WASHINGTON: An American fighting for the Islamic State was killed over the weekend in Syria, US officials said on Tuesday, underlining growing concerns about Westerners signing up for extremist groups in the Middle East.

GAZA: A series of powerful explosions wrecked the northern part of Gaza City after Israeli war jets struck a 14-floor residential tower with four heavy missiles, a TV report said Monday.

MONROVIA (Liberia): A Liberian doctor who was among three Africans to receive an experimental Ebola drug has died, the country's information minister said on Monday, as a top UN delegation promised more help for countries battling the virulent disease during a visit to Sierra Leone.

NEW YORK: An Egyptian lawyer charged in the 1998 embassy bombings in Africa is trying to distance himself from other acts of terrorism even as British investigators reportedly look at his son in the killing of an American journalist.

EDGARTOWN: A top national security adviser to US President Obama vowed Friday that the United States would "do what is necessary" in Syria to protect American interests and said that direct military action was possible against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, known as ISIS.

WASHINGTON: The Russian military has moved artillery units manned by Russian personnel inside Ukrainian territory in recent days and is using them to fire at Ukrainian forces, Nato officials said on Friday.

ISLAMABAD: In a two-pronged strategy, 34 lawmakers of Imran Khan's party on Friday resigned to step up pressure on the Nawaz Sharif government but followed up with an offer to resume talks after the failed first round.

 JERUSALEM: A senior Hamas leader has said the group carried out the kidnapping and killing of three Israeli teens in the West Bank in June — the first time anyone from the Islamic militant group has said it was behind an attack that helped spark the current war in the Gaza Strip.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will drape itself in black for a national day of mourning on Friday as it welcomes home the remains of 20 citizens killed on downed Flight MH17.

BANGKOK: Thai junta leader general Prayuth Chan-ocha was elected as prime minister in parliament on Thursday in a move that has been widely expected since he seized power in May.