Syrian air defenses confront ‘hostile target’ near Damascus: state media
Syrian state media said on Saturday air defenses had confronted a “hostile target” breaching the country’s air space west of the capital Damascus in the early hours of the morning.
Cuba charges leading dissident with attempted murder
The leader of one of Cuba’s largest and most active opposition organizations was charged Friday with attempted murder after being held incommunicado for a week in eastern Cuba.
Factbox: Issues leading to the tailspin in U.S.-Turkey relations
Turkey is a key NATO ally to the United States, but the countries’ bilateral relationship has become quite strained.
Iran test-fired anti-ship missile during drills last week: U.S. source
Iran test-fired a short-range anti-ship missile in the Strait of Hormuz during naval drills last week that Washington believes were aimed at sending a message as the United States reimposes sanctions on Tehran, a U.S. official said on Friday.
A Canadian tweet in a Saudi king’s court crosses a red line
For years, Canadian pressure on human rights in Saudi Arabia had elicited no more than a standard rejection. But all that changed last week, when a Canadian complaint was translated into Arabic and set off a diplomatic row.
Cameroon probes video showing security forces apparently executing civilians
Cameroon’s government said on Friday it would investigate a video that Amnesty International said shows security forces shooting at least a dozen unarmed people in the far north of the country, where they are battling Islamist militants.
Erdogan tells Turks to buy crumbling lira as Trump turns the screws
President Tayyip Erdogan told Turks on Friday to sell their gold and U.S. dollars to support the country’s currency which plunged after U.S. President Donald Trump escalated a feud with NATO ally Turkey by doubling tariffs on metals imports.
Two police officers among four fatally shot in Canada
Four people, including two police officers, were killed in a shooting in eastern Canada on Friday in the latest eruption of gun violence across the country that has led to calls for weapons bans in cities.
Colombia rebels must free kidnapped soldiers, police, Duque says
The Marxist ELN rebel group must free nine hostages and stop all criminal activity if it truly wants a peace deal, new Colombian President Ivan Duque said on Friday.
Pope meets with Chilean bishop and victims’ advocate over Church sex abuse
Pope Francis met in Rome on Friday with a Chilean bishop and a victims’ advocate to discuss the Church sex abuse scandal in Chile and measures being taken to prevent it in the future.
