Saudi Arabia jails 23 more men for militancy in security crackdown
RIYADH (Reuters) – A Saudi Arabian court sentenced 23 men to jail terms of up to 22 years for their role in militant attacks, state media said on Wednesday, part of a security crackdown in which scores of people have been imprisoned over the past week….
Gaza truce holding but Israel’s Netanyahu under fire at home
GAZA/JERUSALEM (Reuters) – An open-ended ceasefire in the Gaza war held on Wednesday as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced strong criticism in Israel over a costly conflict with Palestinian militants in which no clear victor has emerged.
Islamic State executes soldiers, takes hostages at Syria base: social media
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Islamic State militants have executed Syrian army soldiers and are holding a group hostage after capturing an air base in northeast Syria at the weekend, pictures posted on social media by supporters showed on Wednesday.
Saudi princes visit Qatar as Gulf states try to end rift
DUBAI (Reuters) – Three Saudi princes including Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal visited Qatar on Wednesday, state media said, amid efforts to repair a rift within the U.S.-allied Gulf Cooperation Council.
French PM, on charm offensive with business, says to speed up reforms
JOUY-EN-JOSAS France (Reuters) – French Prime Minister Manuel Valls launched a charm offensive on the corporate world on Wednesday, promising to speed reforms aimed at freeing up the economy and to make tens of billions of euros in tax cuts.
Germany to decide on military aid for Iraq on Sunday: minister
PRAGUE (Reuters) – Germany will decide on Sunday what specific military aid it will send to Kurdish forces in Iraq to help them fight Islamic State insurgents, with Chancellor Angela Merkel arguing Berlin had to act because hundreds of Germans had join…
Libya warns United Nations of possible slide into civil war
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Libya warned the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday that the chaotic North African state could descend into full-scale civil war if heavily armed warring factions are not disarmed.
Cameroon says kills 27 Boko Haram militants in border clashes
YAOUNDE/MAIDUGURI (Reuters) – Cameroon’s army has killed 27 members of Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram near a northern town, state radio said on Wednesday, in a sign of the growing cross-border threat the militants pose.
EU to launch mission to help Italy cope with boat migrants
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Commission said on Wednesday it would launch an EU version of Italy’s sea rescue operation to help it deal with the droves of migrants crossing the Mediterranean in crowded boats from North Africa, something Italy has …
Islamic State commits war crimes, Syrian govt using poison gas: U.N.
GENEVA (Reuters) – The United Nations accused Islamic State insurgents on Wednesday of committing war crimes including amputations and public executions, sometimes in the presence of children, and said it believed Damascus had used chlorine gas in comb…
