Lebanese national snatched in north Nigeria is freed
KANO, Nigeria (Reuters) – A Lebanese man abducted by gunmen in northern Nigeria’s main city of Kano this week was released unharmed on Friday, police said, denying that any ransom was paid.
Foreign convoy attacked in Afghan capital, three dead
KABUL (Reuters) – A suspected suicide bomber attacked a military convoy on the eastern outskirts of Kabul on Friday, killing at least three foreign soldiers, police and the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said.
Italy welcomes back deported wife of wanted Kazakh banker
ROME (Reuters) – The wife of a Kazakh banker who is wanted for fraud in three countries enjoyed a warm personal greeting from Italy’s foreign minister on Friday when she flew back to Rome only months after being summarily expelled.
Scores of rebels killed in Syrian government ambush
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syria’s army ambushed Islamist fighters in the Qalamoun mountains north of the capital Damascus on Friday, leaving as many as 60 people dead, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
Ukraine police allege opposition ties to reporter’s attackers
KIEV (Reuters) – Police in Ukraine on Friday accused five suspects detained over the savage beating of a reporter of links to the opposition, an allegation the opposition condemned as an attempt to deflect suspicions of government complicity.
Japan gets Okinawa approval for U.S. Marine base move
TOKYO (Reuters) – The governor of Japan’s Okinawa on Friday approved a controversial plan to relocate a U.S. air base to a less populous part of the southern island, but said he would keep pressing to move the base off the island altogether.
Antwerp railway station reopens after bomb threat
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Police reopened the main railway station in Belgium’s port city of Antwerp on Friday after the building and surrounding streets were cleared due to a bomb threat, the force said.
World powers and Iran to resume expert nuclear talks on December 30
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Nuclear experts from Iran and six world powers will resume talks on how to roll out last month’s landmark deal on Monday in Geneva, hoping to resolve numerous technical issues before the accord can be put into place.
Antwerp train station evacuated after bomb threat
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Police evacuated the main train station in Belgium’s port city of Antwerp on Friday and cleared surrounding streets after a bomb threat, the force said.
Israel plans 1,400 more West Bank settlement homes, official says
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel plans to build 1,400 homes in its settlements in the occupied West Bank and will announce the projects next week after releasing a group of Palestinian prisoners, an Israeli official said on Friday.
