTA (Reuters) – The decision by Colombia’s President Juan Manuel Santos to suspend the bombing of Marxist FARC rebel bases came under fire from the country’s powerful inspector general who accused him of paralyzing the armed forces while guerrillas …
Mexican mayoral candidate decapitated in violent Guerrero state
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – A 42-year-old woman running for mayor in a violent southwestern Mexican state that sparked the biggest crisis of President Enrique Pena Nieto’s administration has been kidnapped and decapitated.
Air strike hits western Libyan town: officials
TRIPOLI (Reuters) – At least one warplane belonging to an armed group controlling Libya’s capital attacked a western town allied with the internationally recognized government on Wednesday, officials said, the latest in a series of tit-for-tat attacks….
