South Sudan rebels, government claim oil town as talks delayed
JUBA (Reuters) – South Sudanese rebels and government troops both said they controlled the capital of an oil-producing state on Thursday after days of fighting, as another attempt to resume peace talks in neighboring Ethiopia fell through.
Afghanistan frees 77 prisoners despite UK, coalition warning
KABUL (Reuters) – Afghanistan on Thursday freed 77 prisoners captured by foreign troops, despite opposition from Britain and NATO-led forces which said they could pose a security threat.
Syrian army retakes Crusader castle from rebels
BEIRUT, Lebanon (Reuters) – Syrian soldiers have raised the national flag on the battlements of a 900-year-old Crusader castle after a three-month siege that ended on Thursday when rebel fighters fled.
Colombia’s Santos slips in poll but still election favorite
BOGOTA (Reuters) – Support for Colombia’s President Juan Manuel Santos has slipped in a survey of voters intentions for May 25 elections but he remains the clear front runner in a race that will center on how to end the country’s five-decade conflict.
Evidence does not show British unlawfully killed Iraqi civilians-lawyers
LONDON (Reuters) – There is insufficient evidence to support allegations that British soldiers unlawfully killed Iraqis detained at an army camp in 2004, lawyers for relatives of the Iraqis said on Thursday.
Europe set to add names to Russia sanctions list, weigh energy issues
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – European leaders will agree to expand a list of those subject to travel bans and asset freezes on Thursday but stop short of harder-hitting measures against Russia over Crimea, biding their time to retain EU unity and gauge Moscow’…
Turkey’s Erdogan again threatens to ban social media
ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday repeated his threat to close down social media platforms including Twitter in Turkey and said he did not care about the potential backlash from the international community.
U.S. in talks with Uruguay over Guantanamo prisoners
MONTEVIDEO (Reuters) – The United States has held talks with Uruguay about closing the Guantanamo prison, the embassy in Montevideo said on Thursday, following a newspaper report the small South American nation has agreed to take five of the detainees …
Ivory Coast to send Ble Goude to The Hague court
ABIDJAN (Reuters) – Ivory Coast will send Charles Ble Goude, a former youth leader and close ally of ex-President Laurent Gbagbo, to the International Criminal Court where he is wanted on charges of crimes against humanity, the justice minister said on…
Ukrainian industrialist Firtash posts 125 million euro bail
VIENNA (Reuters) – Ukrainian industrialist Dmytro Firtash has posted 125 million euros ($174 million) in bail and is being held in Austria for possible extradition to the United States while authorities check the origins of the money, a Vienna court sa…
