North Korean leader says purge was a cleansing of ‘filth’
SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un made his first reference to the execution of his powerful uncle in a New Year’s address, saying the reclusive state’s ruling party had become stronger after it was purged of “factional filth.”
Anti-Assad monitoring group says Syrian death toll passes 130,000
BEIRUT (Reuters) – The death toll in Syria’s civil war has risen to at least 130,433, more than a third of them civilians on both sides of the conflict, but the real figure is probably much higher, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Tuesda…
Gunmen blast natgas pipeline in Sinai: security sources
CAIRO (Reuters) – Unknown assailants attacked a natural gas pipeline in the Sinai on Tuesday, Egyptian security sources told Reuters, raising concerns of instability as the country pushes through with a roadmap for political transition to democracy.
South Sudan government, rebels set for New Year’s Day talks
JUBA (Reuters) – South Sudan’s government and rebels are set for New Year’s Day peace talks in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, to thrash out a ceasefire to end weeks of ethnic bloodletting in the world’s newest state.
Putin vows to annihilate “terrorists” after suicide bombings
VOLGOGRAD, Russia (Reuters) – President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday vowed to annihilate all “terrorists” following two deadly bomb attacks in the southern Russian city of Volgograd that raised security fears ahead of the Winter Olympics.
Italy president says won’t serve entire term
ROME (Reuters) – Italian President Giorgio Napolitano said on Tuesday that he would stay on the job only as long as he is needed and “not a day more,” eight months after breaking a political deadlock by agreeing to serve an unprecedented second term.
Egypt security forces arrest Brotherhood leader’s son
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egyptian security forces have arrested the son of a Muslim Brotherhood leader on charges of inciting violence, the Interior Ministry said on Tuesday, the latest move in a crackdown against the group now branded a terrorist organizatio…
Iran says nuclear deal to be implemented in late January
DUBAI (Reuters) – World powers and Iran have agreed to start implementing in late January an agreement obliging Tehran to suspend its most sensitive nuclear work, an Iranian official was quoted as saying on Tuesday.
Kerry to push for solutions as Israeli-Palestinian peace talks intensify
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry hopes to narrow differences between Israelis and Palestinians in peace talks this week that are intended to guide the sides toward a deal in April, a senior State Department official said on Tue…
Jordan assumes U.N. Security Council chair as conflicts persist
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Jordan takes over the U.N. Security Council presidency on Wednesday, the first day of its two-year stint on a 15-nation body struggling to cope with conflicts in Syria, South Sudan, Central African Republic, Mali and elsewher…
