Al Qaeda group fights back against Syria rebel assault
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Al Qaeda-linked jihadists struck back against rival rebels in eastern and northern Syria on Friday after a week of internecine fighting among opponents of President Bashar al-Assad in which 500 people have been killed, a monitoring g…
Celebrations in Central African Republic as leader resigns
N’DJAMENA/BANGUI (Reuters) – Central African Republic’s interim leaders caved in to international pressure and resigned on Friday after failing to halt inter-religious violence, prompting street celebrations but also questions over who would step in to…
Exclusive: Iran, Russia negotiating big oil-for-goods deal
LONDON/ANKARA (Reuters) – Iran and Russia are negotiating an oil-for-goods swap worth $1.5 billion a month that would enable Iran to lift oil exports substantially, undermining Western sanctions that helped persuade Tehran in November to agree to a pre…
India’s political parties open arms for diplomat at center of U.S. spat
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade, heading home from the United States after she was indicted for visa fraud in a case that has strained bilateral ties, could have a political career for the asking.
Afghan detainee release a concern: White House
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – White House spokesman Jay Carney said on Friday that the release of Afghan detainees the United States considers dangerous is a concern and that U.S. officials have discussed the issue with counterparts in Kabul.
Taliban killings in Pakistani city may be part of pattern
KABUL (Reuters) – At least two Afghan Taliban commanders have been killed in recent weeks in the Pakistani city of Quetta, militants and police told Reuters, the latest in what officials across the border in Afghanistan have described as a series of as…
Obama administration to recognize Utah same-sex marriages
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Obama administration will recognize same-sex marriages performed in Utah and will provide federal benefits to the roughly 1,400 gay couples who were married there before the U.S. Supreme Court halted such nuptials on Monday, …
South Sudan says recaptures oil-producing state from rebels
JUBA (Reuters) – South Sudan’s army said it regained a rebel-held northern town on Friday, giving the government control of a region where oil production had been halted by fighting that has left the world’s youngest nation close to civil war.
Russia detains six over deadly December bombing in southern city
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia’s federal Anti-Terrorist Committee said on Friday it had detained six men suspected in a bombing in the southern city of Pyatigorsk last month that killed three people and added to security fears in the run-up to the Winter Ol…
Tunisia’s new PM takes office after Islamists resign
TUNIS (Reuters) – Tunisia’s new premier Mehdi Jomaa took office on Friday to lead a caretaker government until elections this year after the ruling Islamist party’s premier resigned in a deal to complete the country’s transition to democracy.
