Ukrainians say Russian troops captured them in east Ukraine
DONETSK Ukraine (Reuters) – Two Ukrainian soldiers have offered new evidence of direct Russian military involvement in eastern Ukraine, saying they were captured by Russian troops in a battle that became a turning point in the conflict.
U.S. says strike aimed at Syria vehicles adjacent to grain storage
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. military said on Monday an American air strike overnight targeted Islamic State vehicles in a staging area adjacent to a grain storage facility near the northern Syrian town of Manbij, and added it had no evidence so far…
Jailed Azeri activist awarded human rights prize
STRASBOURG France (Reuters) – A pan-European rights watchdog awarded a prize on Monday to a democracy campaigner jailed in Azerbaijan, underlining its concern about human rights in the former Soviet republic.
Belgium launches its biggest Islamist extremist trial
ANTWERP Belgium (Reuters) – Belgian prosecutors accused 46 members of Islamist group Sharia4Belgium on Monday of belonging to a terrorist organization and brainwashing young men in Belgium into fighting a holy war in Syria.
South Sudan bus crash kills at least 32, mainly Ugandans
JUBA (Reuters) – At least 32 people were killed and 10 seriously injured when a bus collided with a cargo truck in southern South Sudan, hospital officials said on Monday.
Collision delays Suez Canal traffic: sources
CAIRO (Reuters) – Two container ships collided at the northern end of Egypt’s Suez Canal, delaying traffic through a vital global trade route, shipping sources said on Monday.
German government condemns pictures showing refugees abused
BERLIN (Reuters) – The German government on Monday condemned suspected cases of abuse against refugees in which asylum-seekers were maltreated by security guards and even forced to lie in a bed filled with vomit.
Afghanistan to sign U.S. security agreement on Tuesday
KABUL (Reuters) – Afghanistan will on Tuesday sign a crucial security agreement allowing the United States to leave a small contingent of troops in the country beyond this year, U.S. officials said.
Modi orders Indian officials to clean loos on Gandhi’s birthday
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – India’s new Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ordered government officers to work on Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday, a national holiday, to clean ministries – including toilets – in a nationwide cleanliness drive.
Repeal law punishing gay sex with lashes in Indonesia’s Aceh, says Amnesty
BANGKOK (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Amnesty International called for an immediate repeal of a new law in the Indonesian province of Aceh punishing anyone caught having gay sex or extramarital sex with 100 lashes, saying the legislation would stoke h…