Germany: Merkel ally regrets manner of critic's departure

A top official in Chancellor Angela Merkel's party says he's not surprised by the departure of a hard-line conservative lawmaker who had increasingly been at odds with the German leader, but regrets the manner of it.

She argued that Merkel's government has exceeded its mandate by allowing large numbers of migrants in and eurozone bailouts to Greece and by accelerating Germany's exit from nuclear power.

Envoys urge Israel, Palestinians to back peace

More than 70 countries have called on Israel and the Palestinians to restate their commitment to a peace settlement and to refrain from unilateral actions.

Trump's campaign platform made no mention of Palestinian independence — the solution favored by the international community.

State funeral held for Greece's slain ambassador to Brazil

Greece's ambassador to Brazil, who was murdered there last month, has been buried with full military and civilian honors normally reserved for government ministers.

Brazilian police say they believe he was killed by his wife's lover under her orders. Those two and a third person have been arrested.

Kerry urges Trump administration to attend Syria peace talks

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Sunday urged the incoming Trump administration to accept an invitation from Russia to attend Syria peace talks next week.

He said he hoped the meeting would make some progress and lead to a resumption of the Geneva talks, which are aimed at producing a transitional government and an eventual election in Syria.

Pro-Tibet protesters detained as China's Xi arrives in Bern

Police in the Swiss capital of Bern say they've prevented a pro-Tibet protester from setting himself on fire on the sidelines of a demonstration against the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Xi on Sunday kicked off a four-day visit to Switzerland, the first this century by a Chinese leader. It includes planned stops in Geneva, Lausanne and to the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Iraqi forces raise flag at Mosul University in push against ISIS

Published January 14, 2017 FoxNews.com Facebook0 Twitter0 Email Print A member of Iraqi Special Operations Forces (ISOF) stands in a military vehicle at the University of Mosul during a battle with Islamic State militants, in Mosul, Iraq, January 14, 2017. REUTERS/Ahmed Saad - RTSVHSV Iraqi special forces raised the Iraqi flag above the buildings at the Mosul University complex on Friday as they continued the battle for control of the city against Islamic State militants.

"We congratulate the Iraqi Security Forces on their continued progress in Eastern Mosul,” U.S. army Col. John Dorrian, a spokesman for the U.S.-led anti-IS coalition said in a statement. “Work still needs to be done but ISIL's days in Mosul are quickly coming to an end.

Iran: Nuclear deal will not be renegotiated

Iran's deputy foreign minister says the nuclear deal between the Islamic Republic and world powers "will not be renegotiated" ahead of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump taking office this week.

Trump was critical of the nuclear deal during the presidential campaign and pledged to renegotiate it, but he hasn't offered many specifics on his plans since the election.

Why Rafsanjani's death offers the US a unique opportunity to reshape its Iran policy

Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, one of the founding fathers of the Iranian regime, died last week on January 8. He served as President, Speaker of Parliament, Deputy Commander of the Armed Forces, head of the Assembly of Experts--the 88-member body of clerics tasked with nominating the Supreme Leader, and head of the Expediency Council, a body adjudicating disputes over legislation between the parliament and the Guardian Council.

“Now, the regime will lose its internal and external equilibrium,” opposition leader Maryam Rajavi said, suggesting the clerical regime is “approaching overthrow.”

Australia, Japan boost defense ties amid instability in Asia

The leaders of Australia and Japan agreed on Saturday to boost cooperation between their militaries, as Japan tries to shore up security ties throughout the Asia-Pacific region amid concern over China's growing military might.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his Australian counterpart Malcolm Turnbull said they had signed an upgraded defense agreement after talks in Sydney on trade and regional security issues. The leaders said the pact would allow their militaries to provide each other with logistical support during exercises, and are working toward an agreement that would make it easier to participate in joint military exercises.

Stropped train triggers major political row in Balkans

A Serbian train halted at the border with Kosovo and bearing signs reading "Kosovo is Serbian," has fueled a major crisis in the Balkans and escalated a potential Russia-West row over dominance in the heart of the Balkans.

Serbia accused Kosovo's leaders on Sunday of "wanting war" and warned that it would defend "every inch" of its territory, a day after the train, decorated in Serbian Christian Orthodox symbols and flags, was prevented from entering the neighboring nation.

Egypt drops case against mob that attacked Christian woman

Egyptian prosecutors have thrown out a case brought by an elderly Christian woman against several members of a Muslim mob who stripped off her clothes and paraded her naked through the streets, her lawyer said Sunday.

Saturday's decision by the prosecutors cited lack of sufficient evidence, according to the lawyer, Eihab Ramzy. Another case against the alleged perpetrators of the violence, which also targeted Christian homes, remains ongoing.

Turkey parliament moves country toward presidential system

Published January 15, 2017 Associated Press Facebook0 Twitter0 Email Print ISTANBUL –  Turkey's parliament has moved a step closer to approving a constitutional reform package that would pave the way for a presidential system. In a session that ended late Sunday in Ankara, a majority of lawmakers voted in favor of the final article in the controversial package presented by the ruling party.

Critics see the changes as a bid to cement outsized powers already exercised by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Israel says Nazi camp excavations unearth link to Anne Frank | Fox News

Researchers excavating the remains of one of the most notorious Nazi death camps have uncovered a pendant that appears identical to one belonging to Anne Frank, Israel's Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial said Sunday.

Yad Vashem says it has ascertained the pendant belonged to Karoline Cohn — a Jewish girl who perished at Sobibor and may have been connected to the famous diarist. Both were born in Frankfurt in 1929, and historians have found no other pendants like theirs.

Army, local police probe recent mystery deaths of 11 Fort Hood soldiers | Fox News

The Army and local police are investigating the deaths of 11 Fort Hood soldiers who have died on and off the large Texas base in the past three months under mysterious circumstances, according to reports.

“At this point in the investigative process we do not suspect foul play, but have not completely ruled it out while we conduct a complete and thorough death investigation,” Criminal Investigations spokesman Christopher Grey told the paper.

Trump slams outgoing CIA director Brennan after criticism over Russia threat | Fox News

President-elect Donald Trump blasted outgoing CIA Director John Brennan on social media Sunday after Brennan said Trump does not have a “full understanding” of Russia’s power and threat to the world.

He also suggested that Trump lacks a “full appreciation” of Russia’s aggression or about why President Obama imposed sanctions on the Kremlin for meddling in the 2016 presidential election.

Paul Ryan Faces Precarious Path to Remain House Speaker Though Ryan is under fire from conservatives for rebuffing Donald Trump, he is likely to remain in the top job next year

House Speaker Paul Ryan, under fire from conservatives for rebuffing Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump , is likely to remain in the top job next year, but his path to get there will be narrow and precarious.

Some Republicans are already blaming Mr. Ryan for not doing more to shore up party unity after Mr. Trump’s crude comments about women and debate performances that helped his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, pad her lead in the polls.

Trump Calls NBC Release of 2005 Video ‘An Illegal Act’ Republican candidate threatens to take legal action against the network

Republican nominee Donald Trump on Thursday said it was “an illegal act” for NBC to release earlier this month a 2005 videotape of him making lewd comments about women, and threatened to take legal action against the network.

Mr. Trump once again defended his comments—in which he said of groping women, “when you’re a star, they let you do it”—as “locker-room talk,” and added: “The microphone was not supposed to be on—not that I make that as an excuse for myself, but certainly it was an illegal act that was NBC. It was not supposed to be on.”

Hillary Clinton Pulls in $101 Million in First Three Weeks of October

Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton raised $101 million in the first three weeks of October together with her joint party fundraising accounts, according to her Federal Election Commission filing, leaving her with $153 million in the bank across all accounts heading into the final weeks of the election.

average of $5.2 million raised per day—leaves Mrs. Clinton in a powerful financial position for the final sprint to Election Day.

Germany Inc. Sits on $500 Billion in Cash Amid Weak Outlook

German companies are sitting on a half-trillion dollars of cash but are reluctant to invest it in their own country, potentially threatening the country’s competitive edge and European economic growth.

Germany’s nonfinancial businesses have saved more than they have invested for the past seven years, piling up about €455 billion ($500.4 billion) in cash and deposits, German central bank data show.

Senators Call for U.S. Action on Chinese Aluminum Subsidies

Eight U.S. senators have asked the Obama administration to take action against China over what they say are unfair subsidies to the Chinese aluminum industry.

China’s “unfair trade practices” are “undermining the entire U.S. aluminum value chain.”