West widens contacts with Syria’s Kurds but suspicion remains
BEIRUT (Reuters) – The fight against Islamic State could at last win Syria’s Kurds the Western help they have sought, but they must first clarify their relationship to President Bashar al-Assad and reassure Turkey that they won’t cause trouble on its b…
Iran’s Leader Khamenei has successful prostate operation – state media
ANKARA (Reuters) – Iran’s top authority Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has successfully undergone prostate surgery, Iranian state media and his website said on Monday, in a rare public report on the state of his health.
African Union troops abused women on Somali bases: rights report
NAIROBI (Reuters) – African Union soldiers in Somalia have raped and sexually exploited women and girls on their peacekeeping bases in the Somali capital Mogadishu, Human Rights Watch said in a report released on Monday.
Suspects in Kenya mall attack say tortured in prison: lawyer
NAIROBI (Reuters) – Four men accused of helping al Qaeda-linked militants launch a deadly attack on a Nairobi shopping mall last year have said they were tortured in prison and a state-funded rights body is investigating, a lawyer for two of them said …
Afghanistan’s Abdullah urges calm on Massoud anniversary amid election deadlock
KABUL (Reuters) – Afghan presidential contender Abdullah Abdullah urged his supporters to avoid violence on Tuesday’s anniversary of the assassination of Ahmad Shah Massoud, as a bitter feud with his rival over a disputed election showed no sign of res…
Bosnia mourns five coal miners killed by earthquake
ZENICA Bosnia (Reuters) – Thousands of Bosnians paid their last respects on Monday to five miners killed after an earthquake triggered a collapse at the Raspotocje mine and trapped 34 miners 500 meters below the surface.
London’s Luton Airport terminal evacuated after suspicious item found
LONDON (Reuters) – The terminal building at Britain’s Luton Airport, north of London, has been evacuated after a suspicious item was found, the police and airport said on Monday.
Nigeria says retakes Bama, blocks Boko Haram move on Borno state capital
ABUJA (Reuters) – Nigeria’s military has recaptured the flashpoint town of Bama in northeast Borno state from Boko Haram and blocked the Islamist militants’ advance towards the state capital Maiduguri, a senior official said on Monday.
Obama expands air strikes against Islamic State
BAGHDAD/TBILISI (Reuters) – U.S. warplanes carried out five strikes on Islamic State insurgents menacing Iraq’s Haditha Dam on Sunday, witnesses and officials said, widening what President Barack Obama called a campaign to curb and ultimately defeat th…
Pope accepts resignation of head of scandal-plagued Irish church
ROME (Reuters) – Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of the head of the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland, the Vatican said on Monday, drawing a line under a career plagued by accusations that he kept quiet about the sexual abuse of children by cl…
