SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) – Russia intends to keep 500 troops in a security zone surrounding Georgia’s breakaway South Ossetia region, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday.

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for twin suicide blasts outside Pakistan’s main defense industry complex on Thursday which killed about 40 people.

KABUL (Reuters), Aug 21 – Prime Minister Gordon Brown said on Thursday Britain would put more resources into training the Afghan army and pledged an extra $120 million for development in the country which has seen a surge in Taliban violence this year.