Japan seeking information after reports Japanese journalist held hostage in Syria
TOKYO (Reuters) – The Japanese government is seeking information after reports a Japanese freelance journalist is being held hostage in Syria and has been threatened with execution, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said on Thursday.
Minority report: Chinese official ‘faked family’s ethnicity’
BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese authorities will prosecute a former senior official in the far western region of Xinjiang for corruption, involving faking the ethnicity of his wife and child, the government said on Thursday.
Western countries issue rare Christmas security alerts for Beijing
BEIJING (Reuters) – At least four Western countries took the unusual step on Thursday of issuing Christmas security warnings for Westerners in a popular Beijing diplomatic and entertainment district as police stepped up patrols.
Refugee girl who cried after Merkel comments can stay in Germany: report
BERLIN (Reuters) – A 14-year-old Palestinian girl who burst into tears when Chancellor Angela Merkel told her she might be deported has been granted a residency permit to stay in Germany until October 2017, mass-selling daily Bild reported on Thursday….
Somali Islamists publicly execute two officials
MOGADISHU (Reuters) – Islamist militant group al Shabaab publicly executed a Somali military officer and the leader of a small town in the southern Somali region of Lower Shabelle, a spokesman for the group and local residents said on Thursday.
Israel reports record immigration of Jews from France in 2015
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – A record number of French Jews moved to Israel this year, an immigration official said on Thursday, citing anti-Semitic violence and economic insecurity in the European country as causes.
United States calls on Djibouti to show restraint ahead of vote
NAIROBI (Reuters) – The United States has urged Djibouti to work with the opposition to ensure a peaceful presidential election next year after a religious celebration turned violent, stoking fears of a return to street protests ahead the vote.
Reliance signs pact with Russian arms firm as Modi visits Moscow
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – India’s Reliance Defense said on Thursday it had signed a manufacturing and maintenance deal potentially worth $6 billion with Russia’s Almaz-Antey, the maker of an air defense system that sources said the Indian military was pois…
Ninth person arrested in Belgium over Paris attacks
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Brussels police have arrested a man in connection with the Nov. 13 militant attacks in Paris which killed 130 people, federal prosecutors said on Thursday, bringing the total number of arrests in Belgium to nine.
At least one dead, seven injured in fire near Mexican pipeline
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – At least one person died in a blaze near a pipeline owned by Mexican state oil company Pemex, and seven others were injured late Tuesday night, local emergency services said on Wednesday.
