Iraqi troops battle to advance in towns on edge of Tikrit
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraqi security forces and Shi’ite militia fighters struggled to advance on Saturday into the two towns of al-Alam and al-Dour near Tikrit, their progress slowed by fierce defense from Islamic State militants.
Peru withdrawing ambassador from Chile over spying accusations
LIMA (Reuters) – Peru said on Saturday it was withdrawing its ambassador from Chile, amid an intensifying diplomatic spat that was sparked by accusations of military espionage.
Colombia, FARC rebels agree to remove landmines
HAVANA (Reuters) – The Colombian government and leftist guerrillas on Saturday jointly announced an agreement to remove landmines and other explosives from the battlefield in a sign of progress in their two-year-old peace talks being held in Cuba.
Friendly fire kills one, wounds three from U.S.-led coalition in Iraq
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – One member of the U.S.-led coalition fighting Islamic State was killed and three were wounded in a friendly fire incident with Kurdish forces in northern Iraq, the U.S. military said on Saturday.
Saudi Arabia rejects rights criticism after flogging of blogger
RIYADH (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia defended its human rights record on Saturday in its first public reaction to international criticism over last year’s sentencing of liberal Saudi blogger Raif Badawi to 1,000 lashes and 10 years in jail for “insulting Is…
Iraq says Islamic State militants raze ancient Hatra city
BAGHDAD/ERBIL,Iraq (Reuters) – Islamic State militants have destroyed ancient remains of the 2,000-year-old city of Hatra in northern Iraq, officials said on Saturday, in their latest attack on Iraqi antiquities which the United Nations condemned as ba…
Six killed in gunmen attack on Sufi place of worship in Kabul
KABUL (Reuters) – Attackers with guns fixed with silencers killed six people after storming a Sufi place of worship in the Afghan capital Kabul on Saturday evening, according to a government statement.
Czech, Austrian, others missing after Libya oilfield attack
PRAGUE/TRIPOLI (Reuters) – Around 10 foreigners are missing after an attack on a Libyan oil field and there is a possibility they have been taken hostage, Czech Foreign Minister Lubomir Zaoralek said on Saturday.
Two detained after grenade explodes outside Bangkok court
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thai police detained two people for questioning on Saturday after a grenade exploded outside a criminal court in Bangkok.
Israel fires at Gaza boats, kills Palestinian fisherman: hospital officials
GAZA (Reuters) – The Israeli navy opened fire on boats off the coast of the Gaza Strip on Saturday, killing one Palestinian fisherman, Gaza hospital officials said.
