The Syria Crisis: Is Al-qaeda Intervening In The Conflict?

'Britain's Obama' urges ties with West Africa Associated Press Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Updated 1:08 pm, Sunday, May 19, 2013 ACCRA, Ghana (AP) — A rising star in Britain's Labour Party, described by some as the "British Barack Obama," Chuka Umunna urged the United Kingdom to more aggressively forge ties with West Africa's fast-growing economies. During a trade mission to West Africa last week that included a stop in his father's home country Nigeria, Umunna, a member of the British Parliament, dismissed the comparison to the United States president. The reason why people make the comparison is, frankly, there are not that many black people in Western politics, said Umunna, who represents the London district of Streatham and is Labour's shadow business secretary. Back home, Umunna said he was focused on helping put the Labour Party back into power in the 2015 elections under party leader Ed Miliband — something he said the party was in a good position to accomplish. Though widely regarded as an up and coming force in the Labour Party, Umunna has received some recent negative press related to his online footprint. Last month Britain's Daily Mail reported that on an invitation-only social networking website, Umunna complained in 2006 that clubs in London's West End "seem to be full of trash and C-list wannabes, while other places that should know better opt for the cheesy vibe."

Libya's deputy prime minister says deadly Benghazi explosion last week was an accident    

Federal agents have arrested the top enforcement officer for the U.S. Virgin Islands environment agency on drug trafficking charges after he was allegedly caught with a cache of cocaine on a government patrol boat.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's senior coalition partner says that reaching a final peace agreement with the Palestinians is unrealistic at the current time and the sides should instead pursue an interim arrangement.

Nigeria's military says its offensive against insurgents in the country's restive northeast has killed at least 14 suspected Islamic extremists and three soldiers.