France denies U.S. media story on al Qaeda defector agent: source
PARIS (Reuters) – A French defense ministry source denied on Monday a U.S. media report that a French intelligence officer had defected to al Qaeda’s branch in Syria and was being targeted for elimination by U.S. air strikes.
Chechen leader vows tough response to suicide bombing
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Chechnya’s Kremlin-backed leader promised a tough response on Monday to a suicide bombing that killed five policemen, shattering a period of relative calm in the turbulent North Caucasus region.
Outspoken Yazidi politician wins award for women against war
LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – The pain of a broken leg from a helicopter crash pales in comparison with the suffering of her persecuted fellow-Yazidis, the 2014 winner of an award for women working in war-stricken countries said on Monday.
Fire at Iranian defense industry plant kills two people: IRNA
DUBAI (Reuters) – An Iranian defense industry body said two workers were killed in a fire at an explosives factory in an eastern district of Tehran, the official IRNA news agency reported on Monday.
Left wingers urge Swiss to reject immigration curbs
BERNE (Reuters) – Drastically limiting immigration in Switzerland would isolate the country by damaging its ties with the European Union, left-wing groups said on Monday, calling on voters to reject the proposal.
Bulgaria election winner ready to form minority government
SOFIA (Reuters) – The winner of Bulgaria’s general election said on Monday it was ready to form a minority government with the support of other parties, after a fractured result that threatens more instability in the Balkan country.
Iran and U.N. nuclear watchdog to meet on Tuesday: IRNA
DUBAI (Reuters) – Iran and the U.N. nuclear watchdog will hold talks in Tehran on Tuesday, official media reported, their first since the country missed an August deadline for addressing questions about its suspected atomic bomb research.
Somali, African troops deploy inside former rebel stronghold
BARAWE Somalia (Reuters) – Somalia’s army and African troops deployed forces on Monday inside a strategic port which they retook from Islamist rebels at the weekend, promising residents they would be protected.
Indian-Pakistan fighting kills nine civilians, three militants
SRINAGAR India (Reuters) – Nine civilians were killed and at least 25 wounded on Monday in fighting along a stretch of the disputed border between India and Pakistan in the Kashmir region, the heaviest toll since India called off a round of peace talks…
Israel’s anti-rocket hit ‘Iron Dome’ a slow sell abroad
CARMIEL Israel (Reuters) – Normally, an advanced new weapon system with a battle-proven success rate of 90 percent would have global defense procurement agencies on the phone in minutes. But Israel’s Iron Dome rocket interceptor is yet to prove a hit w…
