Romania’s Ponta heads for presidency with justice in spotlight
OPTASI-MAGURA Romania (Reuters) – Romanians are likely to move Prime Minister Victor Ponta into the presidency in elections that start on Sunday, offering one of Europe’s poorest countries political stability but raising concerns about judicial indepen…
United States praises China’s growing role in Afghanistan
BEIJING (Reuters) – The United States welcomed China’s growing role in trying to ensure Afghanistan’s stability on Thursday, saying a Beijing conference of foreign ministers on Afghan reconstruction this week shows its commitment to the region as Weste…
U.S. says working with Iraqi Kurdistan to stop Islamic State oil smuggling
SINGAPORE (Reuters) – The United States is working closely with the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government to clamp down on oil smuggling in a bid to cut off a key source of funding for Islamic State, a senior U.S. official said on Thursday.
Australia passes laws cracking down on foreign fighters
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia passed laws on Thursday aimed at preventing young people from becoming radicalized and going to fight in overseas conflicts such as those in Iraq and Syria, where scores of Australians have joined militant groups.
China says disgraced security chief not relevant to top party meeting
BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s Communist Party made no mention of the fate of China’s powerful domestic security chief Zhou Yongkang at a recent key meeting because he is no longer part of the central leadership, a senior party official said on Thursday.
Tunisia’s main secular party wins most seats: authorities
TUNIS (Reuters) – Tunisia’s main secular party Nidaa Tounes won 85 seats in the new 217-member parliament in Sunday’s election, while the Islamist party Ennahda secured 69 seats, according to results released by electoral authorities on Thursday.
Kurdish convoy heads to Syria to take on Islamic State
SURUC Turkey/BEIRUT (Reuters) – A convoy of peshmerga fighters from northern Iraq headed across southeastern Turkey on Wednesday towards the Syrian town of Kobani to try to help fellow Kurds break an Islamic State siege which has defied U.S.-led air st…
Israeli far-right activist shot and wounded in Jerusalem
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – A far-right Israeli activist was shot and wounded in Jerusalem on Wednesday as he left a conference promoting a Jewish campaign to permit praying at a flashpoint Old City compound holy to both Jews and Muslims, Israeli officials s…
Israeli far-right activist shot and wounded in Jerusalem
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – A far-right Israeli activist was shot and wounded in Jerusalem on Wednesday as he left a conference promoting a Jewish campaign to permit praying at a flashpoint Old City compound holy to both Jews and Muslims, Israeli officials s…
Israel’s settlement plans cast doubt on peace commitment: U.N.
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Israel’s decision to accelerate planning for some 1,000 new settler homes in East Jerusalem raises serious doubts about the Israeli commitment to peace with the Palestinians, a senior U.N. official said on Wednesday.
