Spain’s Felipe VI condemns corruption in first Christmas speech
MADRID (Reuters) – Spain’s King Felipe VI lashed out against corruption in his first Christmas Eve address but made no direct reference to his sister, Cristina de Borbon, who was ordered on Monday to stand trial for tax crimes.
Disgraced anti-sex slavery crusader Mam unveils plans for new group
NEW YORK (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Disgraced Cambodian anti-sex trafficking activist Somaly Mam, who was forced to resign from her own foundation seven months ago amid reports her dramatic life story was fabricated, has unveiled plans to launch a …
Russia says NATO turning Ukraine into ‘frontline of confrontation’
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia said on Wednesday NATO was turning Ukraine into a “frontline of confrontation” and threatened to sever remaining ties with the Atlantic military alliance if Ukraine’s hopes of joining it were realized.
Without help, Libya could become next Syria, foreign minister says
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – (This story corrects name to al-Thinni in paragraphs 10, 11)
U.S.-led forces launch 17 air strikes in Syria, Iraq
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S.-led campaign against Islamic State in Syria and Iraq included 10 air strikes in Syria on Wednesday and seven in Iraq, the U.S. military said.
Japanese PM unveils new government, defense pick may rile China
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe unveiled a new cabinet on Wednesday, appointing a defense chief whose desire for a stronger pre-emptive strike capability could rile neighbor China.
Israel police hold dozens of public officials in corruption probe
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israeli police said on Wednesday they had detained more than 30 serving and former public officials in an investigation into alleged corruption linked to a party in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling coalition.
Palestinian killed in clash with Israeli troops near Gaza border
GAZA (Reuters) – Israeli forces shot dead a member of Hamas’s armed wing after a firefight erupted along the border with the Gaza Strip on Wednesday and an Israeli soldier was wounded, Gaza hospital officials and the Israeli army said.
Refugees are welcomed by vast majority of Germans: president
BERLIN (Reuters) – President Joachim Gauck urged Germans to welcome with open arms the hundreds of thousands of people fleeing war zones and to reject anti-immigrant populism.
Rebel attacks in India kill 51, spark violent protests
GUWAHATI, India (Reuters) – Police in northeast India fired on Wednesday on demonstrators protesting against the killings of dozens of people by tribal guerrillas, killing five of them.
