Iraqi parliament approves new government headed by Haider al-Abadi
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraq’s parliament approved a new government headed by Haider al-Abadi as prime minister on Monday night, in a bid to rescue Iraq from collapse, with sectarianism and Arab-Kurdish tensions on the rise.
Brazil’s Rousseff moves to limit damage from Petrobras scandal
BRASILIA (Reuters) – President Dilma Rousseff sought to shield her re-election bid from a new scandal at state-run oil company Petroleo Brasileiro SA by asking prosecutors on Monday for any details involving officials in her government.
Bomb blast in Chile wounds 10; government blames ‘terrorists’
SANTIAGO (Reuters) – A bomb exploded next to an underground train station in the Chilean capital of Santiago on Monday afternoon, wounding at least 10 people, and the government said it bore the signs of “a terrorist” act.
U.N. envoy visits Libya to back elected parliament
BENGHAZI Libya (Reuters) – A U.N. special envoy visited Libya’s elected parliament in the eastern town of Tobruk on Monday in a show of support against a rival assembly set up by armed groups that seized the capital, Tripoli, last month.
New U.N. rights boss warns of ‘house of blood’ in Iraq, Syria
GENEVA (Reuters) – The new U.N. human rights chief urged world powers on Monday to protect women and minorities targeted by Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria, saying the fighters were trying to create a “house of blood.”
New Thai PM uses holy water, feng shui to ward off occult
BANGKOK (Reuters) – As he prepares to move in to Bangkok’s Government House this week, Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha is going to great lengths to sweep away any occult challenge.
Jury selection begins in Canadian dismemberment trial
MONTREAL (Reuters) – Jury selection for the trial of a Canadian man accused of murdering and dismembering a Chinese student in Montreal in 2012 began on Monday and the defense said finding 14 impartial jurors will be difficult but not impossible.
Islamic State launch gunboat attack on river-side town
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Islamic State fighters attacked a riverside town north of Baghdad on Monday with gunboats and a car bomb, killing 17 people and wounding 54, a security source said.
Ukraine president visits frontline city amid ‘shaky’ ceasefire
MARIUPOL/DONETSK Ukraine (Reuters) – Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko visited the eastern port of Mariupol on Monday and promised to deal a “crushing defeat” to pro-Russian rebels massed on the edge of town if they tried to advance in violation of …
Ebola spreads exponentially in Liberia, many more cases soon: WHO
GENEVA/FREETOWN (Reuters) – Liberia, the country worst hit by West Africa’s Ebola epidemic, should see thousands of new cases in coming weeks as the virus spreads exponentially, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday.
