Protesters clash with police in Ukraine capital, throw smoke bombs
KIEV (Reuters) – A few thousand protesters clashed with police on Tuesday outside the Ukrainian parliament, throwing stones and smoke bombs and firing with air guns through the building’s windows.
Taliban kill six more Afghan police as attacks stepped up
KABUL (Reuters) – Taliban fighters overwhelmed an Afghan police checkpoint in a key province bordering the capital, killing six policemen on Tuesday as insurgents launch fierce attacks ahead of the withdrawal of foreign combat forces, an official said….
Saudi Arabia and Iran swap accusations as tensions persist
DUBAI (Reuters) – Senior Saudi and Iranian officials have renewed criticism of each other’s interventions in the Middle East in a sign that tensions between the rival Gulf powers remain high despite top-level meetings this summer.
Polish missionary kidnapped in Central African Republic
WARSAW (Reuters) – A Polish Catholic missionary has been kidnapped by eight armed people in the town of Baboua in the Central African Republic, the head of Poland’s Pontifical Mission Societies said on Tuesday.
Powerful earthquake strikes off El Salvador, one dead
SAN SALVADOR (Reuters) – A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck late on Monday off the coast of El Salvador and Nicaragua and was felt across Central America, killing at least one person, but there were no immediate reports of major damage.
Special Report: How Mosul fell – An Iraqi general disputes Baghdad’s story
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Lieutenant General Mahdi Gharawi knew an attack was coming.
U.N. agency cuts food rations for 1 million Afghans over funding
KABUL (Reuters) – Funding shortfalls have forced the World Food Program (WFP) to cut rations for up to 1 million people in Afghanistan, an official said, an early sign that aid money may dwindle as the international combat mission winds down.
Thai PM plays down concern over tourist murder investigation
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha on Tuesday dismissed growing diplomatic concern about a police investigation into the murder of two British tourists in Thailand as a pre-trial witness hearing began.
Iraqi Kurds say they sent arms to Kobani; Syrian Kurds say they didn’t arrive
BAGHDAD/BEIRUT (Reuters) – A senior Iraqi Kurdish official said on Tuesday that Iraq’s Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) had provided military assistance to Syrian Kurdish forces battling Islamic State fighters in the town of Kobani.
Catalonia calls off independence referendum from Spain, will hold ‘consultation’
MADRID (Reuters) – Catalonia has dropped plans to hold a referendum on independence from Spain next month but will instead hold a “consultation of citizens”, the region’s head said on Tuesday.
