Obama notifies Congress of ordering air strikes in Iraq’s Amerli
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama formally notified the U.S. Congress on Monday that he had authorized air strikes and humanitarian airdrops over the weekend in the Iraqi Shi’ite town of Amerli where Islamic State militants had trapped the civilian population.
Syrian army, rebels fight on Golan where peacekeepers held
EIN ZIVAN Golan Heights/MANILA (Reuters) – Heavy fighting erupted on Monday between the Syrian army and Islamist rebels on the Golan Heights, where 44 peacekeepers from Fiji are being held by militants and scores of their fellow blue helmets from the P…
Cubans angered by new consumer import restrictions
HAVANA (Reuters) – Cuba has raised duties and restricted imports on consumer goods brought in by air travelers or sent by mail, imposing greater hardship for a fledgling private sector and angering people looking to counter chronic shortages.
NATO to create new ‘spearhead’ force to respond to crises
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – NATO leaders will respond to the Ukraine crisis by agreeing this week to create a “spearhead” rapid reaction force, potentially including several thousand troops, that could be sent to a hotspot in as little as two days, officials …
German euroskeptics chide Merkel after state surge
BERLIN (Reuters) – Riding a wave of momentum after a strong showing in a regional election, Germany’s new anti-euro party said on Monday it was time for Chancellor Angela Merkel to wake up and accept it as a new conservative force in German politics.
Al Qaeda in Yemen executes three ‘spies’ for guiding drone strikes
SANAA (Reuters) – Al Qaeda militants in Yemen executed three local men in the easterly Hadramout province on Monday whom they suspected of assisting U.S. drone strikes, security sources told Reuters.
Pakistani protesters clash with police, soldiers secure state TV
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistani soldiers and paramilitary forces secured the state television headquarters in Islamabad on Monday after a crowd of anti-government protesters stormed the building and took the channel off the air.
Libyan parliament reappoints PM as government loses grip on ministries
BENGHAZI Libya (Reuters) – Libya’s parliament reappointed Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thinni on Monday as the government lost control of ministries in the capital where armed groups have taken over and a separate parliament has claimed legitimacy.
Battle lines drawn in struggle for influence over Turkish judiciary
ANKARA/ISTANBUL (Reuters) – One of Turkey’s most senior judges warned against government interference in the judiciary on Monday, signaling a looming struggle for influence over the courts as President Tayyip Erdogan pursues a drive against his politic…
UK’s Osborne taking tougher view on EU membership: report
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s finance minister George Osborne’s views on the European Union have hardened and he may be more open to the idea of the country leaving the bloc, according to excerpts of a book which were published on Monday.
