Germany-bound flight from Oman lands in Kuwait over bomb threat

A Germany-bound Eurowings passenger flight from Oman landed in Kuwait on Sunday over a bomb threat but no explosives were found on board, authorities said.

In a statement, Eurowings said there were 286 passengers on board the flight, which was being flown by SunExpress on its behalf. The discrepancy in passenger numbers could not be immediately resolved, though the KUNA figure may have included flight personnel.

Treasury chief says UK to adapt if barred from EU market

Britain's treasury chief says the UK will take whatever steps necessary to stay competitive in the global economy, if the country is shut out of the European Union market.

Hammond says the UK's economy may be forced to change without access to the single market, but "you can be sure that we will do whatever we have to do."

Indonesia, Japan affirm deeper ties during Abe's Asian tour

Japan and Indonesia have affirmed a deepening of economic and political ties during a visit by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is using a four-nation tour of Asia to underscore his government's role in countering China's assertiveness in the South China Sea.

they established in 2015 to increase maritime cooperation.

Congo warns of armed ex-M23 rebels crossing border

Government spokesman Lambert Mende said Sunday the government was surprised by the incursion of two columns of the ex-M23 rebels entered Congo's North Kivu province.

M23 operated in eastern Congo from 2012 until it was repulsed by U.N. forces and Congo's army. Many rebels fled to Rwanda and Uganda before a 2013 peace agreement.

Gipper's memento: Reagan's signed oath of office goes up for sale

Even Ronald Reagan needed most of January to begin signing the correct year, and the proof is in a one-of-a-kind document inscribed by the Gipper and given to a trusted aide the day the 40th president took the oath of office.  

After giving the 41-word oath to Chief Justice Warren Burger on Jan. 20, 1981, Reagan inscribed and dated the printed version he'd used for practice for a trusted aide. Expand / Contract The written oath was used by Reagan to practice for his swearing-in ceremony in 1981. (Raab Collection) “To Nancy – who ‘brightens the corner where we are,’ Ronald Reagan 1/20/80,” he wrote to Nancy Clark Reynolds, a longtime friend, aide and member of the Reagan transition team.

Syrian opposition: Shelling in water-rich valley kills 7

Syrian opposition activists say government shelling has struck a village in a rebel-controlled area near Damascus, killing at least seven civilians and injuring several others, in violence that has tested the country's fragile cease-fire.

Fighting has raged in the valley that provides the Syrian capital with most of its water supply, restricting the flow since Dec.22, despite talks to stem the violence.

Russian security chief says country seeing more cyberattacks

MOSCOW –  The head of the Russian Security Council says the country recently has seen a marked increase in attempted cyberattacks from overseas.

The alleged cyberattacks included penetrations of the Democratic National Committee and the campaign of Hillary Clinton.

Turkey detains 9 colonels in north Cyprus for Gulen ties

urkey's state-run news agency says nine Turkish colonels have been detained in northern Cyprus as part of the investigation into the movement allegedly responsible for a failed coup in July.

Ankara accuses the U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen of masterminding the violent coup attempt and has launched a sweeping purge of his followers, arresting 41,000 people and purging more than 100,000 from government jobs. Gulen denies the claims. Earlier this week, top diplomats from Turkey, Greece and Britain met in Geneva to discuss ways of providing post-reunification security for the divided island of Cyprus.

South Sudan claims mandate has expired for more UN troops

South Sudan's government is claiming that the U.N. Security Council mandate has expired to send a new contingent of 4,000 peacekeepers to boost the existing force.

The U.N. Security Council decided in August to send additional peacekeepers after clashes killed hundreds in South Sudan's capital Juba. South Sudan initially objected to the force and has delayed its deployment.

Ex-minister Jeremic says he will seek Serbian presidency

The upcoming presidential vote is viewed as an important test of popular support for the current populist government, which formally seeks closer ties with the European Union but increasingly has been turning toward traditional ally Russia.

Current pro-Russia President Tomislav Nikolic has suggested he might seek a second term.

Gambia president-elect in Senegal until inauguration

Gambia's President Yahya Jammeh, in power for more than 22 years, refuses to cede power, calling Dec. 1 elections invalid.

ECOWAS has said it will consider military intervention if Jammeh tries to prevent the inauguration. Senegal and Nigeria are contributing to a standby force.

Ex-Basque governor hopes to lead Spain's Socialist Party

a former governor for the Basque region of Spain, says he will run in the Socialists' leadership primary and hopes to lead the party to a national resurgence.

Spain has been in a state of political instability since two elections in a six-month span left Rajoy as prime minister but short of a majority and in need of alliances. The Socialists, one of the country's major political groups, are also in disarray after two disappointing election defeats.

Defense secretary nominee Mattis warns world order under historic threat

Defense secretary nominee Gen. James Mattis issued a grave warning Thursday at his Senate confirmation hearing, saying the established world order is under its “biggest attack” since World War II as he called for boosting military readiness and America’s alliances.

Citing Russia’s aggressions and other concerns, he said: “I think [the world order is] under the biggest attack since World War II … from Russia, from terrorist groups and with what China is doing in the South China Sea.”

6 killed in stampede during Hindu festival in India

An official says at least six people have been killed in a stampede during a Hindu religious festival in eastern India.

Deadly stampedes are fairly common during Indian religious festivals, where large crowds gather in small areas with few safety or crowd control measures.

Residents of Egypt's northern Sinai threaten protests

Egyptians in the restive northern Sinai city of al-Arish are threatening civil disobedience to protest against what they claim to be the extrajudicial killing of six youths by security forces.

The residents met Saturday night and issued a statement, also demanding the release of youths detained without charge. A video of the meeting circulated online shows around 100 people gathered in the home of a prominent local family. Northern Sinai is home to an insurgency led by an Islamic State affiliate. Residents often complain of what they say are heavy-handed tactics used by security forces.

Davos forum chief: 'It's important to listen' to populists

The head of the Davos economic conference says "it's important to listen to the populists" and hopes to welcome Donald Trump one day to "hear his ideas."

Chinese President Xi Jinping is perhaps the standout among 46 heads of state attending this year. Schwab said WEF organizers had to be "realistic" that Trump wouldn't attend because his inauguration Friday is on the conference's last day.

Kremlin counts days to Trump's inauguration, blasts Obama

Exulted by Donald Trump's victory in the U.S., the Kremlin is counting the days to his inauguration and venting its anger at Barack Obama's outgoing administration, no holds barred.

Trump's open admiration of Putin has brought wide expectations of improved Moscow-Washington relations, but Trump has not articulated a clear Russia policy.

The Latest: 7 bodies of migrants found near Spain, off coast

Spain's maritime rescue service says the bodies of seven African migrants have been found dead along the Strait of Gibraltar since Friday.

More than 181,000 people, most so-called "economic migrants" with little chance of being allowed to stay in Europe, attempted to cross the central Mediterranean last year from Libya, Africa's nearest stretch of coast to Italy. About 4,500 died or disappeared.

Red Cross staffer freed in Afghanistan weeks after abduction

BERLIN –  The International Committee of the Red Cross says a staff member who was abducted in northern Afghanistan last month has been released.

The ICRC staffer, whose nationality wasn't specified, was snatched on Dec. 19 in the northern province of Kunduz as he was traveling to Mazar-i-Sharif. According to the Red Cross, three other colleagues were left unharmed.

Britain's Prince Charles co-authors a book on climate change

Penguin Books says Prince Charles has co-authored a book on climate change together with an environmentalist and a Cambridge scientist.

The book launched Sunday is part of Ladybird book series, which traditionally targeted children but has recently expanded to a broader audience. It uses the original style of a picture book but offers adults "bite-sized understanding on a sometimes challenging subject."