India tightens Vietnam defence, oil ties ahead of China Xi’s visit
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – India extended a $100 million export credit to Vietnam for defence deals and tightened energy ties on Monday, signaling a more confident foreign policy ahead of a visit this week by China’s President Xi Jinping.
U.N. to launch bold plan to end statelessness in a decade
THE HAGUE (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – The United Nations is to launch an ambitious campaign to eradicate statelessness within a decade, ending the plight of some 10 million people referred to as ‘legal ghosts’ or ‘invisibles’, a senior U.N. official…
Syrian army destroys Islamic State-controlled bridge
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syrian special forces on Monday destroyed a bridge over the Euphrates River used by Islamic State to move supplies in eastern Syria, media run by Hezbollah said, a blow to the group in the swathe of Syrian territory it controls near …
On last visit before vote, PM Cameron appeals to Scots to keep Britain intact
ABERDEEN/LONDON (Reuters) – British Prime Minister David Cameron used his last visit to Scotland before a historic independence referendum this week to implore Scots to remain part of the United Kingdom, warning on Monday that a breakaway vote would be…
Former Libyan general claims new air strike in western Libya
BENGHAZI Libya (Reuters) – Forces loyal to former Libyan army general Khalifa Haftar claimed an air strike on an armed group near Tripoli on Monday, a senior commander said, in what would be the first air strikes in western Libya for three weeks.
Washington wins diplomatic support for campaign in Iraq; Syria trickier
PARIS (Reuters) – World powers backed military measures on Monday to help defeat Islamic State fighters in Iraq, boosting Washington’s efforts to set up a coalition, but made no mention of the tougher diplomatic challenge next door in Syria.
Western sanctions are testing Russia’s strength: Medvedev
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia’s strength is being tested by sanctions imposed by the West and the country must react in a level-headed way, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev told members of the country’s ruling party, United Russia, on Monday.
Kerry says refuses to be drawn into ‘back and forth’ with Iran
PARIS (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry refused be drawn into a “back and forth” with Iran on Monday following Tehran’s assertion that it had rebuffed a U.S. request to coordinate a response to the Islamic State jihadist group.
Egypt sentences Muslim Brotherhood leader Badie to life in jail
CAIRO (Reuters) – Mohamed Badie, top leader of Egypt’s outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, was sentenced to life in jail along with 14 others on Monday on charges of murder and inciting violence during clashes near Cairo last year.
Disease threatens as Kashmir flood waters turn fetid
SRINAGAR (Reuters) – Indian emergency workers on Monday battled to prevent waterborne diseases like cholera from spreading as fetid water swilled around the Kashmir valley more than a week after the worst flooding in more than a century.
