Islamic State suicide bombing kills 12 Shi’ite militia fighters
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – A suicide bomb and mortar attack by Islamic State militants killed 12 Shi’ite militia fighters north of Baghdad on Wednesday and a series of bombings in the Iraqi capital killed six people, military and medical sources said.
Jailed Greek anarchist calls off hunger strike
ATHENS (Reuters) – A self-proclaimed Greek anarchist has called off a hunger strike after being allowed to attend university classes with a tracking bracelet, his lawyer said on Wednesday, defusing tensions that had sparked protests across Greece.
Colombian government, rebels restart suspended peace talks
HAVANA (Reuters) – The Colombian government and leftist FARC guerrillas on Wednesday restarted peace talks that had been suspended over the rebel capture of an army general who has since been released.
Britain calls on NATO allies to help in submarine hunt: media
LONDON (Reuters) – NATO allies sent patrol planes to help Britain scour the waters off its western Scottish coast after a submarine’s periscope was spotted, in a search reminiscent of the Cold War, media reported.
UK lawmakers say want China envoy summoned over Hong Kong ban
LONDON (Reuters) – A group of senior lawmakers said on Wednesday that China’s refusal to allow them to visit Hong Kong was an insult to Britain and called on the government to formally summon China’s ambassador over the issue.
Shi’ite pilgrims flock to Iraq holy city, government fears attack
KERBALA, Iraq (Reuters) – From across Iraq and neighboring states, millions of Shi’ite pilgrims are heading this week to the city of Kerbala for a religious ceremony that authorities say radical Sunni fighters are targeting for attack.
Venezuela’s poor sour on Maduro as prices, shortages sting
CARACAS (Reuters) – Packing potatoes at his vegetable stand on a sun-baked street in Caracas’s hillside Catia slum, Jesus Jimenez fondly recounts voting for late president Hugo Chavez.
Drug violence, climate change create ceaseless wave of Latin American refugees
BOGOTA (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Drug-fueled gang violence and extreme weather linked to climate change are forcing tens of thousands of people in Latin America to flee their homes every year, according to Jan Egeland, head of the Norwegian Refuge…
Former top planning official jailed for life in China over graft
BEIJING (Reuters) – The former deputy head of China’s top planning agency was jailed for life on Wednesday over a bribery scandal that exposed graft at the highest levels of China’s government and ensnared several companies including Toyota Motor Corp….
Ukraine envoy rules out new round of peace talks soon
KIEV (Reuters) – Ukraine’s military on Wednesday reported a significant reduction in shelling by separatists during a declared “Day of Silence” on Tuesday, but Kiev’s peace envoy ruled out any new negotiations until the rebels ceased fire completely.
