Bomb blast at Damascus cafe kills 9 near Palace of Justice, Syrian authorities say

A bomb blast at a cafe in Damascus on Thursday killed nine people and wounded at least 20, authorities said, in the latest challenge for Syria’s Islamist leaders as they seek to stabilise the country after more than a decade of war. The bombing – the deadliest since a suicide attack on a church last year – was not immediately claimed. It took place near the capital’s Palace of Justice, a key government building, sparking scenes of panic in the busy area. Ambulances wove through traffic with...