Political news

• Syrian Observatory says warring sides appear to cease firing

  29-12-2016 23:39
  BEIRUT (Reuters) - The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said warring sides appeared to cease firing across Syria after a truce deal came into effect at midnight on Friday (2200 GMT Thursday). The British-based Observatory said there had been some shellfire around Aleppo and in an area close to the capital Damascus shortly before the ceasefire, brokered by Russia and Turkey, began. (Reporting by John Davison; Editing by Chris Reese)
  
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• Liverpool versus Manchester City -- the fans' view

  29-12-2016 23:33
  Second-placed Liverpool host Manchester City, who are third, in a clash between two Premier League title-chasing teams on Saturday. Here is what fans of the two clubs have to say: Peter Phillips, The Kop Table Podcast "It's obviously very important to get all three points on Saturday to keep us as close to (leaders) Chelsea as possible. With the New Year's Eve atmosphere and a full house at Anfield to roar them on, it promises to be a very exciting game.
  
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• The Latest: White House alerted Trump to Russia sanctions

  29-12-2016 23:26
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the Obama administration's response to Russia's interference in the U.S. elections, which it denies (all times EST):
  
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• Syria ceasefire deal backed by Russia and Turkey takes effect

  29-12-2016 23:22
  By John Davison BEIRUT (Reuters) - A nationwide ceasefire in Syria, brokered by Russia and Turkey, which back opposing sides in the conflict, came into force at midnight on Friday, local time, (2200 GMT on Thursday) in the latest attempt to end nearly six years of bloodshed. Russian President Vladimir Putin, a key ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, announced the ceasefire on Thursday after preparing the agreement with Turkey, a longtime backer of the opposition. A number of rebel groups h
  
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• Tribes get say in land management but worry about Trump

  29-12-2016 23:18
  
  SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Native Americans who have long bemoaned their lack of participation in federal land decisions scored a major victory when President Barack Obama designated a new national monument in Utah that gives five tribes an opportunity to weigh in on the management of their ancestral home.
  
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• Leeds thwarted by late Kodija penalty for Villa

  29-12-2016 23:17
  Jonathan Kodija converted a late penalty to earn Aston Villa a 1-1 draw with Leeds United on Thursday, maintaining his team's unbeaten home record in the Championship this season. The Ivorian striker scored four minutes from time, after Leeds defender Liam Cooper handled, to cancel out the opening goal of the night by Pontus Jansson. Fourth-placed Leeds climbed above Huddersfield Town on goal difference with 42 points from 24 matches while Villa rose one spot to ninth on 35.
  
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• Fresh Brexit challenge in high court over leaving single market and EEA

  29-12-2016 23:10
  
  Four anonymous claimants allege that separate parliamentary approval is needed to quit the European Economic AreaA fresh set of legal challenges asserting that the UK will remain within the single market and the European Economic Area after Brexit have been lodged at the high court.A group of four anonymous claimants – who are a mix of overseas, EU, EEA and UK nationals – have joined a judicial review of government plans to leave the EU, alleging that separate parliamentary approval
  
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• Jeremy Corbyn's New Year message says he understands lack of trust in EU

  29-12-2016 22:58 via bbc.co.uk
  
  In his New Year message, Jeremy Corbyn says he understands why people voted to leave the EU.
  
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• U.S. evicts Russians for spying, imposes sanctions after election hacks

  29-12-2016 22:40
  By Jeff Mason and Lesley Wroughton HONOLULU/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama ordered the expulsion of 35 Russian suspected spies and imposed sanctions on two Russian intelligence agencies over their involvement in hacking U.S. political groups in the 2016 presidential election. The measures, taken during the last days of Obama's presidency, mark a new post-Cold War low in U.S.-Russian ties which have deteriorated over Ukraine and Syria. Allegations by U.S. intelligence agencies that
  
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• Kremlin says Putin will order appropriate response to U.S. sanctions

  29-12-2016 22:40
  The spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that a new round of U.S. sanctions against Russia would harm relations between Moscow and Washington. Dmitry Peskov said Putin would order an "appropriate" retaliation to the sanctions, which included the expulsion of 35 diplomats. In a conference call with reporters, Peskov said Moscow doubted the effectiveness of the measures as the current U.S. presidential administration was stepping down in three weeks.
  
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• Argentine court revives bombing cover-up case against Fernandez

  29-12-2016 22:36
  By Hugh Bronstein and Luc Cohen BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - An Argentine appeals court on Thursday revived a case accusing former President Christina Fernandez of trying to cover up Iran's alleged role in the bombing of a Buenos Aires Jewish centre in 1994. The prosecutor who first brought the allegation, Alberto Nisman, died mysteriously in January 2015, and a judge later threw the case out for lack of evidence. "The evidence does not allow for a clear dismissal of the possible commission of illic
  
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• Russian Embassy In London Responds To US Sanctions With Picture Of A Duck

  29-12-2016 22:30
  
  The Russian Embassy in London has issued a curious response to President Barack Obama sanctioning Russian officials over meddling in the US elections - tweeting a picture of a duckling emblazoned with the words “LAME”.
  The cavalier approach to international diplomacy followed the outgoing US President’s crackdown as he warned: “All Americans should be alarmed by Russia’s actions.”President Obama expels 35 diplomats in Cold War deja vu. As everybody,
  
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• Polish government cheers bargain da Vinci purchase

  29-12-2016 22:25
  By Lidia Kelly WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland's government announced on Thursday it had bought a Leonardo da Vinci painting from a private foundation, in a transaction that forced a federal budget amendment and stirred acrimony about how the deal was arranged.      The State Treasury bought the 1490 "Lady with an Ermine" along with thousands of other pieces of art from the aristocratic Czartoryski Foundation for the equivalent of just over 100 million euros ($105 million). "It is a fra
  
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• The Latest: Senators say they'll push for stronger sanctions

  29-12-2016 22:21
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the Obama administration's response to Russia's interference in the U.S. elections, which it denies (all times EST):
  
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• Trump fans' 'Deploraball' party shows rift in alt-right movement

  29-12-2016 22:15
  By Laila Kearney NEW YORK (Reuters) - Supporters of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump have appropriated the phrase "basket of deplorables" - used by Hillary Clinton during the campaign to pillory some of his backers - to plan an inauguration party called the "Deploraball." But while the intention might be to mock the defeated Democratic candidate, the planned gathering has revealed a deep schism within the ranks of a movement known as the alt-right: pitting those embracing white nationalism or o
  
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• Letting go – and looking ahead

  29-12-2016 21:53
  It's based on a tradition in Latin America, where people stuff objects that symbolize for them the worst aspects of the previous year into dolls that are then set on fire, freeing them of troubling memories.
  
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• Trump could reverse effects of Obama order on Russia - official

  29-12-2016 21:37
  HONOLULU/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President-elect Donald Trump could reverse President Barack Obama's executive order and allow Russian intelligence officials back into the United States once he takes office, but that would be inadvisable, a senior U.S. official said on Thursday. There is no reason to believe Russia will cease interfering in U.S. and other countries' elections, Obama administration officials told reporters on a conference call after the president announced sanctions against Moscow
  
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• Officers killed in the line of duty rose in 2016

  29-12-2016 21:31
  
  The number of police killed in the line of duty rose sharply in 2016, driven by shootings of police around the country, most notably ambushes in Dallas and Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
  
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• Oil dips after an unexpected U.S. crude inventory build

  29-12-2016 21:26
  By Catherine Ngai NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil futures dipped on Thursday after a surprise build in U.S. crude inventories reversed an advance in prices that had boosted the benchmarks to their highest levels since July last year. U.S. crude stocks unexpectedly rose for the second straight week, data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration showed, gaining 614,000 barrels last week versus analysts' forecasts of a decline of 2.1 million barrels. U.S. crude futures settled 29 cents, or 0.5 perc
  
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• U.S. House Speaker Ryan says Obama sanctions against Russia overdue

  29-12-2016 21:17
  U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan said on Thursday Russia "has consistently sought to undermine" U.S. interests and sanctions imposed by the Obama administration on Russia were overdue. "While today’s action by the administration is overdue, it is an appropriate way to end eight years of failed policy with Russia," Ryan said in a statement.
  
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• Russian parliament official: US expulsion of diplomats is act of "political corpses"

  29-12-2016 21:17
  MOSCOW (Reuters) - A Russian parliamentary official said Washington's decision on Thursday to expel 35 Russian diplomats represented "the death throes of political corpses". Konstantin Kosachyov, chairman of the international affairs committee in the upper house of the Russian parliament, was quoted by the RIA news agency. (Reporting by Katya Golubkova; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
  
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• Bank of Italy says state to put up about 6.6 billion euros for Monte Paschi rescue

  29-12-2016 21:14
  The Bank of Italy estimated on Thursday the total cost for the state rescue of Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena would be about 6.6 billion euros (5.6 billion pounds), a statement said. Monte dei Paschi, Italy's third biggest lender and the world's oldest, said on Monday the European Central Bank had estimated its capital shortfall at 8.8 billion euros, compared with a 5 billion euro gap previously indicated by the bank.
  
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• Ugly ducklings must turn into beautiful Swans - Curtis

  29-12-2016 21:08
  Caretaker manager Alan Curtis has urged Swansea City's under-achieving squad to "show a bit more spirit and fight", starting with Saturday's home game against Bournemouth. The former Wales forward has taken over on an interim basis following this week's sacking of American Bob Bradley, with the relegation-haunted Swans second from bottom in the Premier League and four points adrift of safety. "We have got World Cup winners, players with lots of international experience, players who have been in
  
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• Gang-ravaged Mexico stuck in weed ban as U.S. opens up

  29-12-2016 21:07
  By Joanna Zuckerman Bernstein MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican advocates for drug reform are voicing alarm about the country's widening gap with the United States on marijuana legislation, as criminal violence surges again south of the border. Tens of thousands have been killed over the years in Mexico, on the front line of a U.S.-led war on drugs. The country's prohibitionist approach to marijuana is increasingly at odds with the United States, where liberalisation is advancing.
  
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• Obama retaliates against Russia for election hacking

  29-12-2016 20:53
  
  HONOLULU (AP) — In a sweeping response to election hacking, President Barack Obama on Thursday sanctioned Russian intelligence services and their top officials, kicked out 35 Russian officials and shuttered two Russian-owned compounds in the U.S. It was the strongest action the Obama administration has taken to date to retaliate for a cyberattack.
  
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• Obama sanctions Russia for intervening in 2016 election

  29-12-2016 20:40
  President Barack Obama on Thursday authorized a series of sanctions against Russia for intervening in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and warned of more action to come. "These actions follow repeated private and public warnings that we have issued to the Russian government, and are a necessary and appropriate response to efforts to harm U.S. interests in violation of established international norms of behavior," Obama said in a statement. "These actions are not the sum total of our response
  
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• U.S. expels 35 Russian diplomats, closes two compounds - official

  29-12-2016 20:27
  The United States expelled 35 Russian diplomats and closed two Russian compounds in New York and Maryland in response to a campaign of harassment against American diplomats in Moscow, a senior U.S. official said on Thursday. The move against the diplomats from the Russian embassy in Washington and consulate in San Francisco is part of a series of actions announced on Thursday to punish Russia for a campaign of intimidation of American diplomats in Moscow and interference in the U.S. election. Th
  
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• Oman confirms it is joining Saudi-led anti-terrorism alliance

  29-12-2016 20:21
  Oman, traditionally on friendly terms with Iran, confirmed on Thursday that it had joined a Saudi-led coalition of Muslim countries fighting terrorism, a move praised by other Gulf Arab states as closing ranks with them against Iran. Saudi and Gulf sources reported the development on Wednesday, saying Omani Minister for Defence Affairs Badr bin Saud al-Busaidi had informed Saudi Arabia in a letter that it would join the 40-strong grouping. On Thursday, the Omani Foreign Ministry said in a statem
  
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• France's constitutional council rules against 'Google tax'

  29-12-2016 20:20
  France's Constitutional Council has ruled against a fiscal measure dubbed the "Google tax", which was aimed at making it tougher for multinational companies to minimise their tax payments in France. The council's ruling on Thursday comes as the government seeks to make France more attractive for foreign businesses after Britain's decision to leave the European Union. The "Google tax" targeting multinationals that use different countries' tax regimes to reduce tax liabilities had initially been i
  
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• Albania kicks three out of politics over past crimes

  29-12-2016 20:09
  By Benet Koleka TIRANA (Reuters) - Albania's election commission kicked out two lawmakers from parliament and ejected a mayor from his job for failing to declare criminal records for offences overseas. Parliament voted a year ago to remove from public office anyone who had been convicted or committed any criminal offences or misdemeanours in Albania or abroad during their lifetime. The three deny any wrongdoing and have said they will appeal against the decision of the Central Election Commissio
  
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• End violence in Myanmar, Nobel laureates urge U.N. Security Council

  29-12-2016 20:07
  By Sebastien Malo NEW YORK (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - More than a dozen Nobel laureates including Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Malala Yousafzai urged the U.N. Security Council on Thursday to end "ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity" in Myanmar's troubled Rakhine State. At least 86 people have been killed in a military crackdown in Rakhine State, launched after attacks on police posts near the border with Bangladesh on Oct. 9.
  
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• Syrian rebel group Ahrar al-Sham says has 'reservations' about Syria agreement

  29-12-2016 19:44
  A spokesman for a major Syrian rebel group said on Thursday it had reservations about an agreement for a nationwide ceasefire and resumption of negotiations and was not among the groups that had signed it. "Ahrar al-Sham has a number of reservations over the proposed agreement and the negotiations linked to it, and therefore has not signed it.
  
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• Possible civilian casualties in Mosul air strike - Pentagon

  29-12-2016 19:43
  An air strike by the U.S.-led coalition near the northern Iraqi city of Mosul hit a van in a hospital compound parking lot and could have killed civilians, the U.S. military said on Thursday. A van carrying Islamic State fighters was targeted and hit in the air strike, the Combined Joint Strike Force said in a statement. "The van was struck in what was later determined to be a hospital compound parking lot resulting in possible civilian casualties," it said.
  
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• I tried to kill myself, says former world champion Hatton

  29-12-2016 19:28
  Former world boxing champion Ricky Hatton tried to kill himself when he suffered from depression after quitting the ring, the Briton said on Thursday. Hatton, who won titles at light-welterweight and welterweight, retired in 2012 but had already been struggling with depression, drink and drugs. "In the end I thought I'll end up drinking myself to death because I was so miserable." Hatton, who registered 45 wins in 48 bouts, said that even if he did not always drink he still could not cope with d
  
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• Russia-Turkey cease-fire deal offers new hope for Syria

  29-12-2016 19:07
  
  BEIRUT (AP) — The cease-fire agreement brokered by Russia and Turkey and approved by the Syrian government and some of its most powerful rebel opponents is a potential turning point in the Syrian civil war, which has killed hundreds of thousands of people and laid waste to huge parts of the country over the past six years.
  
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• EU clears extension of Italian bank liquidity support

  29-12-2016 19:07
  The European Commission said on Thursday it had authorised a six-month extension of Italy's scheme to provide liquidity support for banks in need as well as an extension of support for troubled lender Monte dei Paschi di Siena . A number of such schemes are in place in other EU member states, such as Cyprus, Greece, Poland and Portugal, to ensure banks have no difficulties in funding their operations and to guarantee access to deposits. Under EU state aid rules, banks with a capital sh
  
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• Kremlin says Assad is ready to observe ceasefire in Syria

  29-12-2016 19:02
  MOSCOW (Reuters) - Syrian President Bashar al Assad told Russian President Vladimir Putin that he was ready to observe a ceasefire agreement in Syria, the Kremlin said on Thursday. Putin and Assad spoke on the phone and agreed that the opening of Syria peace talks in Kazakhstan would be "an important step towards the ultimate resolution of the crisis," the Kremlin said in a statement. (Reporting by Andrey Ostroukh; Editing by Larry King)
  
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• Egypt's government approves deal to hand two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia

  29-12-2016 18:59
  Egypt's government has approved a deal to hand over two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia and sent it to parliament for ratification, despite a legal dispute over the plan, according to state television. The deal, announced in April, caused public uproar and rare protests by Egyptians who said the uninhabited islands of Tiran and Sanafir belonged to their country. The controversy has become a source of tension with Saudi Arabia, which has provided billions of dollars of aid to Egypt but recently h
  
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• Ukraine hit by 6,500 hack attacks, sees Russian "cyberwar"

  29-12-2016 18:53
  By Natalia Zinets KIEV (Reuters) - Hackers have targeted Ukrainian state institutions about 6,500 times in the past two months, including incidents that showed Russian security services were waging a cyberwar against the country, President Petro Poroshenko said on Thursday. In December, Ukraine suffered attacks on its finance and defence ministries and the State Treasury that allocates cash to government institutions. "Acts of terrorism and sabotage on critical infrastructure facilities remain p
  
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• FTSE sets record closing high as gold miners shine

  29-12-2016 18:51
  By Atul Prakash and Kit Rees LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's top share index posted its highest-ever closing level on Thursday following a rally in precious metals miners on stronger gold prices, although weaker banks dragged down a pan-European index in holiday-thinned trade. Gold miner Randgold Resources jumped 4.8 percent, the biggest gainer in the FTSE 100 index , after gold hit it highest in two weeks on a weaker dollar that generally makes the metal cheaper for other currency holders. Another
  
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• Turkey's Erdogan says Syrian ceasefire opportunity should not be wasted

  29-12-2016 18:48
  Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday that the window of opportunity presented by the Syrian ceasefire should not be wasted. Erdogan thanked Russia for its efforts on the ceasefire, which he said included air strikes. "This window of opportunity should not be wasted," Erdogan said at a news conference in Ankara.
  
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• Syrian foreign minister sees 'real chance' for political settlement

  29-12-2016 18:47
  BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syria's foreign minister said on Thursday there was a "real chance" to reach a political settlement to the Syrian conflict, after Damascus's ally Russia announced a ceasefire deal that was to take effect at midnight. "It is the duty of the factions (rebel groups) who have signed it to distance themselves from, and declare that they are not linked to, the Nusra Front or Daesh (Islamic State)," Walid al-Moualem added, in an interview broadcast live on state TV. (Reporting by Joh
  
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• Exclusive - J&J discussing breaking up Actelion in an acquisition: sources

  29-12-2016 18:40
  By Carl O'Donnell, Greg Roumeliotis and Sophie Sassard (Reuters) - Johnson & Johnson is negotiating a deal to acquire Swiss biotechnology company Actelion Ltd that would separate its commercialized portfolio from its research and development assets, people familiar with the matter said on Thursday. The deal structure would allow J&J to acquire Actelion with a cash offer in the region of $260 per share, a little more than what it had offered when it walked away from negotiations earlier t
  
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• Chilean Navy sailors accused of secretly filming female crewmates

  29-12-2016 18:38
  Chilean authorities said on Thursday they are investigating allegations that female sailors were secretly videotaped in their quarters on a naval vessel and that those images were then shared via social media by other crew members. It said "it roundly rejects these types of actions that insult our personnel and we reiterate our respect for the privacy of those that form part of the institution." Chile's Defence Minister Jose Antonio Gomez said that sanction for these actions would "set an exampl
  
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• US to announce response to Russia's election hacking

  29-12-2016 18:35
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials are expected to announce an imminent response, including sanctions, on Thursday for Russia's interference in the U.S. presidential election by hacking American political sites and email accounts — an effort that ensures action before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.
  
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• U.S. says hopes Syria ceasefire will be fully implemented

  29-12-2016 18:29
  A Syrian ceasefire negotiated by Russia and Turkey is a positive development and the United States hopes it will be fully implemented, a State Department spokesman said on Thursday. "Any effort that stops the violence, saves lives, and creates the conditions for renewed and productive political negotiations would be welcome," said Mark Toner, a State Department spokesman.
  
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• Photographs of homeless 'grave dwellers' shock Iranians

  29-12-2016 18:27
  Widely distributed images of dozens of homeless Iranians, many of them drug addicts, taking shelter in empty graves outside Tehran in freezing temperatures have prompted a public outcry and criticism from President Hassan Rouhani. "Who can accept ... that fellow human beings who suffer social ills have to take refuge in graves because of homelessness?" Rouhani said in a speech shown live on state TV. Special buses are also provided for addicts to sleep in overnight, when temperatures are often b
  
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• London street artist Pegasus paints memorial for George Michael

  29-12-2016 18:21
  Street artist Pegasus has paid tribute to George Michael with a mural of the Wham! singer, who died on Sunday aged 53. The artwork near a graffiti park in Shoreditch, in east London, features three images of the "Faith" singer clutching a jacket next to the words "Never gonna dance again", a lyric from Michael's single "Careless Whisper". It got a great reaction," Pegasus, who said he had been inspired by Michael, told the Evening Standard newspaper.
  
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• Oil dips in wake of rise in U.S. inventories

  29-12-2016 18:15
  By Catherine Ngai NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices dipped on Thursday after a surprise increase in U.S. inventories reversed an advance in prices that had pushed global crude benchmarks to their highest levels since July last year. U.S. light, sweet crude was down 37 cents at $53.69 by 12:02 p.m. ET (1702 GMT) while North Sea Brent crude was down 17 cents at $56.05 a barrel. U.S. distillate and gasoline futures expire on Friday, which could add to price swings, analysts noted.
  
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• Trump populism comes to Canada as Conservatives seek leader

  29-12-2016 18:09
  By Andrea Hopkins OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada's answer to Donald Trump is a paediatric surgeon and former cabinet minister who, like the U.S. president-elect, is railing against immigration and political elites. Kellie Leitch, 46, has vaulted to the front of the race to lead the opposition Conservative Party by pushing a hard-right "Canadian values" platform that taps into discontent over the sluggish economy and Canada's acceptance of 37,000 Syrian refugees. Leitch is ahead of about a dozen candi
  
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