U.S. envoy says little achieved in U.N. meeting with Burundi president
BUJUMBURA (Reuters) – The United Nations Security Council met with Burundi’s president on Friday to push for peace talks and an international force to quell worsening political violence, but U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power said little was achieved.
Israeli troops evict Jewish settlers from West Bank homes
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israeli troops forcibly removed Jewish settlers on Friday from homes in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron that they said they had bought from Palestinians, prompting some right-wing lawmakers to threaten to withhold support fo…
U.S. ‘hopes’ Saudi Arabia may reopen Tehran embassy
DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) – The United States hopes that Saudi Arabia may restore diplomatic ties with Iran, a senior State Department official said by phone on Friday ahead of Secretary of State John Kerry’s Saturday visit to Riyadh.
Iran-linked groups focus of Baghdad kidnapping probe: U.S. sources
WASHINGTON/DAVOS (Reuters) – U.S. intelligence agencies investigating the kidnapping of three Americans in Baghdad last week are focusing their probe on three militant Islamic groups closely affiliated with Iran, U.S. government sources said on Thursda…
Spain’s Rajoy declines to seek confidence of parliament
MADRID (Reuters) – Spain’s acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy on Friday declined the offer of King Felipe to be the first candidate for next prime minister to seek the confidence of the parliament, the palace said, forcing a new round of talks next we…
Islamist gunmen kill 17 in Somalia beach restaurant attack
MOGADISHU (Reuters) – At least 17 people were killed in the Somali capital of Mogadishu when five Islamist gunmen set off bombs and stormed a popular beach-front restaurant late on Thursday, Somali police said.
U.S. military urges ‘decisive action’ against Islamic State in Libya
PARIS (Reuters) – Decisive military action is needed to halt the spread of Islamic State in Libya, the top U.S. military officer said on Friday, warning the group wanted to use the country as a platform to coordinate activity across Africa.
U.S. strips five Russian honorary consuls of credentials
WASHINGTON/MOSCOW (Reuters) – The United States said on Friday it had revoked the credentials of five of six honorary Russian consuls to retaliate for what it said was Russia’s harassment of U.S. diplomats, prompting an angry response from Moscow.
Syria opposition rules out talks before end to Russian air raids
BEIRUT (Reuters) – The Saudi-backed Syrian opposition ruled out even indirect negotiations with Damascus before steps including a halt to Russian air strikes, contradicting U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s insistence that talks will begin next week…
Sarkozy draws presidential election spotlight with book
PARIS (Reuters) – Nicolas Sarkozy said his “frankness” and “free spirit” had led him to make errors during his 2007-2012 term as French president, in a book unveiled on Friday that is key to his bid for re-election in 2017.
