Germany shuts train stations amid global New Year security scares
BERLIN/BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Europe ushered in the New Year with heightened security fears on Friday as German police evacuated two train stations in Munich, citing a tip about a planned militant attack, and Belgium arrested three people over an alleged…
Police evacuate two Munich train stations, citing threat of militant attack
BERLIN (Reuters) – German police evacuated two train stations in Munich late on Thursday, saying on Twitter they had received a tip regarding a planned militant attack on New Year’s Eve in the Bavarian capital.
Arrests, security fears dampen New Year spirit in Europe
PARIS/BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Shaken by a year of militant attacks, Europeans will ring in 2016 in subdued fashion on Friday, with soldiers on the streets of Paris, a heightened police presence at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate, and silence across the vast cob…
White House delays imposing new sanctions on Iran: Wall Street Journal
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The White House has delayed imposing new financial sanctions on Iran over its ballistic-missile program, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday.
Rwanda’s president says he will seek a third term in 2017
KIGALI (Reuters) – Rwandan President Paul Kagame announced on Friday his intention to seek a third term in 2017, confirming a decision that was widely expected following the approval of constitutional changes that could allow him to stay in office for …
Blaze hits Dubai skyscraper, New Year’s fireworks proceed nearby
DUBAI (Reuters) – Fire engulfed a 63-storey skyscraper in Dubai on Thursday night, but with the block evacuated and only minor injuries reported authorities went ahead with a New Year’s fireworks display at the world’s tallest building a few hundred me…
Erdogan vows no respite in Turkey’s war on Kurdish militants
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday vowed no let-up in a military campaign which he said had killed more than 3,000 mostly Kurdish militants this year in some of the heaviest fighting since their insurgency began three dec…
Imprisoned Saudi blogger’s health deteriorating, wife says
MONTREAL (Reuters) – Imprisoned Saudi blogger Raif Badawi, recent recipient of one of Europe’s most prestigious human rights awards, has suffered fainting spells and deteriorating health because of a lengthy hunger strike, his wife said on Thursday.
Rouhani expands Iran’s missile program despite U.S. sanctions threat
DUBAI (Reuters) – President Hassan Rouhani ordered his defense minister on Thursday to expand Iran’s missile program, in defiance of a U.S. threat to impose sanctions over a ballistic missile test Iran carried out in October.
Media should give more space to good news, pope says after grim year
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – The media should give more space to positive, inspirational stories to counterbalance the preponderance of evil, violence and hate in the world, Pope Francis said on Thursday in his year-end message.
