Israel’s plan to build houses on occupied land near Jerusalem will cloud renewed peace talks, the Palestinian Authority said on Sunday, the day before an international aid conference opens in Paris.

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia expelled a journalist on Sunday who had alleged Kremlin malpractice in this month’s parliamentary election and tracked funds flowing from Kremlin officials to foreign banks.

Iraq’s government is planning to release thousands of detainees from custody as part of efforts to forge national reconciliation between Shi’ite and Sunni Muslims, a top Iraqi official said on Sunday.