As caliphate is declared, Iraqi troops battle for Tikrit
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraqi troops battled to dislodge an al Qaeda splinter group from the city of Tikrit on Monday after its leader was declared caliph of a new Islamic state in lands seized this month across a swath of Iraq and Syria.
Clashes between Uganda army, CAR gunmen kill at least 17
BANGUI (Reuters) – Ugandan troops in Central African Republic (CAR) have killed at least 15 fighters from the mainly Muslim Seleka force, a group that has carved out fiefdoms in the country since leaving power earlier this year, local sources said on M…
U.S. sends 300 more troops to Iraq over security concerns
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States is ramping up its military presence in Iraq, deploying around 300 additional troops as well as helicopters and drone aircraft in response security concerns in Baghdad, officials said on Monday.
Japan poised to ease constitution’s limits on military in landmark shift
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s cabinet is expected on Tuesday to end a ban that has kept the military from fighting abroad since World War Two, a major shift away from post-war pacifism and a political victory for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who has pursued t…
Japan ruling parties agree to plan to drop ban on collective self-defense: lawmaker
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s ruling parties agreed on Tuesday to a government proposal to end a ban that has kept the military from fighting overseas since World War Two, a ruling party lawmaker told reporters, a major step away from post-war pacifism and…
Poroshenko ends Ukraine ceasefire, renews operations against rebels
KIEV (Reuters) – Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said on Tuesday government forces would renew offensive operations against pro-Russian rebels and “free our lands”, hours after a ceasefire to make way for peace talks with the rebels had expired.
Israel finds bodies of three missing teenagers in West Bank
HEBRON West Bank (Reuters) – The bodies of three missing Israeli teenagers were found in the occupied West Bank, and Israel vowed to punish Hamas, the Palestinian group it accuses of abducting and killing them.
Japan poised to ease constitution’s limits on military in landmark shift
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s cabinet is expected on Tuesday to end a ban that has kept the military from fighting abroad since World War Two, a major shift away from post-war pacifism and a political victory for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who has pursued t…
At least 22 killed in gunfight southwest of Mexico City
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – At least 22 suspected gang members were killed southwest of Mexico City early on Monday, the government said, in one of the bloodiest shootouts with security forces since President Enrique Pena Nieto took power.
China’s Xi heads to Seoul with North Korea on his mind
SEOUL (Reuters) – The president of China, North Korea’s only major ally, visits South Korea this week where the leaders of the two countries are expected to call on Pyongyang to end its pursuit of nuclear weapons, although Beijing will make sure it is …
