Islamists kill 15 Alawite and Druze civilians in Syria: activists
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Islamist rebels killed at least 15 civilians from the minority Alawite and Druze sects in the central Syrian city of Adra on Wednesday and Thursday, the pro-opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
Mainstream parties clinch Austrian coalition deal
VIENNA (Reuters) – Austria’s mainstream pro-Europe parties agreed on Thursday to govern in coalition for the next five years, promising to ensure continued prosperity in the Alpine euro zone nation.
Venezuela says murder rate plunges under Maduro
CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuela’s murder rate has fallen by about a quarter this year, the government says, dismissing opponents’ talk of ever-rising crime as propaganda.
Outmuscled Syrian opposition seeks protection from al Qaeda
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Syria’s Western-backed opposition said on Thursday it had invited Islamist fighters to secure its depots on the Turkish frontier after an attack by al Qaeda militants.
Colombian president’s ratings move up again, would win election
BOGOTA (Reuters) – Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos’ popularity rose for a third straight month in December and he would be re-elected next year in a second-round vote, a poll published on Thursday showed.
Nigeria’s Jonathan told not to stand in 2015 by mentor Obasanjo
ABUJA (Reuters) – One of Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan’s predecessors and mentors has turned against him, penning a scathing denunciation that could deepen division in the ruling party and potentially embolden Jonathan’s rivals.
Finance watchdog approves Vatican reforms, urges bank oversight
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – The Vatican has made significant progress in financial reforms but still risks being used for money laundering unless it strengthens controls, a European watchdog said on Thursday.
Al Jazeera denies report its Cairo office was raided
CAIRO/DOHA (Reuters) – Qatar’s Al Jazeera television channel on Thursday denied a report that Egyptian security forces had raided one of its offices in Cairo.
Pope attacks mega-salaries and wealth gap in peace message
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Pope Francis said in the first peace message of his pontificate that huge salaries and bonuses are symptoms of an economy based on greed and inequality and called again for nations to narrow the wealth gap.
Saudi religious leader condemns suicide attacks
DUBAI (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti, the highest religious authority in the birthplace of Islam, has condemned suicide bombings as grave crimes, reiterating his stance in unusually strong language.
