U.S., allies conduct air strikes in Syria and Iraq against Islamic State
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. and coalition forces conducted 12 air strikes against Islamic State fighters in Iraq and seven in Syria over the past 24 hours, the U.S. military said on Thursday.
Yemeni president accuses former regime of attempted coup
ADEN (Reuters) – Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi described an attack on his palace in the southern port city of Aden on Thursday as an attempted coup backed by the previous regime.
Sri Lanka says Rajapaksa officials stashed over $2 billion in Dubai
COLOMBO (Reuters) – Sri Lankan investigators have located more than $2 billion that was secretly transferred to accounts in Dubai by figures close to the administration of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, the government said on Thursday.
U.N. to press ahead with Iran anti-drugs fund despite executions
LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – The United Nations will go ahead with a multi-million dollar funding package to tackle drug trafficking in Iran despite criticism by rights groups over the use of the death penalty for offenders, a U.N. insider sai…
Workers’ rights campaigners voice concerns over UAE ban of U.S. academic
ROME (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Labor rights’ campaigners are concerned the Abu Dhabi government is cracking down on free expression after a U.S. professor researching migrant labor conditions was barred from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Mob kills and burns woman in heart of Afghan capital
KABUL (Reuters) – A mob in the Afghan capital killed a woman, set her body on fire and threw it into a muddy river in the heart of Kabul on Thursday, a police official said.
Boko Haram insurgents kill 10 in Nigerian border town
MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (Reuters) – Islamist militant group Boko Haram has killed at least 10 people in a town in northeast Nigeria, two security sources told Reuters on Thursday, demonstrating it can still attack civilians despite a regional offensive that…
Russia’s Putin to visit China in September: Interfax
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin has a visit planned to China in September, Interfax reported on Thursday, citing the Kremlin’s chief of staff, Sergei Ivanov.
Congo frees musicians arrested at pro-democracy meeting
KINSHASA (Reuters) – Seven Congolese musicians detained during a raid on a pro-democracy meeting were released on Thursday, a day after four foreign activists accused of fomenting unrest were expelled, the Kinshasa government said.
Exclusive: Iran wants limits on nuclear work eased before any deal expires – officials
LAUSANNE, Switzerland (Reuters) – Iran is pressing major world powers to agree to start easing some restrictions on its atomic program earlier than Western countries are willing to accept, Western and Iranian officials told Reuters.
