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• Rebels battle Assad's forces for gateway to north Syria
• Major powers examine long-shot options in Iran talks
• Explosions, fire at arms factory in Sudan's capital
• Executions increasingly viewed as torture: U.N. investigator
• Army say gunmen agree to truce in Lebanon's Tripoli
• Israel kills three Hamas militants after Qatari emir leaves Gaza
• Makoto Taki appointed Japan's new justice minister: Nikkei
• Al Qaeda goes underground in Yemen against U.S.-driven crackdown
• Army pushes into Bani Walid as Libya marks anniversary
• Russian activist said was forced to confess: rights workers
• Aleppans stretched to limit in war for Syrian city
• Hezbollah rejects international probe in killing
• Syrian warplanes strike rebel-held town in north
• In Gaza visit, Qatari emir forges leading role
• More BBC staff probed on sex claims post-Savile
• Venezuela cheers for record 9 World Series players
• Report: Illegal Mexican migration to US stabilizes
• Russian brochure depicts migrants as tools
• Jamaica prepares for Tropical Storm Sandy
• Palestinians give cool reception to US debate
• In debate, Romney reiterates Russia is 'geopolitical foe' of US
• Latin American low-skilled labor flocks to Brazil's jobs
• Obama enjoys comfortable edge over Romney - in Ireland
• In Russia, with love? Ukraine president meets Putin as options dwindle.
• South Korea fails to thwart activists from sending candy and socks to North Korea
• Chinese find some unexpected moments in US presidential debate
• Wildlife in Crisis helps 5,000 animals return to the wild each year
• With 60,000 dead, Mexicans wonder why drug war doesn't rate in presidential debate
• Qatari emir comes to Gaza bearing gifts – with maybe some strings attached
• Afghans on the debate: We're okay with not being talked about

Rebels battle Assad's forces for gateway to north Syria Posted: 23 Oct 2012 07:10 AM PDT BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian rebels are battling to seize an army base close to the main north-south highway and say its capture would be a big step towards creating a "safe zone" allowing them to focus on Bashar al-Assad's southern strongholds. For two weeks they have surrounded and attacked Wadi al-Deif, east of the town of Maarat al-Numan. They say the ferocity of counter-attacks by government forces shows how important holding the base is to the president's military strategy. ...

Major powers examine long-shot options in Iran talks Posted: 23 Oct 2012 08:48 AM PDT BRUSSELS/VIENNA (Reuters) - Big powers may ask Iran for stricter limits on its nuclear work if it wants an easing of harsh sanctions - a long-shot approach aimed at yielding a negotiated solution that has eluded them for more than a decade. A solution to the standoff is increasingly urgent. The longer the impasse goes on, the closer Iran could get to the technological threshold of a capability to build an atom bomb, raising the odds of Israeli strikes against its installations. ...

Explosions, fire at arms factory in Sudan's capital Posted: 23 Oct 2012 04:58 PM PDT KHARTOUM (Reuters) - A huge fire broke out after a loud explosion on Tuesday night at an arms factory in Sudan's capital Khartoum, a Reuters witness said. Soldiers blocked roads to the factory where more explosions took place as firefighters tried to contain the blaze, a Reuters reporter at the scene in southern Khartoum said. The state-linked Sudanese Media Centre said the fire and explosions had occurred at the Yarmouk ammunition factory. The army spokesman was not immediately available for comment. There were no immediate reports of casualties. ...

Executions increasingly viewed as torture: U.N. investigator Posted: 23 Oct 2012 12:20 PM PDT UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Countries around the world are increasingly viewing capital punishment as a form of torture because it inflicts severe mental and physical pain on those sentenced to death, a U.N. torture investigator said on Tuesday. Traditionally, countries have considered the legality of capital punishment with respect to the right to life guaranteed under international law, U.N. special rapporteur on torture Juan Mendez told the U.N. General Assembly's human rights committee. ...

Army say gunmen agree to truce in Lebanon's Tripoli Posted: 23 Oct 2012 08:40 AM PDT TRIPOLI, Lebanon (Reuters) - The Lebanese army said it had arranged a ceasefire on Tuesday in the northern city of Tripoli after two nights of fighting between Sunni and Alawite gunmen loyal to different sides in the war in neighboring Syria, a military source said on Tuesday. At least 10 people have been killed and 65 wounded in clashes in Tripoli despite a heavy deployment of troops backed by tanks and armored personnel carriers. ...

Israel kills three Hamas militants after Qatari emir leaves Gaza Posted: 23 Oct 2012 04:27 PM PDT GAZA (Reuters) - Israel killed three Hamas gunmen in Gaza Strip air strikes on Tuesday which the military said targeted squads preparing to launch rockets into the Jewish state. The air force operations followed other Palestinian attacks, including a bomb blast that wounded an Israeli army officer patrolling the Gaza border, on a day that saw the isolated, Hamas-governed enclave receive its first foreign head of state, the emir of Qatar. ...

Makoto Taki appointed Japan's new justice minister: Nikkei Posted: 23 Oct 2012 02:12 PM PDT (Reuters) - Japan Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda has decided to appoint lower house lawmaker Makoto Taki as justice minister following the resignation of Keishu Tanaka on Tuesday, the Nikkei reported. Taki served as justice minister until the cabinet reshuffle of October 1, the paper said. Tanaka resigned within a few weeks of taking office because of ill health, after calls for his resignation over past ties to an organized crime syndicate. Noda brought back Taki to minimize the impact of the second resignation by a minister since he took office in September 2011, the business daily said. ...

Al Qaeda goes underground in Yemen against U.S.-driven crackdown Posted: 23 Oct 2012 12:56 PM PDT ADEN (Reuters) - A U.S.-backed military onslaught may have driven Islamist militants from towns in Yemen they seized last year, but many have regrouped into "sleeper cells" threatening anew the areas they vacated, security officials and analysts say. The resilience of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), despite increased U.S. drone strikes to eliminate militants, is worrying for top oil exporter Saudi Arabia next door and the security of major shipping lanes in the seas off Yemen. ...

Army pushes into Bani Walid as Libya marks anniversary Posted: 23 Oct 2012 04:52 PM PDT TRIPOLI/BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) - The Libyan army and allied militias have seized control of strategic buildings in the former Gaddafi stronghold of Bani Walid, a military spokesman said on Tuesday, as Libya marked the first anniversary of its "liberation" from Muammar Gaddafi. Thousands have fled the violence in the isolated hilltop town, which was one of the last to surrender to rebels last year, and has been at the center of a bloody standoff this month between rival militias whose ferocity has underscored the extent of instability in the North African country. ...

Russian activist said was forced to confess: rights workers Posted: 23 Oct 2012 02:04 PM PDT MOSCOW (Reuters) - A Russian activist was forced to confess to plotting unrest against the rule of President Vladimir Putin under threats made to his life, rights workers said on Tuesday after visiting the man in a prison once run by the feared Soviet-era KGB. Russian investigators said Leonid Razvozzhayev had been charged with preparing mass disorder, a day after they said he had voluntarily signed a confession offering details of how he and other protest leaders planned to carry out the unrest. ...

Aleppans stretched to limit in war for Syrian city Posted: 23 Oct 2012 01:12 PM PDT The rumble of engines in the sky immediately set the Aleppo neighborhood below on edge. Men peeked from shops anxiously at the Syrian warplane circling slowly overhead. Housewives emerged on balconies to gauge whether they were about to be hit. But the kids hanging out on the street were unfazed. One kept dribbling his basketball.

Hezbollah rejects international probe in killing Posted: 23 Oct 2012 12:22 PM PDT Syria's powerful ally Hezbollah was accused Tuesday by Lebanese political opponents of playing a role in the assassination of a top intelligence officer who used his post to fight Syrian meddling in Lebanon.

Syrian warplanes strike rebel-held town in north Posted: 23 Oct 2012 11:06 AM PDT Syrian warplanes on Tuesday struck a strategic rebel-held town in the country's north in an attempt to reopen a key supply route, activists said, as a U.N.-proposed cease-fire meant to start this week appeared increasingly unlikely to take hold.

In Gaza visit, Qatari emir forges leading role Posted: 23 Oct 2012 03:26 PM PDT The emir of Qatar on Tuesday became the first head of state to visit the Gaza Strip since Hamas militants seized the territory five years ago, showering almost half a billion dollars and unprecedented political recognition on the Islamic militant group.

More BBC staff probed on sex claims post-Savile Posted: 23 Oct 2012 10:20 AM PDT A sexual abuse scandal shaking the BBC broadened Tuesday, with the broadcaster saying that it is investigating claims of sexual abuse and harassment against nine staff members and contributors, in addition to the late disgraced children's TV host Jimmy Savile.

Venezuela cheers for record 9 World Series players Posted: 23 Oct 2012 02:55 PM PDT Venezuelans are celebrating their homegrown baseball heroes as a record contingent of players from the country heads into the World Series with the Detroit Tigers and San Francisco Giants.

Report: Illegal Mexican migration to US stabilizes Posted: 23 Oct 2012 02:42 PM PDT The number of migrants crossing illegally into the United States from Mexico appears to have risen some in the first half of 2012, while the number of migrants returning to Mexico decreased, a report by U.S. and Mexican researchers said Tuesday.

Russian brochure depicts migrants as tools Posted: 23 Oct 2012 09:56 AM PDT It was intended as a friendly guide to Russia for labor migrants from Central Asia, but instead it turned into an insult. The brochure with practical advice on how to deal with border guards, police and other authorities was illustrated with depictions of migrant workers as paint brushes, brooms and other tools of low-skilled work.

Jamaica prepares for Tropical Storm Sandy Posted: 23 Oct 2012 02:15 PM PDT Jamaicans on Tuesday stocked up on supplies and reinforced roofs ahead of the arrival of Tropical Storm Sandy, which is expected to hit the island of posh resorts and sprawling shantytowns as a hurricane with lashing rain and wind.

Palestinians give cool reception to US debate Posted: 23 Oct 2012 09:25 AM PDT Palestinians complained Tuesday that the Mideast peace process barely got a mention in the final U.S. presidential campaign debate, saying American standing in the Middle East will be doomed without a greater effort to resolve the festering Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

In debate, Romney reiterates Russia is 'geopolitical foe' of US Posted: 23 Oct 2012 12:15 PM PDT In last night's US presidential debate on foreign policy, Mitt Romney once again stated his belief that Russia was a "geopolitical foe" of the US, echoing similar comments he made in March of this year.

Latin American low-skilled labor flocks to Brazil's jobs Posted: 23 Oct 2012 10:09 AM PDT In the past 20 years, Jorge Ramos has migrated from the highlands of Ecuador to New York City, and Santiago, Chile. He has lived in Germany and the Netherlands, too – always selling traditional Andean hats and scarves. But last year, when it was time to head on the road again to support his wife and three children back home near Otavalo, Ecuador Mr. Ramos heard about a new destination from friends and family: Brazil.

Obama enjoys comfortable edge over Romney - in Ireland Posted: 23 Oct 2012 09:58 AM PDT Despite receiving no more than a passing mention in last night's US presidential debate on foreign policy, Europe is closely watching the campaign between President Obama and Mitt Romney. And Irish eyes in particular are firmly fixed on the US.

In Russia, with love? Ukraine president meets Putin as options dwindle. Posted: 23 Oct 2012 09:05 AM PDT President Vladimir Putin met with his Ukrainian counterpart Viktor Yanukovych at the Russian leader's country home Novo Ogaryovo late Monday, and declared some progress toward Mr. Putin's goal of integrating Ukraine's economy with Russia's. But he gave no word addressing Mr. Yanukovych's hope of winning a reduced price for Russian natural gas exports to his post-Soviet nation.

South Korea fails to thwart activists from sending candy and socks to North Korea Posted: 23 Oct 2012 08:42 AM PDT Activists in South Korea claimed victory today in their battle to launch tens of thousands of balloons carrying propaganda material to North Korea.

Chinese find some unexpected moments in US presidential debate Posted: 23 Oct 2012 07:54 AM PDT Exercises in democracy such as Monday night's US presidential debate are not the sort of event the Chinese authorities choose to broadcast on television, so few Chinese citizens witnessed it. But the debate will not have thrown many surprises to the privileged officials with access to CNN.

Wildlife in Crisis helps 5,000 animals return to the wild each year Posted: 23 Oct 2012 07:42 AM PDT Inside one of several aviaries a parliament of owls perches on a branch, watching and waiting until they are fit for release.

With 60,000 dead, Mexicans wonder why drug war doesn't rate in presidential debate Posted: 23 Oct 2012 07:18 AM PDT Mitt Romney's single mention of Latin America last night, calling it a "huge opportunity" for the United States, generated immediate glee from Latin Americanists across Twitter – but the hemisphere got no nod from President Obama, and then both went silent on the topic.

Qatari emir comes to Gaza bearing gifts – with maybe some strings attached Posted: 23 Oct 2012 06:51 AM PDT • A daily summary of global reports on security issues.

Afghans on the debate: We're okay with not being talked about Posted: 23 Oct 2012 06:53 AM PDT In the third and final US presidential debate, this time focused on foreign policy, the decade long US-led war in Afghanistan drew conspicuously little scrutiny from either candidate.

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