Niger sends helicopters to Mali border after militant attack
NIAMEY (Reuters) – Niger sent army helicopters to its western border with Mali on Wednesday to repel unidentified militants who crossed over to attack the town of Bani-Bangou, residents and military sources said.
Colombia FARC negotiators say fate of captured general in hands of leadership
HAVANA/BOGOTA (Reuters) – Colombian rebel peace negotiators in Havana cannot order the release of an army general captured by their comrades and will defer to the group’s top commander back home, a leader of the FARC negotiating team said on Wednesday….
Hard to reach Iran nuclear deal by November 24: Blinken
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – It now appears difficult to reach a comprehensive nuclear deal with Iran by a Nov. 24 deadline but it is not impossible, U.S. Deputy National Security Adviser Tony Blinken told lawmakers on Tuesday.
Syrian air force strikes increasing, civilians killed: monitoring group
BEIRUT (Reuters) – The Syrian air force launched about 1,592 strikes across Syria over the past month, killing at least 396 civilians, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Wednesday.
Taliban suicide bombers die in attack on international zone in Kabul
KABUL (Reuters) – Four Afghan Taliban suicide bombers died when a group of the militants tried to storm an international zone in Kabul on Wednesday in the latest high-profile assault aimed at foreign targets in Afghanistan.
Egyptian police fire tear gas, arrest 25 people commemorating 2011 protests
CAIRO (Reuters) – Police fired tear gas and arrested 25 people on Wednesday in central Cairo where hundreds had gathered to commemorate dozens of protesters killed by security forces in 2011, Egypt’s interior ministry told state news agency MENA.
Britain’s last governor in Hong Kong to address U.S. China commission
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The last British governor of Hong Kong, Chris Patten, is to address a U.S. government commission on Thursday on prospects for democracy in the territory, something likely to irritate Beijing which sees protests there as an intern…
Russia’s relations with Hungary warm as ties with West chill
MOSCOW (Reuters) – President Vladimir Putin hailed Hungary as one of Russia’s most important partners on Wednesday, giving his seal of approval to a budding relationship with a Soviet-era ally that is worrying some of its European Union allies.
Burkina Faso names army colonel Zida as prime minister
OUAGADOUGOU (Reuters) – Burkina Faso named Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Zida as prime minister on Wednesday, four days after he restored the country’s constitution under pressure from the African Union and the West.
Bahrain releases pro-democracy activist awaiting trial
MANAMA (Reuters) – Bahraini authorities released pro-democracy activist Zainab al-Khawaja from detention on Wednesday, her lawyer and sister said, as she awaits trial over a charge of insulting Bahrain’s king by tearing up his picture.
