A Ukrainian military intelligence official said that over 10 tanks of oil products were destroyed in the blast. Russian authorities had earlier reported a massive fire at a fuel depot in Sevastopol.

In a small village deep in central France, the same family has run the "La Promenade" restaurant for four generations. The story began in 1960, when Lucienne created a small bistro. Then Jacky, the son, took over and won the first Michelin star in 1989. Today, the grandson Fabrice watches over this mecca of French gastronomy, and now his son Clément is studying for his chef's diploma. "La Promenade" is a moving family story, whose finest pages are perhaps yet to be written.

The death toll from the attack on the garrison, southwest of the capital Mogadishu, has not yet been confirmed. But a Somali military commander said both sides suffered large casualties.

After decades of electing leaders through a complex, clan-based system, Somalia's government is set to embrace direct universal suffrage ahead of the next year's vote.

An attack on a military base last month claimed 17 lives in Somalia, highlighting the country's long struggle to contain terrorist attacks. But what is al-Shabab and why is the group terrorizing Somalians?

While the flood from the Kahkovka dam blast has decimated towns, the lower reservoir level has also impacted supplies of drinking water. Meanwhile, in Russia, a US citizen has been detained.

Authorities in Somalia say 6 civilians and 3 police officers have been killed in an extremist attack in Mogadishu. Militants stormed an upscale hotel and took hostages. According to security forces, more than 84 people have been freed in the rescue operation.

Somali forces ended a hotel siege in Mogadishu, claimed by the al-Shabab group.

Although the blast took place over a month ago, details are only now being revealed. Authorities said the victims are believed to be "zama zamas," or illegal miners, from the tiny mountain kingdom of Lesotho.

A suicide bomber has killed between 20 and 30 soldiers and injured nearly 60 more in an attack on a military academy in Mogadishu. Al-Qaeda-affiliate al-Shabab has been trying to topple Somalia's government since 2007.

Residents were ordered to evacuate after a wildfire triggered explosions near a major military base in the coastal town of Nea Anchialos.

No group has claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing that targeted a political rally. The EU condemned the attack as "an attempt to weaken democracy."