Tuareg separatists seize several towns in northern Mali
BAMAKO (Reuters) – Tuareg separatists said on Thursday they had seized several towns in northern Mali after routing government forces in fighting that threatens to plunge the desert north back into war, but said they would respect calls for a ceasefire…
Russian court demands U.S. Library of Congress hand over Jewish texts
MOSCOW (Reuters) – A Russian court demanded on Thursday that the U.S. Library of Congress hand back seven precious Jewish texts to Moscow – and, in a tit-for-tat ruling, said it should pay a massive fine for every day it delays.
Guinea-Bissau presidential candidate Nabiam concedes run-off defeat
BISSAU (Reuters) – The losing candidate in a run-off election for Guinea-Bissau’s presidency, Nuno Gomes Nabiam, said on Thursday he accepted the results after initially rejecting them citing alleged fraud.
U.N. Security Council committee blacklists Nigeria’s Boko Haram
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The U.N. Security Council committee on al Qaeda sanctions blacklisted Nigeria’s Islamist militant group Boko Haram on Thursday after the insurgents’ kidnapping of hundreds of schoolgirls, diplomats said.
Man killed as French troops clash with crowds in Central African Republic
BAMBARI, Central African Republic (Reuters) – At least one man was killed on Thursday in clashes that erupted after French peacekeeping troops in the Central African Republic tried to disarm Muslim rebels, witnesses and hospital staff said.
Brazilian leader’s rivals close gap ahead of October vote
BRASILIA (Reuters) – President Dilma Rousseff’s main rivals have cut her lead ahead of Brazil’s elections in October, though she is still favored to win re-election if the race goes to a second round, according to a poll published on Thursday.
Pakistan army starts North Waziristan ground offensive
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistani forces on Thursday launched their first major offensive in years against Taliban militants near the Afghan border after several rounds of government-led talks aimed at ending an insurgency in the remote region failed.
Libyan government warns of new militia threat in capital
TRIPOLI (Reuters) – Libya’s government accused parliament on Thursday of putting security in the capital at risk by summoning a militia from the west of the country to protect the assembly.
Gas explosion in Russia injures five, including U.S. diplomat
MOSCOW (Reuters) – A gas explosion in an apartment building in western Moscow injured five people on Thursday, including a U.S. diplomat, the Interfax news agency reported.
Guatemala extradites accused drug trafficker to U.S
GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) – Guatemala on Thursday extradited one of the country’s top suspected drug traffickers to the United States, more than two years after a court had ordered the move.
