Australia knocks back Washington over more help against Islamic State
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia on Thursday said that it had denied a request from the United States for a greater military commitment against Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq made in the wake of the November attacks in Paris that killed 130 peop…
Hollywood’s Sean Penn lied about ‘Chapo’ trafficking claim: lawyer
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Hollywood star Sean Penn lied when he reported that Mexican kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman told him he is the world’s foremost drugs trafficker, and he should be called to testify, one of Guzman’s lawyers said on Wednesday.
Obama discusses Syria, Ukraine with Russia’s Putin: White House
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama, in a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, emphasized the need to work toward a diplomatic solution to the crisis in Ukraine and address the conflict in Syria, the White House said…
Niger presidential candidate declares himself political prisoner
NIAMEY (Reuters) – Hama Amadou, a major opposition figure in Niger and a presidential candidate, has declared himself a political prisoner, his lawyer said on Wednesday, meaning he is now likely to spend time leading up to the February polls in jail.
U.N. warns peacekeepers ill-equipped if Burundi violence spirals
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Sending United Nations peacekeepers to Burundi if violence worsens would be a “last resort” because the world body was not equipped to deal with an intense ethnic conflict, said a U.N. memo seen by Reuters on Wednesday.
U.N. envoy says Syria peace talks still on for January 25
GENEVA (Reuters) – The United Nations Special Envoy for Syria said after meeting representatives of the United States, Russia and other major powers on Wednesday that Syria peace talks were still planned to start in Geneva on Jan. 25.
U.S. Peace Corps pulls out of El Salvador over violence, security
BOGOTA (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – The U.S. Peace Corps has suspended its projects in El Salvador over safety concerns as the Central American nation struggles to stem rising murder rates and gang violence.
Colombian drug lord gets 11 years prison in New Jersey
(Reuters) – A septuagenarian Colombian drug lord who has admitted to conspiring to traffic cocaine sold in the United States was ordered on Wednesday to spend 11 years in a U.S. prison, federal prosecutors in New Jersey said.
U.S. court struggles over Iran bank’s bid to block payout to attack victims
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Supreme Court’s chief justice voiced concern on Wednesday that Congress trampled on the authority of the U.S. judiciary by passing a law dictating that families of Americans killed in attacks blamed on Iran get nearly $2 bill…
Special U.S. targeting force ‘now in place’ in Iraq: U.S.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A new U.S. force of special operations troops has arrived in Iraq and is preparing to work with Iraqi forces to go after Islamic State targets, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said on Wednesday.
