World

Report: US sailors ill-prepared for Iran encounter in Gulf

Published on Thu, 06/30/2016 - 12:58pm
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WASHINGTON — Weak leadership, poor judgment, a lack of "warfighting toughness" and a litany of errors led to the embarrassing capture and detention by Iran of 10 U.S. sailors in the Persian Gulf in January, according to a Navy investigation released Thursday.

Attackers kill 42 in scenes of chaos at Istanbul airport

Published on Wed, 06/29/2016 - 3:52pm
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ISTANBUL — Suicide attackers armed with guns and bombs killed 42 people and wounded hundreds at Istanbul's busy Ataturk Airport, apparently targeting Turkey's crucial tourism industry. The government blamed the attack on Islamic State extremists but there was no immediate confirmation from the group.

Scenes of chaos and panic unfolded Tuesday night as gunfire and explosions sent crowds fleeing in all directions.

Zombie government? UK politics consumed by Brexit concerns

Published on Tue, 06/28/2016 - 2:08pm
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LONDON  — Who's in charge now in Britain?

It's a fair question as the country tries to sort out its future following voters' seismic decision to leave the European Union.

2 explosions rock Istanbul airport, multiple people injured

Published on Tue, 06/28/2016 - 2:04pm

ISTANBUL  — A Turkish official says two explosions have rocked Istanbul's Ataturk airport, wounding multiple people.

The official said Tuesday it was unclear whether the explosions were caused by a suicide attack.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity in line with government protocol.

The state-run TRT television said an explosion hit a control point at the international arrival terminal of the airport.

Other media reported the sound of gunfire at the scene.

EU leaders plot a future without Britain, demand answers

Published on Tue, 06/28/2016 - 2:02pm
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BRUSSELS — British Prime Minister David Cameron fended off anger from other European Union leaders at an unprecedented summit charged with uncertainty about the union's future without Britain. Leader after leader rejected Cameron's pleas for favorable conditions for Britain once it leaves, while he frustrated them by refusing to initiate the divorce proceedings just yet.

Israel's security figures take aim at hard-line Netanyahu

Published on Tue, 06/28/2016 - 1:58pm
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JERUSALEM — Long-serving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces a potentially formidable challenge to his hard-line rule — not from Israel's civilian politicians but instead from its revered security establishment.

An extraordinary array of former top commanders are criticizing Netanyahu in increasingly urgent terms, accusing him of mishandling the Palestinian issue and allying with extremists bent on dismantling Israel's democracy.

UK's anti-EU victors will find it hard to fulfill promises

Published on Mon, 06/27/2016 - 12:29pm
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LONDON — Politicians who wanted Britain to leave the European Union were not shy about making promises. They plastered their campaign bus with vows to "take back control" on immigration and boost funding for the beloved National Health Service.

But with Britain facing months or years of negotiations to detach itself from the 28-nation bloc, victorious "leave" leaders will find their pledges of prosperity, sovereignty and more public spending hard to keep.

They know it, and are already lowering expectations.

Iraqis suffer in desert camps after flight from Fallujah

Published on Mon, 06/27/2016 - 12:26pm
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AMIRIYAH AL-FALLUJAH, Iraq — Tens of thousands of Iraqis who survived a harrowing flight from Fallujah now find themselves in sprawling desert camps with little food, water or shelter. The growing humanitarian crisis less than an hour's drive from Baghdad has reinforced the region's deep-seated distrust of the government, and could undermine recent gains against the Islamic State group.

Palestinians clash with Israeli police at holy site

Published on Mon, 06/27/2016 - 12:20pm
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JERUSALEM  — Masked Palestinians threw stones and shot fireworks at Israeli police at a contentious Jerusalem holy site for a second day in a row on Monday, as U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged the resumption of peace efforts.

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said the Palestinians, who were holed up in the Al-Aqsa Mosque, attacked officers with fireworks and rocks they had stockpiled inside. The mosque is part of a compound sacred to both Muslims and Jews.

Michelle Obama, daughters in Africa to push girls' education

Published on Mon, 06/27/2016 - 12:15pm
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KAKATA, Liberia  — First lady Michelle Obama visited a leadership camp for girls in Liberia to launch her latest Africa visit Monday, urging the teens in one of the world's poorest countries to keep fighting to stay in school.

With her own teenage daughters joining her, Obama told the girls she was "just so thrilled to be here with you."

"I'm here to shine a big bright light on you," she said.