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Exclusive: Watchdog to probe alleged mustard gas use by Islamic State

By Anthony Deutsch THE HAGUE (Reuters) – Islamic State militants “most probably” used the banned chemical weapon mustard gas against Kurdish forces in Iraq and international inspectors have been asked to investigate, diplomatic sources told Reuters. A team of inspectors from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) will go to Iraq next week to help determine if the blistering agent sulfur mustard was used in the battlefield,

Slovenia deploys army at border as thousands of migrants seek to transit

By Marja Novak and Maja Zuvela LJUBLJANA/KLJUC BRDOVECKI, Croatia (Reuters) – Slovenia deployed the army to guard its border as thousands of migrants streamed into the tiny country from the south, and said it may resort to “physical barriers” like neighboring Hungary if the number of arrivals continued to grow. About 19,500 migrants have entered Slovenia since Friday, the Interior Ministry said, when Hungary sealed its southern border, creating bottlenecks

Exclusive: Dissident commanders meet to choose rival Afghan Taliban leader

By Jibran Ahmad PESHAWAR, Pakistan (Reuters) – Weeks after the Afghan Taliban’s biggest battlefield success since 2001, dissident commanders unhappy with their new leader Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour are meeting to choose a rival, they told Reuters on Tuesday. A leadership battle within the Taliban could create space for militants loyal to Islamic State to expand their foothold in the region, and could discourage Mansour from resuming Pakistan-backed peace talks

Pageantry and protests welcome China leader to Britain

By Michael Holden and Elizabeth Piper LONDON (Reuters) – Chinese President Xi Jinping rode in a gilded carriage to Buckingham Palace on Tuesday after a royal salute began a pomp-laden visit Britain hopes will secure investment but which has drawn criticism over human rights. With a few dozen protesters outnumbered by the thousands of China supporters thronging The Mall, one of London’s most famous avenues, Xi and Queen Elizabeth rode

U.N.'s Ban, on visit, urges Israelis, Palestinians to avoid 'abyss'

By Ori Lewis JERUSALEM (Reuters) – U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged Palestinians and Israel on Tuesday to step back from a “dangerous abyss” as he arrived on a snap visit to the region at the head of international efforts to quell three weeks of violence. The bloodshed began with a string of stabbing attacks on Israelis in Jerusalem. One reason given by Palestinians for the surge in violence is anger