BOGOTA, Colombia – A United Nations envoy is urging restraint amid a tense standoff on the front lines of Colombia’s conflict between security forces and farmers who expelled police allegedly under pressure from leftist rebels. Hundreds of riot police were deployed Saturday to the rural hamlet of El Mango in …
Read More »Child among 4 killed in gas canister blast at country house in eastern Spain
MADRID – Authorities in eastern Spain say at least four people, including a baby girl, have died in a gas canister blast that ripped through a house. A Civil Guard spokesman said the blast occurred Tuesday morning at a house in a rural area outside the eastern town of Villajoyosa. …
Read More »Syria's Kurds warn Turkey against intervening militarily in Syria
BEIRUT – Syria’s main Kurdish party warned Turkey on Wednesday that any military intervention would threaten international peace and said the country’s main Kurdish militia is ready to face any “aggression.” The statement by the Democratic Union Party, or PYD, comes as Turkish media is abuzz with talk of a …
Read More »Turkish PM vows to press ahead with construction in Kurdish regions despite rebel threats
ANKARA, Turkey – Turkey’s prime minister has vowed to press ahead with the construction of dams and roads in the country’s mainly Kurdish southeast, saying Turkey would not bow to Kurdish rebel threats. Kurdish militants have threatened to resume attacks, accusing Turkey of “preparing for war” by continuing to build …
Read More »UN envoy urges Islamist-led government that seized Libya's capital to sign peace deal
UNITED NATIONS – The U.N. envoy for Libya is urging the Islamist-led government that seized the country’s capital to sign a peace deal that would establish a unity government in the North African nation where fighting and chaos is worsening. Bernardino Leon emphasized to the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday …
Read More »Afghan official says next round of talks between Kabul, the Taliban set for July 30 in China
KABUL, Afghanistan – An Afghan official says the second round of official talks between representatives of the Kabul government and the Taliban, aimed at ending the 14-year war, will take place next week in China. Mohammad Ismail Qasimyar of the Afghan High Peace Council, said Friday that the two sides …
Read More »SNP's Alex Salmond says a second Scottish independent referendum is 'inevitable'
LONDON – The former first minister of Scotland says a second referendum on Scottish independence is “inevitable.” Legislator Alex Salmond told BBC Sunday that the British government has not followed through on post-referendum promises to give Scotland more powers. He also said the planned referendum on Britain’s status within the …
Read More »Malaysian PM axes deputy, sacks attorney general in purge of critics amid fund scandal
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has axed his deputy in a Cabinet reshuffle and sacked the attorney general, who heads a task force investigating allegations that Najib received some $700 million in government money. Najib is under increasing pressure over leaked confidential documents that allegedly show …
Read More »Activists say new oil block on Uganda-Congo border threatens delicate wildlife areas
KAMPALA, Uganda – Activists are urging Uganda’s government to reverse a decision to open for oil drilling a wildlife park on Uganda’s border with Congo. Uganda’s government is expected to announce next month which companies can bid for new oil blocks, including one in the Lake Edward basin inside Uganda’s …
Read More »Sweden and Ecuador in talks as timer runs down on sex allegations against WikiLeaks founder
HELSINKI – Swedish officials say they’re making a last-minute attempt to quiz WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange over sex crimes allegations, most of which are set to expire by next week. Assange, holed up in the Ecuadorean Embassy in London since 2012, is wanted on four allegations involving rape and sexual …
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