Gold, diamonds feed Central African religious violence
NDASSIMA Central African Republic (Reuters) – Three young rebels, their AK47s propped against wooden stools in the afternoon heat, guard the entrance to the giant Ndassima goldmine carved deep into a forested hilltop in Central African Republic.
Huge blaze out of control in Tripoli battle as Libya slides into chaos
TRIPOLI (Reuters) – A huge fuel depot in Libya’s capital burned out of control on Monday, set ablaze in fighting between rival militias that has driven the country to chaos three years after the NATO-backed revolt that toppled Muammar Gaddafi.
Australia issues arrest warrants over Syria severed head photos
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia has issued arrest warrants for a pair of Australian citizens believed to be fighting in Syria, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported on Tuesday, after images emerged of the two holding the severed heads of …
West agrees wider Russia sanctions as Kiev says forces near crash site
KIEV/DONETSK Ukraine (Reuters) – U.S. and European leaders agreed on Monday to impose wider sanctions on Russia’s financial, defense and energy sectors as Ukraine said its forces advanced toward the crash site of Malaysian flight MH17.
Threat of El Nino eases, says Australian weather agency
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Pacific Ocean temperatures have eased in recent weeks and an El Nino weather event later this year is now indicated by only a slight majority of climate models, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology said on Tuesday.
U.S. ‘disappointed’ Netherlands released Venezuelan wanted over drugs
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States is “deeply disappointed” the Netherlands released a former Venezuelan military intelligence chief detained over U.S. drug trafficking allegations, and is “disturbed” at reports indicating Caracas used threats to…
U.N. blacklists operator of North Korean ship seized in Panama
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – A U.N. Security Council committee on Monday blacklisted the operator of a North Korean ship, which was seized near the Panama Canal last year for smuggling Soviet-era arms, and raised concerns about Cuba’s military cooperatio…
Australian PM Abbott’s tough stance on MH17 paying off: poll
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Embattled Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s forthright handling of the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 appears to have paid off, a poll released on Tuesday showed, although his government has not enjoyed a similar spik…
Israel warns of long Gaza war as Palestinian fighters cross border
GAZA/JERUSALEM (Reuters) – A grim-faced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned on Monday of a protracted war in Gaza, dashing any hopes of a swift end to the three-week conflict as Palestinian fighters launched an audacious cross-border raid….
Iraq lays claim to Kurdish crude cargo in Texas court
HOUSTON (Reuters) – Iraq filed suit on Monday in a Texas court to gain control of a cargo of crude oil from Iraqi Kurdistan that Baghdad says was sold without its permission.
