Kerry says U.S. encouraging Astana talks on Syria as step to peace
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States is encouraging Syria peace talks being prepared by Russia later this month in the Kazakh capital Astana and hopes they will produce a step toward peace, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Thursday.
Two arrested in Israel for threatening judges in soldier trial: police
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israeli police said on Thursday they arrested two people for inciting violence on social media against three military judges who convicted a soldier of manslaughter for shooting dead a wounded Palestinian attacker.
Investigators return to question Netanyahu over alleged receipt of gifts
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israeli police officers on Thursday questioned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu under caution for a second time this week on suspicion of taking gifts from businessmen in breach of his role as a public servant.
Two Islamic State car bombs in Baghdad kill at least 14: sources
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Two car bombs in Baghdad claimed by Islamic State killed at least 14 people on Thursday, police and medics said, part of a surge in violence across the capital at a time when U.S.-backed Iraqi forces are trying to drive the militant…
Yemeni detainees land in Saudi Arabia after transfer from Guantanamo
RIYADH/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States transferred four Yemeni detainees from Guantanamo Bay to Saudi Arabia on Thursday as President Barack Obama pushed to shrink the inmate total there despite Donald Trump’s call to stop.
More Guantanamo releases likely before January 20: White House
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – There will likely be additional prisoners transferred from the U.S. naval facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, before President Barack Obama leaves office on Jan. 20, the White House said on Thursday.
Suspected Kurdish militants kill two in car bombing in Turkey’s Izmir
ANKARA (Reuters) – Suspected Kurdish militants clashed with police and detonated a car bomb in western Turkey on Thursday after their vehicle was stopped at a checkpoint, killing a police officer and a court employee, officials said.
Poland’s anti-government protest leader deals blow to opposition
WARSAW (Reuters) – The leader of Poland’s anti-government protest movement acknowledged on Thursday taking money from the organization, dealing a blow to the parliamentary opposition, but he said the funds were for contract work he had carried out.
Venezuela opposition seeks new polls, military help, against Maduro
CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuela’s opposition, still smarting from its failure to remove President Nicolas Maduro last year, installed a new congress head on Thursday who demanded across-the-board elections and sought military help to end “dictatorship”.
Nigerian soldiers find Chibok girl kidnapped by Boko Haram in 2014
MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (Reuters) – Nigerian soldiers have found a schoolgirl who was one of more than 200 pupils kidnapped by Islamist militant group Boko Haram from their school in the northeastern town of Chibok in April 2014, an army spokesman said on T…
