Exclusive: Iraq signs deal to buy arms, ammunition from Iran – documents
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iran has signed a deal to sell Iraq arms and ammunition worth $195 million, according to documents seen by Reuters – a move that would break a U.N. embargo on weapons sales by Tehran.
Seven Egyptian Christians found shot execution-style on Libyan beach
TRIPOLI (Reuters) – Seven Egyptian Christians were found shot dead on a beach in eastern Libya after they were abducted from their apartments, security officials and local residents said, in the second such execution-style killing this year.
Kerry ups ante in struggle to crack South China Sea rules
HONG KONG/MANILA (Reuters) – Pressure is mounting on China and Southeast Asia to agree a code of conduct to keep the peace in the disputed South China Sea, but Beijing is warning of a long road ahead.
Nigeria president defends suspension of central bank governor
LAGOS (Reuters) – Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan said on Monday his decision to suspend the central bank governor had nothing to do with the governor’s exposing corruption in the oil sector.
Netanyahu tells Merkel Iran is greatest threat to world security
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday that Iran’s nuclear program was the biggest threat to global security.
Ugandan president signs anti-gay bill, defying the West
ENTEBBE, Uganda (Reuters) – Uganda’s president signed a law imposing harsh penalties for homosexuality on Monday, defying protests from rights groups, criticism from Western donors and a U.S. warning that it will complicate relations.
Italian former spy chief cleared in CIA rendition case
ROME (Reuters) – Italy’s highest court overturned convictions on Monday of former head of military intelligence Nicolo Pollari and his deputy for roles in the kidnapping of a Muslim cleric in an operation organized by the United States, a court source …
Chad troops kill civilians in Central African Republic: residents
BANGUI (Reuters) – Chadian peacekeepers shot dead three civilians in a Christian neighborhood of the capital of Central African Republic on Monday, local residents said.
Air raids in central Syria kill 26: activists
AMMAN (Reuters) – Air raids on rebel-held towns across Syria killed 26 people on Monday, activists said, two days after the U.N. Security Council passed a resolution demanding an end to indiscriminate shelling and aerial attacks.
‘Parallel state’ phone-tapped thousands in Turkey: officials
ANKARA (Reuters) – The network of a U.S.-based cleric illegally tapped thousands of telephones in Turkey to blackmail and concoct criminal cases as part of a campaign of covert influence over government, a top adviser to Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan s…