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U.S. says Assad must go, timing down to negotiation

By Lesley Wroughton LONDON (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Saturday Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad has to go but the timing of his departure should be decided through negotiation. Speaking after talks with British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond in London, Kerry called on Russia and Iran to use their influence over Assad to convince him to negotiate a political transition. Kerry said the United States welcomed

Putin gives go-ahead to Belarus airbase plan

Russian President Vladimir Putin has backed the establishment of an airbase in neighboring Belarus, the latest move by Moscow to project its military power abroad. Saturday’s announcement, which comes at a time of tension with the West over Russian involvement in Ukraine and Syria, may also signal the Kremlin’s interest in keeping unpredictable Belarus within its geopolitical orbit. Putin said in a statement he had agreed a government proposal to

Israeli aircraft strike Gaza after rocket fire

Israel carried out air strikes in the Gaza Strip on Saturday after Palestinian militants there fired rockets into southern Israel. Gaza militants fired at least two rockets into Israel late on Friday, Israeli military said. A Palestinian group that supports the Islamic State claimed responsibility for one of the rockets fired at Israel.

Pope offers solidarity with Cuba, highlights Hispanics in U.S.

Pope Francis begins a 10-day trip to Cuba and the United States on Saturday, embarking on his first trip to the onetime Cold War foes after helping to nudge forward their historic rapprochement. He will be offering a show of solidarity with Cubans and making clear that Hispanics in the United States are the bedrock of the American church.