U.S. close to suspending Syria talks with Russia as Aleppo battle rages
WASHINGTON/BEIRUT (Reuters) – The United States is close to suspending talks with Russia on a ceasefire in Syria, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Thursday, as the Kremlin vowed to press on with an assault on the city of Aleppo.
Pentagon chief calls U.S. alliance with Philippines ‘ironclad’
SAN DIEGO, Calif. (Reuters) – The United States has an “ironclad” alliance with the Philippines, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said on Thursday, countering statements by the southeast Asian nation’s president that have thrown bilateral relations in…
India says hits Pakistan-based militants, escalating tensions
NEW DELHI/ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Indian officials said elite troops crossed into Pakistan-ruled Kashmir on Thursday and killed suspected militants preparing to infiltrate and carry out attacks on major cities, in a surprise raid that raised tensions bet…
Egypt asks Interpol to take Mubarak-era businessman off watchlist
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egypt gave the green light on Thursday for Interpol and the European Union to drop charges against Hussein Salem, a businessman ally of deposed president Hosni Mubarak, a senior justice ministry official said.
At least 200 inmates escape Brazil prison; many recaptured
SAO PAULO (Reuters) – At least 200 prisoners escaped from a minimum-security Brazil prison during an uprising on Thursday, with about half recaptured within hours of the prison break, state prison officials said.
Activists cry foul as U.N. decides against Yemen rights probe
GENEVA (Reuters) – The U.N. Human Rights Council on Thursday declined to set up an independent inquiry into abuses in Yemen, instead calling on a national inquiry to investigate violations by all sides, including the killing of civilians and attacks on…
U.S. drone strike in Yemen kills two senior al Qaeda members: officials
SANAA (Reuters) – Two senior members of al Qaeda’s Yemen branch were killed in a suspected U.S. drone strike in the central province of Bayda, local officials told Reuters on Thursday.
Palestinian president plans to attend funeral of Israel’s Peres
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas plans to pay a rare visit to Jerusalem on Friday to attend the funeral of former Israeli leader Shimon Peres, a Palestinian official said on Thursday.
Car bomb wounds two in Cairo suburb: security sources
CAIRO (Reuters) – A car bomb exploded in an eastern suburb of Cairo on Thursday evening, wounding two people, security sources said.
Millionaires, evangelicals benefit from Brazil campaign funds ban
BRASILIA (Reuters) – A ban on companies funding election campaigns in Brazil that was meant to clean up politics amid the worst graft scandal in decades is instead helping wealthy businessmen and candidates backed by evangelical churches to dominate ma…
