Hundreds killed as ISIL insurgents gain ground in east Syria
BEIRUT (Reuters) – A six-week offensive by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) against rival Islamists in eastern Syria has killed 600 fighters and driven 130,000 people from their homes, a monitoring group said on Tuesday.
Moderate Muslim preacher shot dead in Kenya
MOMBASA Kenya (Reuters) – A Muslim preacher who condemned radical interpretations of Islam was shot dead near a mosque on Kenya’s coast on Tuesday, a regional official said.
China warns of limits to Hong Kong freedom as protests loom
HONG KONG (Reuters) – China warned Hong Kong on Tuesday that there were limits to its freedom and it should adhere strictly to the law ahead of a planned pro-democracy protest that could end up shutting down part of the financial hub’s business distric…
Thai hunger-striker files charges against junta leader
BANGKOK (Reuters) – A Thai political activist who has started a hunger strike in protest against last month’s coup filed charges on Tuesday against junta leader Prayuth Chan-ocha and members of the ruling military council for defaming the monarchy and …
Turkey says investigating reports 28 truck drivers kidnapped in Iraq
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkey is investigating reports that 28 Turkish truck drivers ferrying diesel to the northern Iraqi city of Mosul have been abducted by militants from an al Qaeda splinter group, senior Turkish officials said on Tuesday.
Israeli law to force-feed Palestinian hunger-strikers gets initial nod
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel’s parliament has given initial approval to a law to enable the force-feeding of Palestinian prisoners on a hunger strike, drawing defiance from activists who said on Tuesday it would not deter the inmates.
France says Iran must budge on centrifuges for talks to succeed
PARIS (Reuters) – Iran must drop its demands to have thousands of centrifuges used to enrich uranium if it wants a lasting deal with major powers over its disputed nuclear programme, France’s foreign minister said on Tuesday.
Iran says six-month extension of nuclear talks may be needed
GENEVA/DUBAI (Reuters) – Iran’s talks with world powers on curbing its nuclear programme in exchange for an end to sanctions could be extended for another six months if no deal is reached by a July 20 deadline, a senior Iranian official said.
Merkel reiterates support for Juncker to take top EU job
HARPSUND Sweden (Reuters) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel restated her support on Tuesday for Jean-Claude Juncker to become president of the European Commission after meeting EU leaders critical of the Luxembourgian, but said the issue was not centra…
Private U.S. report accuses another Chinese military unit of hacking
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – A private U.S. cybersecurity company on Monday accused a unit of China’s military of conducting far-reaching hacking operations to advance the country’s satellite and aerospace programs.
