EU executive head: passport-free travel needed for jobs, single currency
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Unemployment would raise in the European Union should its passport-free travel system fall apart, the head of the bloc’s executive arm said on Friday, adding that keeping the single euro currency would also be pointless under such …
Emir of Qatar to discuss Middle East with Putin in Russia this month
MOSCOW (Reuters) – The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, will fly into Russia to hold talks with President Vladimir Putin on the Middle East and energy on Jan. 17-19, local news agencies quoted the Kremlin as saying on Friday.
Sacramento man indicted for lying about assisting militant group
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Reuters) – One of two Iraqi-born men arrested last week on federal terrorism-related charges was indicted by a federal grand jury in Sacramento on Thursday for lying about traveling to Syria and assisting a militant group.
Pakistan shuts down seminaries run by group accused of Indian air base attack
LAHORE, Pakistan (Reuters) – Pakistani authorities have shut down several religious schools run by the Jaish-e-Mohammad militant group accused of masterminding an attack this month on an air base in India, the provincial law minister said on Friday.
China party to target key officials in graft fight: Xinhua
SHANGHAI (Reuters) – China’s ruling Communist Party will sustain the pressure in its graft-busting campaign this year and will make corrupt officials in key posts priority targets and aim to investigate all central-level party and government bodies.
Ousted Thai PM Yingluck in court for corruption trial
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Former Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra appeared in court on Friday to face corruption charges that her supporters say are a ploy by the ruling junta to curtail the influence of her and her family.
New Guatemalan leader promises ‘drastic’ action to combat graft
GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) – Guatemala’s new president pledged “drastic” measures against corrupt officials as he was sworn into office on Thursday, following an election campaign last fall dominated Jimmy Morales by anti-graft fervor.
More aid reaches trapped Syrians; doubts cast on peace talks
NEAR MADAYA, Syria/BEIRUT/GENEVA (Reuters) – A second batch of aid reached a besieged Syrian town and two trapped villages on Thursday and the United Nations accused rival factions of committing war crimes by causing civilians to starve to death.
Islamic State claims Jakarta attack, targets Indonesia for first time
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Suicide bombers and gunmen attacked the heart of Indonesia’s capital on Thursday and the assault was claimed by Islamic state, the first time the radical group has targeted the world’s most populous Muslim nation.
U.S. secures first guilty plea in U.N. bribery case
NEW YORK (Reuters) – A former finance director at a New York foundation accused of participating in a scheme to bribe a former United Nations General Assembly president on Thursday became the first defendant to plead guilty in the case.
