Iraqi forces advance into Mosul’s Old City, Nuri mosque in sight
MOSUL, Iraq/BAGHDAD – Iraqi forces battling Islamic State in Mosul have advanced into the Old City and around the al Nuri mosque on Friday trying to seal off a main…
Dutch PM Rutte scores big victory over far-right Wilders
AMSTERDAM – Dutch centre-right Prime Minister Mark Rutte has scored a resounding victory over anti-Islam and anti-EU Geert Wilders in an election, offering huge relief to other governments across Europe…
Report says 1,100 complaints of child abuse made against Australia’s Anglican church
The head of Australia‘s Anglican Church has expressed sorrow and shame after a government report published on Friday said close to 1,100 people had filed child sexual assault claims against…
Actor George Clooney blames South Sudan famine on nation’s elite
(Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Famine in South Sudan could be brought to an end if world leaders would step in and keep local politicians from fighting over and wasting funds…
“Now is not the time,” UK’s May tells Scotland on independence vote
LONDON/EDINBURGH – British Prime Minister Theresa May has told the Scottish government “now is not the time” for a second independence referendum, saying it would be unfair to ask people…
Volcanic explosion on Mount Etna injures 10 people
ROME – Ten people have been injured in an eruption on Mount Etna after magma flowing into snow caused a violent explosion that sent stones and rocks flying into the air, emergency…
Heavily-armed student opens fire in French high school, three injured
PARIS – A teenage student has opened fire at a high school in southeastern France injuring three people, including the headmaster, in an attack carried out after he had watched…
High profile Australians unite against Indian coal mine project
(Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Australians will “fight tooth and nail” against an Indian company’s plan to build one of the world’s biggest coal mines in Australia, said a delegation of…
Military wins in first Trump budget; environment, aid lose big
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump will ask the US Congress for dramatic cuts to many federal programs as he seeks to bulk up defence spending, start building a wall on…
Australia urges S.China Sea ruling as basis for “code of conduct”
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations should use an international court’s rejection of China’s claims to almost all the South China Sea as basis for a code of conduct, Australian…
