Israeli court cancels mayoral vote in town divided by religion
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – An Israeli court dealt a blow on Thursday to the ultra-Orthodox community’s political hold over a town that has been a focus of national divisions between the Jewish state’s secular majority and its religious minority.
Rebel group attack kills 40 in eastern Congo
KINSHASA (Reuters) – At least 40 civilians have been killed in a rebel attack on a village in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, local officials and civil society groups said.
Plane crash in Siberia kills nine people: agencies
MOSCOW (Reuters) – A Russian plane crashed in Siberia on Thursday, killing nine people, domestic news agencies reported, citing local emergency service officials.
Indian court rejects riots petition against vote front-runner Modi
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – An Indian court upheld on Thursday the result of an investigation that cleared Gujarat state chief minister Narendra Modi of complicity in riots in 2002, giving the opposition politician a boost as he runs for prime minister.
Plane crash in Siberia kills six crew: Interfax
MOSCOW (Reuters) – A plane crashed in eastern Russia on Thursday, killing all six crew members, Interfax news agency reported, citing a local emergency services official.
Tribesmen seize oil ministry building in east Yemen
ADEN (Reuters) – Tribesmen seized an oil ministry building in Yemen’s eastern Hadramout province on Thursday and exchanged gunfire with a pro-government tribe seeking to regain control of the premises, tribal sources and ministry employees said.
Libyan militiamen briefly block entrance to central bank
TRIPOLI (Reuters) – Dozens of Libyan militiamen briefly blocked the entrance to the central bank on Thursday, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Ali Zeidan, witnesses and a central bank official said.
Analysis: Struggle for resources at root of Central Africa religious violence
BANGUI (Reuters) – Mariam watched in horror as militiamen burst through the gate of her home in Central African Republic’s capital Bangui and demanded her husband say whether he was Muslim. When he said yes, they shot him dead.
Russia says Arafat died of natural causes
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia said on Thursday that former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat died of natural causes, not radiation poisoning, but the Palestinian ambassador to Moscow said an investigation would continue, Russian news agencies reported.
Truce in besieged Damascus suburb may bring food to starving residents
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syrian government forces and rebel fighters in a besieged Damascus suburb have agreed to a 48-hour truce that could result in food being allowed in for residents threatened with starvation, activists said on Thursday.
