Chinese marines’ desert operations point to long-range ambitions
BEIJING (Reuters) – Days after China passed a new law that for the first time permits its military to venture overseas on counter-terror operations, its marines began exercises in the western deserts of Xinjiang, more than 2,000 kilometers from the nea…
Iran says it has removed core from Arak reactor in key nuclear deal step
ANKARA (Reuters) – Iran has removed the sensitive core of its Arak nuclear reactor and U.N. inspectors will visit the site on Thursday to verify the move crucial to the implementation of Tehran’s atomic agreement with major powers, state television sai…
More aid reaches trapped Syrians; doubts cast on peace talks
NEAR MADAYA, Syria/BEIRUT/GENEVA (Reuters) – A second batch of aid reached a besieged Syrian town and two trapped villages on Thursday and the United Nations accused rival factions of committing war crimes by causing civilians to starve to death.
Charlie Hebdo cartoon featuring drowned Syrian boy causes outcry
PARIS (Reuters) – A drawing in French satirical weekly magazine Charlie Hebdo suggesting Alan Kurdi, the three-year-old Syrian boy found dead on a Turkish beach last year, would have grown up to be a sex attacker caused outrage online on Thursday.
U.S. sends 10 Yemeni Guantanamo detainees to Oman
MIAMI/MUSCAT (Reuters) – Ten Yemeni men held at the Guantanamo Bay U.S. military prison were sent to Oman on Thursday, bringing the detainee population below the symbolically important milestone of 100 as President Barack Obama steps up efforts to clos…
U.S., Mexico open talks on extradition of drug kingpin Guzman
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Justice Department has begun talks with Mexican authorities about extraditing drug kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman to the United States, a spokesman said on Thursday.
Philippines urges patrols with U.S. amid sea dispute with China
MANILA (Reuters) – The Philippines has asked the United States to hold joint naval patrols, a defense ministry spokesman said on Thursday, amid a territorial dispute with China in the South China Sea.
Senior Qaeda-linked figure captured in Lebanon: security forces
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Lebanese security forces said on Thursday they had arrested a senior member of an al Qaeda-linked militant group that has carried out attacks in the country.
Amanda Knox acquitted of slander charges against Italian police
ROME (Reuters) – An Italian court acquitted American Amanda Knox of slander charges brought after she said police coerced her to name the person who murdered her British flatmate Meredith Kercher, according to her Italian lawyer.
Pentagon: U.S. sailors made ‘navigational error’ into Iranian waters
MIAMI (Reuters) – The 10 U.S. sailors who were held by Iran before being released on Wednesday made a navigational mistake that led them into Iranian waters but did not communicate that to Navy commanders before being intercepted, the U.S. military sai…
