U.S. concern grows about al Qaeda ties to Kenya mall attack
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Islamist militant attack on a Kenyan shopping mall increasingly appears to have been carried out by a dominant faction of al Shabaab, which has ideological and personal ties to al Qaeda, U.S. officials said on Thursday.
Maldives court orders security forces to enforce run-off election postponement
MALE (Reuters) – The Maldives Supreme Court on Friday ordered security forces to take action against anyone who violates the constitution, after the archipelago’s election chief said it will hold a presidential run-off on September 28 as scheduled desp…
Six major powers, Iran agree to meet in Geneva next month
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Six major powers and Iran on Thursday agreed to meet in Geneva next month for further talks on resolving the standoff with Tehran on its nuclear program, the European Union’s foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said on Thur…
China state sector a honey pot for corrupt officials
HONG KONG (Reuters) – In March last year, after getting government approval to go ahead with a $900 million refinery expansion in China’s southeastern Fujian province, state-run oil giant Sinopec Corp warned the team handling the project against taking…
Friends of Syria say determined to boost support to opposition
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The Friends of Syria group declared on Thursday that it is determined to boost aid to all parts of the opposition Syrian National Coalition, which has been struggling with increasing infighting in recent weeks.
Kenya says ‘white widow’ Interpol alert not linked to mall attack
NAIROBI (Reuters) – Kenya asked international police agency Interpol to issue a wanted persons alert for Samantha Lewthwaite, a British citizen dubbed the “white widow” who has been cited by British police as a possible suspect in the Kenyan mall attac…
Palestinian leader urges world powers to rein in Israeli settlements
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Thursday that “time is running out” for Middle East peace efforts and urged world powers to rein in Israeli settlement construction that he said could undermine U.S.-sponsored negot…
Mali Tuareg separatists suspend participation in peace process
OUAGADOUGOU (Reuters) – Tuareg separatists pulled out of a peace agreement with the Mali government on Thursday, accusing Bamako of not respecting its commitments to a truce reached in June.
U.S. prosecutors accuse ex-Mexican governor of laundering millions
McALLEN, Texas (Reuters) – U.S. prosecutors have accused a former Mexican state governor of laundering stolen millions via the United States, in an unwelcome reminder for the Mexican government of corruption allegations dogging the ruling Institutional…
Kerry, Iranian foreign minister sit side-by-side at nuclear talks
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif joined nuclear talks with six world powers on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, taking a seat next to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.
