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.
Dozens of Hamas supporters detained in West Bank
GAZA (Reuters) – Palestinian security forces detained dozens of supporters of Hamas in raids across the West Bank overnight, the Islamist group said on Monday, calling it the biggest round-up in years as internal Palestinian tensions rise.
Foreigners seized by Islamic State in Libya: Austria
VIENNA (Reuters) – Islamic State militants in Libya seized a group of foreigners at the al-Ghani oilfield last week, a spokesman for the Austrian foreign ministry said citing “secure information” on Monday, adding that they were alive when taken.
Foreign non-government groups in China fear clampdown under new law
BEIJING (Reuters) – Foreign non-government organizations (NGOs) in China are bracing for a crackdown as the government prepares to pass a new law to regulate their activities, which critics fear could curb activism and drive out several groups.
United Arab party a surprise new force in Israeli election
UMM EL-FAHM, Israel (Reuters) – A political sideshow for much of the past six decades, Israel’s Arab minority is hoping to gain much-needed muscle after next week’s parliamentary election, with four Arab parties uniting under one banner for the first t…
Saudis block Swedish minister’s speech at Arab League
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia has blocked a plan for Sweden’s Foreign Minister to address the League of Arab States in Cairo on Monday in a protest over criticism of its human rights record, a Swedish foreign ministry spokesman said.
Mine director arrested over blast in east Ukraine: rebel media
DONETSK, Ukraine (Reuters) – A director of a mine in a rebel-held part of east Ukraine has been arrested over a blast that killed 34 miners last week, separatist press service DAN reported on Monday, quoting prosecutors.
