Philippines’ president says he killed criminals to protect country
MANILA (Reuters) – Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Friday killings he maintains he committed while mayor of a southern city, sometimes cruising the streets on a motor bike looking for “encounters to kill”, were part of legitimate operatio…
U.N. chief urges Israeli lawmakers to reconsider settlement bill
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Outgoing United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday urged Israeli lawmakers to reconsider advancing a bill that would legalize Israeli settlement homes on private Palestinian land in the West Bank.
U.S.-led strikes destroy tanks, air defenses near Syria’s Palmyra
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S.-led coalition battling Islamic State said on Friday it destroyed 14 tanks, an air defense artillery system and other weaponry near the Syrian city of Palmrya after Islamic State seized the city from Syrian and Russian fo…
Tibetan leader urges Trump to confront China on rights
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – The head of the Tibetan government-in-exile said on Friday he was encouraged by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s tough stand on China and urged him to ditch backdoor diplomacy on furthering the Tibetan cause and be more confrontational.
Brazilian president Temer’s popularity falls on scandals, recession
BRASILIA (Reuters) – Embattled Brazilian President Michel Temer’s popularity is sinking as the approval rating of his scandal-plagued government drops in the midst of corruption allegations and a prolonged recession, a poll published on Friday showed.
Romania’s top court upholds leftist-backed scrapping of 102 taxes
BUCHAREST (Reuters) – Romania’s top court ruled on Friday that legislation passed in October to scrap 102 taxes including radio and television license fees is constitutional.
Not realistic for Turkey to take all Aleppo evacuees, Turkish officials say
ANKARA (Reuters) – It would not be realistic for Turkey to take in all of the evacuees from Syria’s Aleppo, Turkish foreign ministry officials said on Friday, citing potential security risks.
Syrian arrested in Saudi Arabia over pro-Assad Facebook photo
RIYADH (Reuters) – Saudi police arrested a Syrian resident in Riyadh after he posted a photo of himself on Facebook praising the recapture of his home city of Aleppo by government forces, according to a report in al-Riyadh newspaper on Friday.
Poland moves to limit media access to parliament
WARSAW (Reuters) – A Polish plan to curb media access to parliament spurred widespread protests by non-state media on Friday, amid concern the government is intent on curtailing freedom of press.
Syria opposition coordinator says to join Putin’s peace talks if genuine
COPENHAGEN (Reuters) – A senior Syrian opposition leader said on Friday his negotiations committee was willing to join peace talks planned by Russian President Vladimir Putin provided that the aim was to set up transition government.
