Afghan troop deaths climb but U.S. says transition on track
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Afghanistan troop casualties climbed 79 percent during key fighting months this year as the still-resistant Taliban kept up the pace of its attacks and NATO forces moved into a support role in preparation to end their combat miss…
U.S. says Suriname president’s son wanted to host Hezbollah
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A son of Suriname’s president invited people he thought were from the Lebanese paramilitary group Hezbollah to set up a base in his country to attack Americans in exchange for millions of U.S. dollars, U.S. prosecutors said on Fr…
Jordan looks set to take Saudi Security Council seat: Western diplomats
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Jordan appears set to take the traditional Arab seat on the U.N. Security Council after Saudi Arabia rejected the position in protest at the body’s failure to end the Syria war and act on other Middle East issues, Western dip…
Tuareg rebels killed in battle with Malian troops
BAMAKO (Reuters) – Up to three fighters from the MNLA Tuareg separatist group were killed in a clash with the Malian army in the north of the country on Friday, a security source, a U.N. spokesman and a resident said.
Turkey asks missile defence bidders to extend offers
ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkey has asked bidders in a missile defense system tender to extend the validity of their bids, Defence Minister Ismet Yilmaz said on Friday, keeping its options open despite provisionally awarding the deal to China.
Drones kill five al-Qaeda suspects in southern Yemen
SANAA (Reuters) – Five suspected al Qaeda fighters have been killed by two drone strikes in Yemen’s southern province of Abyan, the country’s interior ministry said on Friday.
Mexico frees 61 kidnap victims held near U.S. border
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Mexican authorities freed 61 kidnapping victims in the northern border city of Reynosa, the government said on Friday, liberating a mix of foreign nationals that included at least nine minors and one American.
Colombian presidential candidate slams Santos’ peace efforts
BOGOTA (Reuters) – Marxist FARC rebel leaders should be in a Colombian prison rather than negotiating peace with the government in Cuba, and no “terrorist” should ever be allowed into politics, opposition presidential candidate Oscar Ivan Zuluaga said …
Red Cross evacuates 44 wounded from Yemen’s Dammaj
DOHA (Reuters) – The Red Cross evacuated 44 people wounded in clashes between Shi’ite and Sunni Muslim fighters in the Yemeni town of Dammaj on Friday, the second such operation in under a week, the humanitarian agency said.
U.S., Germany discuss intelligence cooperation after Merkel affair
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – After disclosures that the U.S. National Security Agency tapped German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s cellphone, Washington and Berlin are discussing new rules to govern dealings between their spy agencies, U.S. and European official…
