Saudi Arabia protests over Czech ‘Satanic Verses’ 27 years after uproar
ABU DHABI (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia summoned the Czech ambassador to protest against a new translation of Salman Rushdie’s book “Satanic Verses”, Saudi state media said on Friday, 27 years after the novel triggered mass demonstrations and a death threat…
Guatemala landslide toll reaches 253 dead, 374 missing
GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) – At least 253 bodies have been recovered after a massive landslide buried part of a town in Guatemala last week, with 374 people still unaccounted for, national disaster agency Conred said on Friday.
U.S. pulls plug on Syria rebel training effort; will focus on weapons supply
LONDON (Reuters) – The United States will largely abandon its failed efforts to train moderate Syrian rebels fighting Islamic State, and instead provide arms and equipment directly to rebel leaders and their units on the battlefield, the Obama administ…
Ivory Coast leader launches re-election bid with pledge on justice
ABIDJAN (Reuters) – Ivory Coast’s President Alassane Ouattara pledged on Friday to improve citizens’ access to justice as he launched his bid for re-election in an Oct. 25 poll he hopes will cement the country’s economic recovery following a brief civi…
U.S. commander says U.S. must exercise freedom of navigation in Asia-Pacific
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific said on Friday the United States must carry out freedom of navigation patrols throughout the Asia Pacific, but declined to say whether it planned go within 12 nautical miles of China’s …
Mozambique’s opposition leader released after being held by police in his home
MAPUTO (Reuters) – Mozambique’s opposition party leader Afonso Dhlakama was released on Friday after being detained by security forces in his home for several hours when he emerged from hiding after a shootout that killed 23 members of his entourage la…
Russia says kills 300 militants in Syria in most intense raids yet
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia’s air force hit 60 Islamic State targets in Syria over the past 24 hours and killed around 300 militants, the Defense Ministry said on Friday, in Moscow’s most intense raids yet since it first launched strikes on Syria 10 days…
Israel, Iran trade barbs at U.N. disarmament panel meeting
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Israel and Iran exchanged sharp criticisms at a meeting of the U.N. General Assembly’s disarmament committee on Friday, accusing each other of being a major destabilizing force in the Middle East.
EU at odds over Assad role in Syrian transition
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – European Union countries are struggling to find a common position on the role that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad should play in the solution of the Syrian crisis, diplomats said on Friday.
Syria air strikes leave Russia at risk of revenge attacks
MOSCOW (Reuters) – President Vladimir Putin has taken a risk by launching air strikes against Islamists in Syria because they could incite militants to seek revenge by attacking targets inside Russia.
