Syrian air strike kills at least 54: activists
BEIRUT (Reuters) – At least 54 people were killed when a jet fighter blew up a fuel station amid heavy fighting between government and rebel forces in northern Syria on Thursday, a British-based monitoring group said.
Fighting in Caucasus kills 14, including militants
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian security forces killed twelve people including leading Islamist insurgents in the North Caucasus republics of Kabardino-Balkaria and Chechnya on Thursday, officials and local media said.
U.S. asks Russia for more time to close down aid operations
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States said on Thursday it has asked Russia for more time to end the U.S. Agency for International Development’s work in the country after Russian authorities gave them until October 1 to close the operation.
U.S. doesn’t support tying Iraq aid to cooperation on Iran
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The State Department said on Thursday it did not support a suggestion from a prominent senator that future U.S. assistance to Iraq be made conditional on Baghdad’s cooperation in stopping Iranian aircraft suspected of ferrying we…
Sudan hopeful for South Sudan deal despite fresh fighting
ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) – Sudan hopes to reach a broad agreement with South Sudan to end all hostilities at a presidents’ summit in Ethiopia at the weekend, officials said on Thursday, despite new fighting between the army and rebels in Sudan’s borderlan…
Cuba says ending U.S. embargo would help both countries
HAVANA (Reuters) – Both the United States and Cuba would benefit if Washington would lift its longstanding trade embargo against the island, but U.S. President Barack Obama has toughened the sanctions since taking office in 2009, a top Cuban official s…
Suicide bombers kill 15 in Somali capital
MOGADISHU (Reuters) – Two suicide bombers walked into a restaurant in central Mogadishu and killed at least 15 people on Thursday, police said, highlighting the security challenges facing the country’s new president.
Venezuela oil workers sure Chavez will win: union boss
CARACAS (Reuters) – The head of Venezuela’s oil workers union said on Thursday his members are not entertaining the possibility that opposition candidate Henrique Capriles could beat President Hugo Chavez in the October 7 election.
Egypt’s mufti urges Muslims to endure insults peacefully
CAIRO (Reuters) – Muslims angered by cartoons mocking the Prophet Mohammad should follow his example of enduring insults without retaliating, Egypt’s highest Islamic legal official said on Thursday.
Libya offers further apology for U.S. envoy’s death
TRIPOLI (Reuters) – Libya apologized on Thursday to visiting U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns for an attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi in which American ambassador Christopher Stevens died.
