Dec 17 Serbia's ruling populist party claims sweeping victory in tense parliamentary election By Dusan Stojanovic, Associated Press The main contest in the parliamentary and local elections was between President Aleksandar Vucic’s governing Serbian Progressive Party and the centrist coalition that sought to undermine the populists who have ruled the troubled Balkan state since 2012. Continue reading
Dec 17 Watch 3:01 News Wrap: Israeli military finds large Hamas tunnel near northern Gaza border In our news wrap Sunday, Israel re-opened a border crossing in southern Gaza and released footage of a newly discovered Hamas tunnel at the Erez crossing in the north, Trump’s anti-immigrant remarks at a campaign event drew criticism, a storm… Continue watching
Dec 17 Russian drones hit Black Sea coast while Ukraine targets air base in Russia By Karl Ritter, Associated Press Russia and Ukraine reportedly launched mass drone attacks at each other’s territories for a second straight day Sunday, one of which apparently targeted a Russian military airport. A civilian was killed overnight near Odesa after the remnants of a destroyed drone… Continue reading
Dec 17 Pressure mounts on Israel to renew cease-fire talks after killing of hostages raises alarm about its conduct in Gaza By Wafaa Shurafa, Samy Magdy, Associated Press Israel's government faced calls for a cease-fire from some of its closest European allies and from protesters at home on Sunday after a series of shootings, including of three hostages who waved a white flag, added to mounting concerns about… Continue reading
Dec 17 Japan and ASEAN summit focuses on security, economy amid tensions with China By Mari Yamaguchi, Associated Press Leaders from Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, at a special summit in Tokyo on Sunday, adopted a joint vision that emphasizes security and economic cooperation while respecting the rule of law, amid growing tensions with China in regional seas. Continue reading
Dec 16 Watch 2:50 News Wrap: Israeli protesters pressure government in wake of hostage deaths In our news wrap Saturday, the mistaken killing of three hostages by Israeli forces in Gaza has increased public pressure on Israel’s government to release Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the remaining hostages, a Roman Catholic cardinal was convicted of… Continue watching
Dec 16 Vatican cardinal sentenced to 5½ years in prison after being convicted of embezzlement By Nicole Winfield, Associated Press A Vatican tribunal on Saturday convicted a cardinal of embezzlement and sentenced him to 5 ½ years in prison in one of several verdicts handed down in a complicated financial trial that aired the city state’s dirty laundry and tested… Continue reading
Dec 16 3 hostages killed in Gaza by Israeli troops were shirtless and waving a white flag, official says By Julia Frankel, Najib Jobain, Samy Magdy, Associated Press Three Israeli hostages who were mistakenly shot by Israeli troops in the Gaza Strip had been waving a white flag and were shirtless when they were killed, a military official said Saturday, in Israel's first such acknowledgement of harming any… Continue reading
Dec 16 Russia and Ukraine trade drone attacks after Hungary vetoes EU funding to Ukraine By Karl Ritter, Elise Morton, Associated Press Russia and Ukraine each reported dozens of attempted drone attacks in the past day, just hours after Hungary vetoed 50 billion euros ($54.5 billion) of European Union funding to Ukraine. Continue reading
Dec 15 U.S. national security adviser says a negotiated outcome is the best way to end Lebanon-Israel tension By Bassem Mroue, Associated Press Speaking to reporters in Jerusalem, Sullivan said that Washington won't tolerate threats by Hezbollah, which has been attacking Israeli military posts along the border since a day after the Israel-Hamas war began. Continue reading