Syrian government ready to join U.N. talks to end conflict: Assad aide
BEIRUT (Reuters) – A close adviser to Syrian President Bashar al Assad said on Wednesday Damascus was ready to join U.N.-sponsored peace talks with its position bolstered by both Russian backing and the West’s retreat from a hardline anti-Assad approac…
Israel’s U.S. ambassador makes political point with settlement-made gifts
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Israel’s ambassador to the United States used the embassy’s annual holiday gift to make a political point this year, sending items made in the occupied West Bank and Golan Heights to counter a divestiture movement aimed at Israel…
Amnesty says Russian bombing of Syria may be a war crime
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia’s bombing of Syria has killed many civilians and may amount to a war crime, Amnesty International said on Wednesday, presenting what it said was evidence that Moscow’s actions had violated humanitarian law.
Libya’s U.N. envoy says no plan to ask for Western airstrikes soon
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Libya has no intention of requesting Western air strikes against Islamic State militants in the country anytime soon but would like the United Nations to lift the arms embargo against it, Libya’s U.N. Ambassador Ibrahim Dabba…
New Argentine government fires ‘activist’ media regulator
BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – Argentina’s new government fired the country’s chief media regulator on Wednesday, saying the head of the AFSCA television and radio watchdog commission was openly acting against the country’s new center-right President Maurici…
Afghan forces battle to push back Taliban in Helmand
LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan (Reuters) – Afghan forces battled on Wednesday to push back Taliban fighters who have overrun Sangin in Helmand province and officials denied insurgents’ claims that police and administrative buildings in the district center ha…
Iraqi troops expected to drive ISIS from Ramadi in days: state TV
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraq’s army chief was quoted on Wednesday as saying he needed only days to drive Islamic State from Ramadi, the city whose fall in May exposed the weakness of the Baghdad government and dampened hopes of restoring control in the nor…
Spanish parties outline conflicting views on post-election pacts
MADRID (Reuters) – Spain’s main political parties outlined conflicting positions on Wednesday on how to form a viable government in the wake of an inconclusive election on Sunday, suggesting the negotiations will be complex and time-consuming.
Somali government bans Christmas celebrations
MOGADISHU (Reuters) – The government of Somalia has issued a ban on Christmas and New Year’s celebrations in the Muslim country, saying the festivities “have nothing to do with Islam.”
Russia’s interests coincide with Taliban’s in fight against ISIS: agency cites diplomat
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia’s interests in Afghanistan “objectively coincide” with those of the Taliban movement in the fight against Islamic State, Interfax news agency on Wednesday quoted a senior Russian diplomat as saying.
