Russia’s Putin honors suspect in Litvinenko poisoning
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin awarded a state honor to a man suspected by Britain of using radioactive polonium to poison Kremlin critic Alexander Litvinenko in London nearly a decade ago.
Afghan lawmaker says wary of Pakistan role in Taliban peace moves
KABUL (Reuters) – A senior Afghan lawmaker has warned President Ashraf Ghani about relying on Pakistan to help broker peace talks with the Taliban, citing what he said was Islamabad’s history of supporting the insurgents.
Libyan general sworn as top commander as his planes hit Tripoli airport
TRIPOLI/CAIRO (Reuters) – Warplanes from Libya’s internationally recognized government on Monday attacked the last functioning airport in Tripoli, the capital controlled by a rival administration, officials said.
International court: Sudan has failed to cooperate in al-Bashir case
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – The International Criminal Court ruled on Monday that Sudan had failed to cooperate in its war crimes investigation of President Omar al-Bashir and it plans to inform the United Nations Security Council.
U.S. withdraws $3 million bounty for Somali Islamist who defected
NAIROBI (Reuters) – The United States has withdrawn a $3 million bounty linked to the capture of a high-level member of Somalia’s al Shabaab Islamist group who had since defected, a U.S. official said on Monday.
U.S., allies conduct 14 air strikes in Syria, Iraq: statement
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. and coalition forces conducted five air strikes against Islamic State fighters in Syria and nine in Iraq since early Sunday, the U.S. military said on Monday.
Arab League calls for multinational force to fight militants
CAIRO (Reuters) – The Arab League called for the creation of a regional force to combat militants as countries face a growing threat from Islamic State and other groups.
German minister sought pardon for jailed Saudi blogger
ABU DHABI (Reuters) – The German economy minister and vice chancellor on Monday said he had discussed human rights issues in Saudi Arabia and suggested a pardon for the Kingdom’s imprisoned blogger Raif Badawi.
Colleagues say Islamist motive for killing Nemtsov is nonsense
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Suggestions that Russian politician Boris Nemtsov was killed by Chechen Islamists are nonsense designed to deflect suspicion from President Vladimir Putin, associates of the slain opposition figure said on Monday.
U.N. expert wants North Korea held to account for abductions
GENEVA (Reuters) – A United Nations human rights investigator on Monday recommended international pressure be put on North Korea to clarify the fate of hundreds of foreign nationals allegedly abducted over decades, mainly from Japan and South Korea.
