World

Vatican outlines pope's upcoming trip to Georgia, Azerbaijan

Published on Mon, 07/11/2016 - 1:12pm

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis will meet with Christian, Muslim and Jewish leaders during his Sept. 30-Oct. 2 trip to the former Soviet republics of Georgia and Azerbaijan, adding a strong interreligious dimension to an already politically delicate trip.

The Vatican on Monday released the itinerary for the Caucasus trip, which was originally planned as an extension of Francis' recent visit to Armenia but was split up.

Iraqi PM accepts interior minister's resignation

Published on Fri, 07/08/2016 - 1:03pm

BAGHDAD — Iraq's prime minister accepted the resignation of the country's interior minister on Friday, just hours after he had fired Baghdad's security chief over unprecedented attacks that have hit in and near the capital this week.

Anger has mounted against Haider al-Abadi's government following Sunday's massive truck bombing in the capital that killed at least 186 people. And late Thursday, an attack at a Shiite shrine north of Baghdad killed 37 people. The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for both attacks.

NATO leaders gear up for threats from Russia, south

Published on Fri, 07/08/2016 - 1:00pm

WARSAW, Poland — NATO leaders geared up Friday for a long-term standoff with Russia, ordering multinational troops to Poland and the three Baltic states as Moscow moves forward with its own plans to station two new divisions along its western borders.

Obama says America is horrified over Dallas attack

Published on Fri, 07/08/2016 - 12:55pm

WARSAW, Poland — President Barack Obama said Friday that America is "horrified" by a targeted shooting of police officers in Dallas, and he said there is no justification for the violence.

"We still don't know all the facts. What we do know is that there has been a vicious, calculated and despicable attack on law enforcement," Obama said in a brief statement to reporters.

The president called the shooters' motives "twisted" and vowed that "justice will be done."

Heavy gunfire outside South Sudan president's compound

Published on Fri, 07/08/2016 - 12:52pm

JUBA, South Sudan— Witnesses said heavy gunfire erupted outside the compound of South Sudan's president Friday evening as Salva Kiir was preparing to address the nation on the latest deadly fighting in the capital, Juba, that has sparked fears of a return to civil war.

Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar, the former rebel leader, were meeting about recent violence when the gunfire began. They told reporters they did not know what was happening. The gunfire left residents of the capital panicked.

NKorea: US sanctions tantamount to act of war

Published on Thu, 07/07/2016 - 4:48pm

 

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea said Thursday that U.S. sanctions on leader Kim Jong Un and other top officials for human rights abuses are tantamount to declaring war.

The country's Foreign Ministry issued a statement carried by the official Korean Central News Agency saying the announcement of sanctions on Kim and 10 other officials was "peppered with lies and fabrications" and demanding the sanctions be withdrawn.

Islamic State pressured after Turkey tightens jihadi highway

Published on Wed, 07/06/2016 - 1:31pm

GAZIANTEP, Turkey — Along the border near the southern Turkish city of Gaziantep, a wall of giant concrete blocks is going up as Turkey tries to seal off a region that for years was a jihadi highway through which thousands of extremist fighters flowed to join the Islamic State group in neighboring Syria.

Turkey has always denied permitting the movement of IS militants into Syria and insists it has been doing its best to stop the transit, even before construction on the massive wall began late last year.

Syrian army declares temporary, nationwide truce

Published on Wed, 07/06/2016 - 1:27pm

BEIRUT — The Syrian military declared a unilateral, three-day cease-fire for the entire country on Wednesday, coinciding with the start of the Muslim Eid al-Fitr holiday marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, state media reported.

The military's nationwide truce is set to expire at midnight Friday, according to a state TV report. The truce is not expected to affect the fight against the Islamic State group, which is battling government troops, rebels and other forces on a number of fronts.

UK report slams Iraq war; Blair says he acted in good faith

Published on Wed, 07/06/2016 - 1:25pm

LONDON — Prime Minister Tony Blair led Britain into an unsuccessful war in Iraq through a mix of flawed intelligence, "wholly inadequate" planning and an exaggerated sense of the U.K.'s ability to influence the United States, according to a damning official report on the conflict that was published Wednesday.

Al-Qaida briefly seizes army base in southern Yemen

Published on Wed, 07/06/2016 - 1:23pm

SANAA, Yemen — Al-Qaida militants briefly seized an army base next to the international airport in the southern Yemeni city of Aden on Wednesday, killing 14 soldiers and setting off an hours-long gunbattle before withdrawing, security and medical officials said. The group claimed responsibility in a statement.

The attack began before dawn on Eid al-Fitr, a major Muslim holiday marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.