Putin orders Russian forces to start pulling out of Syria
MOSCOW (Reuters) – President Vladimir Putin on Monday ordered Russian forces in Syria to start withdrawing, saying that after a two year military campaign, Moscow and Damascus had achieved their mission of destroying Islamic State.
S.African prosecutors extend deadline for Zuma to file arguments over revived graft charges
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said on Monday it had extended the deadline for President Jacob Zuma to submit arguments on why he should not be prosecuted for corruption.
Russian military chief criticizes U.S., Japan and South Korea drills
TOKYO (Reuters) – Russia’s military chief warned on Monday that military exercises by Japan, the United States and South Korea aimed at countering North Korea only raise hysteria and create more instability in the region.
Merkel, Social Democrats seek clarity on coalition talks
BERLIN (Reuters) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) say they hope to find clarity soon on prospects for a new ruling coalition as they gear up for exploratory talks this week.
Indonesia detains 18 in pre-emptive bid to boost Christmas security
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesian anti-terrorism police have detained 18 people with links to militant groups in a bid to cut the risk of attacks during Christmas and the New Year in the world’s biggest Muslim-majority country, police said on Monday.
Saudi Arabia says cinemas will be allowed from early 2018
DUBAI (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia said on Monday that public cinemas would be allowed in the conservative kingdom for the first time in over 35 years, and that the first ones were likely to open next March.
U.S. citizen on the run after busting out of Bali prison
DENPASAR, Indonesia (Reuters) – Indonesian police are hunting for a U.S. citizen who escaped on Monday from an overcrowded prison on the holiday island of Bali by cutting through steel bars in a ceiling, the jail’s second breakout of foreign inmates th…
Indian police arrests French journalist after filming in Kashmir
SRINAGAR, India (Reuters) – Indian police arrested a freelance French journalist in Kashmir for violating visa regulations, the city police chief said, after he was found filming for a documentary without permission.
Bahraini civil society group under pressure after Israel visit
DUBAI (Reuters) – A Bahraini civil society group has defended sending a delegation to Israel as a gesture of tolerance and coexistence, state news agency BNA has reported, after news of the visit sparked wide anger on social media.
Buoyed by mayoral votes, Venezuela’s socialists eye 2018 presidency race
CARACAS (Reuters) – President Nicolas Maduro set his sights on Venezuela’s 2018 presidential election after the ruling Socialist Party predictably dominated mayoral polls with the help of a partial boycott by a demoralized opposition.
