Diplomacy

Throngs cheer new president’s triumphant return to Gambia

By CARLEY PETESCH President Adama Barrow returned triumphantly to Gambia on Thursday, nearly two months after winning an election disputed by the country’s longtime dictator, to the cheers of hundreds of thousands who jammed the roads in welcome. “That’s my president!” the crowds cried, eager to see Barrow fulfill the promise of democratic reforms and […]

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The Latest: Palestinians condemn Israeli settlement plans

The Palestinians are condemning Israel’s latest plans to build new settlement homes. A spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas says the Israeli plans announced Tuesday deal a new blow to attempts to bring peace to the region and will promote extremism and terrorism. Nabil Abu Rdeneh says the decision “disregards” international opposition to the settlements

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Putin says Russia won’t expel US diplomats in hacking flap

By JOSH LEDERMAN and NATALIYA VASILYEVA President Vladimir Putin castigated the United States on Friday for imposing sanctions and expelling Russian diplomats amid allegations of Russian meddling in the American presidential election, but said no U.S. diplomats will be ousted in reprisal for President Barack Obama’s moves in the wake of hacking attacks. In a

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In parting shot, Kerry tears into Israel over settlements

By JOSH LEDERMAN and MATTHEW DALY Secretary of State John Kerry tore into Israel on Wednesday for settlement-building, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of dragging Israel away from democracy and forcefully rejecting the notion that America had abandoned Israel with a controversial U.N. vote. Israel’s government accused Kerry of a skewed attempt to blame Israel

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Israel: ‘Ironclad information’ White House behind UN rebuke

By JOSEF FEDERMAN Doubling down on its public break with the Obama administration, a furious Israeli government on Tuesday said it had received “ironclad” information from Arab sources that Washington actively helped craft last week’s U.N. resolution declaring Israeli settlements illegal. The allegations further poisoned the increasingly toxic atmosphere between Israel and the outgoing Obama

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US-based cleric rejects links to Russian envoy’s killing

By NATALIYA VASILYEVA A U.S.-based Muslim cleric on Thursday condemned the killing of Russia’s envoy to Turkey and rejected accusations that his movement was behind the attack. Ambassador Andrei Karlov was shot dead by an off-duty policeman in front of stunned onlookers at a photo exhibition in Ankara earlier this week. Turkish President Recep Tayyip

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Syrian TV, rebels trade blame amid halted Aleppo evacuation

By BASSEM MROUE The evacuation of eastern Aleppo stalled Friday after an eruption of gunfire, as the Syrian government and rebels threw accusations at each other, raising fears that a peaceful surrender of the opposition enclave could fall apart with thousands of people believed to be still inside. The government suspended the evacuation, pulling out

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Trump taps Israel envoy, eyes moving embassy to Jerusalem

By JULIE PACE President-elect Donald Trump has announced that he will nominate attorney David Friedman as U.S. ambassador to Israel, selecting an envoy who supports Israeli settlements and other changes to U.S. policies in the region. Friedman said he looked forward to carrying out his duties from “the U.S. embassy in Israel’s eternal capital, Jerusalem,”

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