NATO can put troops wherever it wants, new secretary-general says
WARSAW (Reuters) – New NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg said on Sunday that the Western alliance could deploy its forces wherever it wants, apparently calling into question post-Cold War agreements that have been shaken by Russia’s actions in Cr…
Germany can play its part in foreign missions despite equipment problems: defense minister
BERLIN (Reuters) – German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen said on Sunday that Germany could still play a strong role in foreign military missions despite reports of problems in defense equipment and procurement.
African Union and Somali forces claim Shabaab stronghold of Barawe
BARAWE Somalia (Reuters) – African Union and Somali troops on Sunday took control of Barawe, a port town used by al Shabaab to bring in arms and fighters from abroad, after the al Qaeda-linked militants fled without a fight, the AU and a Somali officia…
Kurds battle Islamist militants closing in on Syrian town
MURSITPINAR Turkey (Reuters) – Islamist militants attacking a Syrian border town fought some of their heaviest battles so far with Kurdish forces on Sunday, a local official said, and five people were wounded inside Turkey by a projectile fired across …
Sinai militants say they have beheaded three Egyptians
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egypt’s most violent Islamist group released a video on Sunday showing militants beheading three Egyptians whom they accused of being informants for Israeli intelligence.
Israel criticizes Swedish plan to recognize state of Palestine
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel has described a plan by Sweden’s new center-left government to recognize the state of Palestine as being ill-considered in the absence of Middle East peace negotiations and contrary to agreements.
Ukraine military says separatists violate month-old ceasefire
KIEV/DONETSK Ukraine (Reuters) – Ukraine’s military accused Russian-backed separatists of again violating a month-old ceasefire on Sunday, saying their forces came under attack in several parts of the east including the airport at the big city of Donet…
U.S. drone strike kills senior Uzbek commander in Pakistan
DERA ISMAIL KHAN Pakistan (Reuters) – A suspected U.S. drone strike killed five militants in Pakistan’s tribal north-west on Sunday including a senior ethnic Uzbek commander, intelligence sources said.
Hong Kong democracy protesters start to pull back
HONG KONG (Reuters) – Pro-democracy protesters remained in a tense stalemate with the Hong Kong government late on Sunday after authorities warned they were determined to get the Asian financial hub back to work after more than a week of unrest.
Lengthy Central African Republic poll delay could worsen crisis: U.N.
PARIS (Reuters) – A lengthy postponement of elections in Central African Republic meant to complete a return to democracy following a March 2013 coup would risk further worsening the crisis there, the top U.N. official in the region said on Sunday.
