Mexican judge sentences ex-state governor for embezzlement
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – A Mexican judge has sentenced a former regional governor from the main conservative opposition party to two years and three months in prison for embezzlement, the government of Aguascalientes state said.
Guinea President Conde pardons 171, including opposition figure
CONAKRY (Reuters) – Guinea President Alpha Conde on Thursday pardoned 171 people convicted by the justice system, including a leading opposition figure accused of involvement in a plot to assassinate the West African leader, state-owned television said…
At least four killed at gas plant explosion in Nigeria
ONITSHA, Nigeria (Reuters) – At least four people were killed when a cooking gas plant in southeastern Nigeria exploded on Thursday, a Red Cross spokesman said.
Fire sweeps through Saudi hospital, at least 24 dead
DUBAI (Reuters) – A fire tore through the intensive care unit and the maternity ward of a Saudi hospital before dawn on Thursday, killing at least 24 people and injuring 123, officials said.
Pope, on Christmas, urges return to essential values
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Pope Francis led the world’s 1.2 billion Roman Catholics into Christmas on Thursday, urging those “intoxicated” by possessions and superficial appearances to return to the essential values of life.
Bulgarian politician dumped for backing Turkey over downing of Russian plane
SOFIA (Reuters) – The leader of Bulgaria’s ethnic Turkish party has been ousted from his post and expelled from the party, apparently for declaring support for Turkey in its row with Moscow over the downing of a Russian warplane.
As Islamic State threat mounts on its doorstep, Indonesia scours a jungle
POSO, Indonesia (Reuters) – Indonesian forces are mobilizing for a manhunt in steamy jungles on the far-flung island of Sulawesi to flush the country’s most-wanted man from his hideout and deal a pre-emptive blow to Islamic State. The real threat could…
Coalition planes pound ISIS in Iraq’s Ramadi to aid attack, TV says
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Coalition air forces pounded positions held by Islamic State in Ramadi on Thursday, Iraqi military statements said, in support of government troops seeking to retake the western Iraqi city and push on to drive the militants from key…
IS fighters’ families to leave southern Damascus in U.N. deal: group
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Hundreds of families of Islamic State militants and some injured fighters are expected to leave rebel-held areas of southern Damascus under a U.N.-brokered deal, a monitoring group said on Thursday.
Clashes persist in Turkey’s southeast; PKK militants killed in attack on police
DIYARBAKIR (Reuters) – Three Kurdish rebels were killed in clashes with police in Turkey’s southeastern city of Diyarbakir on Thursday, security sources said, and shots and shellfire could be heard around an area that has been focus of an army offensiv…
