NATO to help boost security in Iraq
BRUSSELS – NATO allies agreed Friday on a package of measures to help strengthen Iraqi security and defense forces, including in the fields of military training, mine removal and countering improvised explosive devices.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the aid program, approved by the alliance’s 28 member nations, is designed to help Iraq by providing support in areas where the North Atlantic Treaty Organization “is best placed to add value.”
Independent analysts said beefing up Iraqi defense capabilities would also contribute to stabilizing the southern border of Turkey, a NATO member, and boost the military campaign being waged by a U.S.-led coalition to defeat the Islamic State group.
Zimbabwe to seek extradition of dentist
HARARE, Zimbabwe – Zimbabwe will seek the extradition of an American dentist who killed a lion that was lured out of a national park and caused international outrage, a Cabinet minister said Friday.
In the Zimbabwean government’s first official comment on the killing of Cecil the lion, the environment, water and climate minister lashed out at Walter James Palmer, accusing him even of trying to hurt Zimbabwe’s image.
“Unfortunately it was too late to apprehend the foreign poacher as he had already absconded to his country of origin,” Oppah Muchinguri told a news conference. “We are appealing to the responsible authorities for his extradition to Zimbabwe so that he be made accountable.”
On Tuesday, Palmer issued a statement saying he relied on his guides to ensure the hunt was legal. Two Zimbabweans – a professional hunter and a farm owner – have been arrested in the killing of the lion, an act which has garnered worldwide condemnation.
WikiLeaks says U.S. spied on Japanese
TOKYO – The WikiLeaks website published documents Friday that it said shows the U.S. government spied on Japanese officials and companies.
The documents include what appear to be five U.S. National Security Agency reports, four of which are marked top-secret, that provide intelligence on Japanese positions on international trade and climate change. They date from 2007 to 2009.
WikiLeaks also posted what it says is an NSA list of 35 Japanese targets for telephone intercepts including the Japanese Cabinet office, Bank of Japan officials and Finance and Trade Ministry numbers.
Vaccine could end Africa Ebola outbreak
LONDON –An experimental Ebola vaccine tested on thousands of people in Guinea seems to work and might help shut down the ongoing epidemic in West Africa, according to interim results from a study published Friday.
There is currently no licensed treatment or vaccine for Ebola, which has so far killed more than 11,000 people in West Africa since the world’s biggest outbreak began in the forest region of Guinea last year.
“If proven effective, this is going to be a game-changer,” said Dr. Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization, which sponsored the study.
Associated Press
