India: Teenage girl alleges rape by lover, his friends

Karimnagar (Tel), Jan 6 (PTI) A teenage girl from Bompally village in Telangana's Peddapalli district has filed a rape case against her 24-year-old lover and his two friends, police said Sunday.

Police have identified the main accused as Kotte Ranjith.

A police officer said Ranjith allegedly maintained physical relations with the girl under the pretext of marrying her.

Xi orders Chinese military to be combat-ready; says risks and challenges on rise

Beijing, Jan 5 : Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered the army to enhance its combat readiness to make sure it is always ready for a battle, saying risks and challenges are on the rise as the world is facing a period of major changes never seen in a century, state media reported Saturday.

The People's Liberation Army (PLA), the world's largest with two million troops, last year doubled the training period for new recruits from three to six months in a bid to improve their combat capabilities.

Three dead, four injured in California shooting: police

Police in California on Saturday said three people were killed and four were injured in a shooting at a bowling alley near Los Angeles.

Sergeant Ronald Harris of the Torrance Police Department confirmed to AFP that officers responded at 11:54 pm on Friday to reports of gunfire at Gable House Bowl.

He added all seven victims were male. Three were pronounced dead at the scene, with two others taken to hospital.

Witnesses told The Los Angeles Times there had been a fight at the gaming complex.

Trump aide trying to allay Israeli concerns on Syria pullout

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — The White House has sent national security adviser John Bolton on a mission to allay Israel’s concerns about President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria.

The pullout announced before Christmas was initially expected to be completed within weeks, but the timetable has slowed as the president acceded to requests from aides, allies and members of Congress for a more orderly drawdown.

Syria urges UNSC to condemn western coalition’s airstrikes on civilian settlements

TASS, January 5. The Syrian Foreign Ministry sent a message seeking to condemn airstrikes of the western coalition in the Deir ez-Zor province to the UN Security Council on Saturday, the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported on Saturday. The message noted that over 20 civilians living in the settlements of Al-Kashkia and Al-Shafaa including four children were killed over the past two days of airstrikes.

John Bolton makes US Syria withdrawal conditional

06 Jan 2019; DW: The US national security adviser signals a pause in planned troop withdrawals. The move abruptly announced by President Trump last month was initially expected to be completed within weeks.

US troops will not leave northeastern Syria until "Islamic State" (IS) militants are completely routed and US-allied Kurdish fighters are protected, US President Donald Trump's national security adviser said on Sunday.

Russian-Japanese peace treaty will be beneficial for US - Japan’s PM

TOKYO, January 6. /TASS/. The signing of a peace treaty between Japan and Russia will have a positive impact on the security of the Asia-Pacific region and will also be beneficial for Washington, which signed a security treaty with Tokyo, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told the NHK TV Channel on Sunday.

When asked to comment on how the mutual obligations of Tokyo and Washington influence the Russian-Japanese peace treaty negotiations Abe said:

No breakthrough in talks to end U.S. gov't shutdown

WASHINGTON, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Senior Trump administration officials and Democratic congressional staffers met Saturday without achieving any breakthrough in ending a partial government shutdown and breaking a deadlock over funding for a proposed U.S.-Mexico border wall.

A readout provided by the office of Vice President Mike Pence, who led the administration's team, said "the conversation was productive" and both sides agreed to meet again Sunday afternoon.

Malaysia's King Muhammad V resigns

06 Jan 2019; DW: The ruling monarch of Malaysia has abdicated the throne, palace officials have confirmed. The historic move follows weeks of speculation over the love life of Muhammad V.

Malaysia's King Muhammad V stepped down from the throne on Sunday.

"The National Palace informs that his majesty has resigned as the 15th king effective January 6," the National Palace said in a statement. No reason for his abdication was given.

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