Canadian church wants new PM to help free pastor detained in North Korea
TORONTO (Reuters) – One of Canada’s largest churches said on Thursday it wants new Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to bring attention to the case of its pastor detained in North Korea when he meets with Asian leaders next week in Manila.
Two suicide bombers hit Hezbollah bastion in Lebanon, 43 killed
BEIRUT (Reuters) – At least 43 people were killed and more than 240 wounded on Thursday in two suicide bomb blasts claimed by Islamic State in a crowded residential district in Beirut’s southern suburbs, a stronghold of the Shi’ite Muslim group Hezboll…
Syria pledges no arbitrary attacks, U.S. takes with ‘grain of salt’
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Syria’s pledge not to use indiscriminate weapons must be taken with “a grain of salt,” the United States said on Thursday, noting there were nearly 1,500 barrel bomb attacks in October even though the country’s government den…
U.S. lifts economic sanctions against Liberia: White House
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States lifted economic sanctions against Liberia on Thursday as President Barack Obama cited the country’s “tremendous progress” and commitment to democracy since emerging from civil war in 2003, the White House said.
Kerry to discuss loan guarantee, security, democracy with Tunisia
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will discuss a $500 million loan guarantee, security cooperation, and support for Tunisia’s democratic transition when he visits Tunis on Friday, a senior U.S. official said on Thursday.
Syrian army seizes rebel-held town in Aleppo province: state TV
AMMAN (Reuters) – The Syrian army and allied forces captured the town of Al Hader in the northern province of Aleppo on Thursday, state television said, opening the way for advances into a strategic rebel-held area northern Syria with the backing of Ru…
IS video threatens attacks in Russia
CAIRO (Reuters) – Islamic State has released a video threatening attacks in Russia “very soon” in revenge for Russian bombing in Syria, the SITE monitoring group said on Thursday, and the Kremlin said Russian state security services would study the mat…
Deadly clashes in north Iraq close main road to Baghdad: sources
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Clashes between Kurdish and Shi’ite Arab paramilitary forces turned a northern Iraqi district into a battlefield on Thursday and cut a strategic road linking Baghdad to the northern oil city of Kirkuk, security sources and local off…
U.N. council asks for options to boost U.N. presence in Burundi
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The United Nations Security Council on Thursday asked Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to report within 15 days on options for boosting the U.N. presence in Burundi amid growing international concern that violence could spiral i…
U.S. told Venezuela of drug arrests, stressed law enforcement
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A senior U.S. official told Venezuela’s government on Wednesday that two of President Nicolas Maduro’s relatives were arrested on drug charges and stressed this was solely a law enforcement matter, a U.S. official said on Thursda…
