Iraq’s top Shi’ite cleric issues call to fight jihadist rebels
Baghdad, Iraq (Reuters) – Iraq’s most senior Shi’ite Muslim cleric urged followers to take up arms against a full-blown Sunni militant insurgency to topple Shi’ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, escalating a conflict that threatens civil war and a poss…
U.N. peacekeepers need to expand further in Mali’s north: U.N.’s Ban
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – U.N. peacekeepers should expand further into the volatile north of Mali, beyond cities and towns, amid fears that militants will step up their attacks against international and Malian troops and threats to civilians, U.N. chi…
Iraq’s implosion could redraw Middle East boundaries
BEIRUT (Reuters) – The capture of Iraqi cities Mosul and Tikrit by al Qaeda-influenced jihadis has not only redrawn the map of a country corroded by sectarian hatred.
Yemeni attack kills four suspected al-Qaeda militants: state news agency
ADEN (Reuters) – Yemeni forces bombed and killed four suspected al-Qaeda militants in the country’s restive South, military sources told the state news agency Saba on Friday.
Mauritanian group issues Facebook threat against female activist: U.N.
GENEVA (Reuters) – The leader of a Mauritanian group has issued a threat on his Facebook page to “tear out the eyes” of a rights activist for demanding a fair trial for a man charged with turning his back on Islam, a U.N. official said.
Norway police propose reopening case of 1990 ship fire that killed 159
OSLO (Reuters) – Norwegian police on Friday recommended reopening an investigation into a ferry fire in 1990 that killed 159 people after a police review cast doubt on findings that a Danish man who died on board had started the blaze.
On eve of visit, China warns UK not to lecture it on human rights
LONDON (Reuters) – China’s ambassador warned the British government on Friday not to lecture his country on human rights if it wanted strong economic ties, days before Chinese Premier Li Keqiang was due to fly to Britain.
Colombia’s FARC rebels hope World Cup fosters ‘reconciliation’
BOGOTA (Reuters) – Colombia’s Marxist FARC rebels hope the thrills of the national team’s participation in the World Cup soccer tournament will help foster a spirit of reconciliation in the Andean country where the group has waged a five-decade-long in…
Jets vanishing from Europe radar linked to war games
VIENNA/PRAGUE (Reuters) – Dozens of aircraft briefly vanished from air-traffic control radars in Austria, Germany, the Czech Republic and Slovakia this week and last in separate incidents that Slovak authorities blamed on military electronic warfare ex…
U.S. joins Jolie’s call to end use of rape in war
LONDON (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry joined Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie and the British government on Friday in calling for action to end the use of rape as a weapon of war.
