Exclusive: Somalia Central Bank a ‘slush fund’ for private payments – U.N.
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Money at the Central Bank of Somalia is not used to run government institutions in the war-torn Horn of Africa country, with an average 80 percent of withdrawals made for private purposes, according to a U.N. report seen by R…
Colombian rebel groups hold rare summit to talk peace, revolution
BOGOTA (Reuters) – The top commanders of Colombia’s two biggest rebel groups met in secret to discuss ways to bolster the nation’s “guerrilla and revolutionary” movement, a sign the insurgent groups may be seeking to pressure the government for a joint…
Syrian rebels threaten to target Shi’ite villages in Aleppo
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syrian rebels in the northern province of Aleppo on Monday threatened to seize two Shi’ite Muslim villages that back President Bashar al-Assad unless they surrendered to the opposition.
Sudan, South Sudan vow to end oil row, but offer no concrete steps
KHARTOUM (Reuters) – The vice presidents of Sudan and South Sudan pledged on Monday to resolve a conflict over Juba’s alleged support for rebels that is threatening cross-border oil flows, but failed to offer any concrete solutions.
U.S. seeks to calm European outrage over alleged spying
DAR ES SALAAM (Reuters) – President Barack Obama tried on Monday to reassure European allies affronted by reports of U.S. spying by suggesting all the world’s intelligence services were involved in finding out the thinking of opponents and allies alike…
Edward Snowden breaks silence to threaten new U.S. leaks
LONDON (Reuters) – Former U.S. spy agency contractor Edward Snowden has broken his silence for the first time since he fled to Moscow eight days ago to say he remains free to make new disclosures about U.S. spying activity.
Suicide bomber kills 22 in Iraqi Shi’ite mosque
MUQDADIYA, Iraq (Reuters) – A suicide bomber blew himself up at a mourning ceremony inside a Shi’ite mosque in Iraq late on Monday, killing at least 22 people, police said.
Nigeria government watchdog says has credible reports of army abuses
ABUJA (Reuters) – A Nigerian government rights watchdog said it had credible reports the country’s own forces carried out extra-judicial killings, torture, rape and arbitrary detention in efforts to quell an Islamist insurgency in the northeast.
Lawyers ask U.S. judge to halt Guantanamo force-feedings
MIAMI (Reuters) – Lawyers for four Guantanamo prisoners are asking a U.S. federal judge to block the force-feeding of hunger strikers at the detention camp, arguing that it violates human rights and serves no military purpose.
UAE to issue verdicts for 94 defendants seeking to seize power
DUBAI (Reuters) – A United Arab Emirates court will deliver verdicts on Tuesday in the case of 94 Emiratis charged with plotting to overthrow the government, a sensitive case reflecting the authorities’ deep mistrust of Islamist groups after the Arab S…