Somalia’s al Shabaab name new leader after U.S. strike, warn of revenge
MOGADISHU (Reuters) – The Somali Islamist militant group al Shabaab confirmed on Saturday that its leader Ahmed Godane had been killed in a U.S. air strike this week and named a new leader, promising “great distress” to its enemies.
Iraq air strike kills seven in hospital near Kirkuk
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraq’s air force hit a hospital in a town controlled by Islamic State and other militant groups on Saturday, killing seven patients and wounding 22 others, including children, eyewitnesses said.
Boko Haram militants attack northeast town near Cameroon border
YOLA Nigeria (Reuters) – Boko Haram militants early on Saturday attacked another town in northeast Nigeria, pushing southwards in an apparent strategy to carve out an Islamist enclave in the remote north of Africa’s biggest economy, residents and local…
Islamic State says executes second Lebanese soldier
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Islamic State militants have beheaded a captive Lebanese soldier, images published on social media showed on Saturday, the second Lebanese soldier to be killed in captivity by the group since it raided a Lebanese border town last mon…
NATO stages major military exercise in Latvia after Wales summit
RIGA (Reuters) – NATO staged a major military exercise in Latvia on Saturday in a practical demonstration of NATO leaders’ commitment to defend its Baltic member states in the face of an assertive Russia.
Former general’s forces and Islamists clash in Libya’s Benghazi
BENGHAZI Libya (Reuters) – Heavy clashes erupted between a former general’s forces and Islamist fighters in the eastern city of Benghazi on Saturday, military officials said, one of several conflicts raging in Libya in the worst violence since Muammar …
Brazil’s Silva and Rousseff tied in first round: poll
RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) – Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff and environmentalist Marina Silva would be tied in the first round of elections on Oct. 5, a poll suggested on Saturday, as a meteoric rise in support for Silva showed signs of plateauing.
China’s Xi postpones Pakistan visit due to protests
SHANGHAI (Reuters) – China and Pakistan have postponed a state visit to Pakistan by Chinese President Xi Jinping in light of anti-government protests in the South Asian country, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Saturday.
Iran official says crew of plane carrying Americans gave false information
DUBAI (Reuters) – An Iranian official said on Saturday that an airliner carrying Americans from Afghanistan to Dubai had been forced to land in Iran because the crew had supplied “false information”.
Egypt president says no magic bullet for power problems after major blackout
CAIRO (Reuters) – President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi prepared Egyptians on Saturday for more blackouts after lights went out across much of the country this week, saying it would take time and cost the cash-strapped state $12 billion to upgrade the decrepi…
