KABUL (Reuters) - Afghan officials initialed a peace deal on Thursday with a party led by one of the country's most notorious Islamist warlords, a move that inspired both hope and fear as it dredged up tension dating back decades.

LONDON (Reuters) - The University of Oxford, the oldest university in the English-speaking world and feeder for the British elite, has topped a global education ranking for the first time, but its vice-chancellor warned that Brexit could damage its long-term prospects.

MOSCOW, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Data showing how many Russian citizens in Syria took part in a weekend election for a new Russian parliament suggests the Kremlin may have around 4,000 military personnel based there backing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

BEIRUT, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Overnight bombardment of rebel-held eastern districts of Aleppo city killed 45 people, director of al-Quds hospital Dr. Hamza al-Khatib told Reuters on Thursday.

Sept 22 (Gracenote) - Results from the Guangzhou International Women's Singles Quarterfinal matches on Thursday

COPENHAGEN, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Denmark's A.P. Moller-Maersk's new Transport and Logistics division will aim to expand its market share every year through organic growth and acquisitions, CEO Soren Skou told a news conference on Thursday.

PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Sen declared a political "ceasefire" on Thursday following a wave of prosecutions of opposition members that government critics say is politically motivated in the run-up to elections that Hun Sen fears losing.

Reuters will issue this diary daily at around 1030 GMT

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - A volunteer group in Syria that has rescued thousands of people from buildings bombed in the civil war were among the winners of the Right Livelihood Award, the prize-giving foundation said on Thursday.