U.N. takes charge of Central African Republic peacekeeping force
BANGUI (Reuters) – The United Nations on Monday took over a peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic previously run by the African Union, a move that rights groups said must lead to more action to protect civilians from attack.
Forging coalition, Sweden’s new left leader angers ally
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) – Sweden’s center-left leader risked alienating a major ally on Monday as he tried to forge a minority government with his defeated center-right foes on Monday after an election that saw an anti-immigrant party surge.
Somalia’s al Shabaab says Uganda did not prevent attack by the group
MOGADISHU (Reuters) – Somalia’s al Shabaab militants denied on Monday that Ugandan authorities had foiled an attack by the group, after police in Uganda’s capital seized explosives and suicide vests and arrested 19 people.
Leftist rebels slay two oil company contractors in Colombia
BOGOTA (Reuters) – Leftist guerrillas in northeastern Colombia killed two contractors working on a pipeline for the state oil company, Ecopetrol, military sources said on Monday.
India tightens Vietnam defence, oil ties ahead of China Xi’s visit
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – India extended a $100 million export credit to Vietnam for defence deals and tightened energy ties on Monday, signaling a more confident foreign policy ahead of a visit this week by China’s President Xi Jinping.
U.N. to launch bold plan to end statelessness in a decade
THE HAGUE (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – The United Nations is to launch an ambitious campaign to eradicate statelessness within a decade, ending the plight of some 10 million people referred to as ‘legal ghosts’ or ‘invisibles’, a senior U.N. official…
Syrian army destroys Islamic State-controlled bridge
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syrian special forces on Monday destroyed a bridge over the Euphrates River used by Islamic State to move supplies in eastern Syria, media run by Hezbollah said, a blow to the group in the swathe of Syrian territory it controls near …
On last visit before vote, PM Cameron appeals to Scots to keep Britain intact
ABERDEEN/LONDON (Reuters) – British Prime Minister David Cameron used his last visit to Scotland before a historic independence referendum this week to implore Scots to remain part of the United Kingdom, warning on Monday that a breakaway vote would be…
Former Libyan general claims new air strike in western Libya
BENGHAZI Libya (Reuters) – Forces loyal to former Libyan army general Khalifa Haftar claimed an air strike on an armed group near Tripoli on Monday, a senior commander said, in what would be the first air strikes in western Libya for three weeks.
Washington wins diplomatic support for campaign in Iraq; Syria trickier
PARIS (Reuters) – World powers backed military measures on Monday to help defeat Islamic State fighters in Iraq, boosting Washington’s efforts to set up a coalition, but made no mention of the tougher diplomatic challenge next door in Syria.
