Syria’s Qaeda wing fights Hezbollah near Lebanon border
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Al Qaeda-linked fighters battled with members of Lebanese group Hezbollah and the Syrian army in a mountainous area on the Syria-Lebanon border on Saturday, leading to deaths on both sides, security sources said.
Italy’s second ‘ghost ship’ rescue prompts EU pledge on migrants
CORIGLIANO CALABRO, Italy (Reuters) – A cargo ship abandoned by its crew with 359 Syrian refugees on board was towed ashore in Italy on Saturday in the second such rescue this week, prompting calls for stronger European Union action in the face of new …
Five arrested in India over kidnap and gang-rape of Japanese tourist: police
KOLKATA, India (Reuters) – Indian police have arrested five men in connection with the alleged abduction and gang-rape of a 23-year-old Japanese tourist, officials said on Saturday.
Islamic State seeking bases inside Lebanon: Lebanon security chief
KAWTHARIET ASSIYAD, Lebanon (Reuters) – Islamic State militants holed up in the Qalamoun mountains on the Syrian-Lebanese border are seeking to gain control of nearby Lebanese villages to support their fighting positions, the head of Lebanon’s main sec…
Israel freezes funds to Palestinians over ICC approach
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel has decided to freeze a monthly revenue transfer to the Palestinians in response to President Mahmoud Abbas’s approach to the International Criminal Court and other international agencies, an Israeli official said on Saturd…
Saudi Arabia to reopen Baghdad embassy after 25-year chill
DUBAI (Reuters) – A Saudi delegation will travel to Baghdad in the coming week to start preparations to reopen an embassy in the Iraqi capital for the first time in 25 years, official Saudi media said on Saturday.
U.S. embassy in Indonesia issues security alert for city of Surabaya
JAKARTA (Reuters) – The U.S. embassy in Indonesia issued a security alert on Saturday for its citizens in the country’s second biggest city Surabaya.
Congo threatens to attack Rwandan Hutu rebels as ultimatum expires
KINSHASA (Reuters) – (This story filed on 02 January, corrects estimated rebel number to 1,500 in 2nd paragraph)
Iran says no deal with U.S. to ship enriched uranium to Russia
DUBAI (Reuters) – Iran denied on Saturday that it had reached an agreement with the United States to ship its surplus enriched uranium to Russia under new concessions aimed at clinching a comprehensive nuclear deal with six world powers.
Sexy China TV drama busted, returns to air more sedate
BEIJING (Reuters) – A Chinese television drama that was pulled off the air after the female characters appeared on screen showing cleavage has returned to the screen, though this time showing only the actresses’ heads, state news agency Xinhua said on …
