Iraqis expect little of first poll since defeat of Islamic State
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraq holds its first parliamentary election on Saturday since defeating Islamic State, but few people expect its new leaders to deliver the stability and economic prosperity that have long been promised.
Pompeo promises North Korea future ‘brimming with prosperity’ if it denuclearizes
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – North Korea can look forward to “a future brimming with peace and prosperity” if it agrees to quickly give up its nuclear weapons, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo pledged on Friday ahead of a historic summit between U.S. Pres…
Israeli gunfire kills Palestinian as border protest builds to climax
GAZA (Reuters) – Israeli troops killed a Palestinian and hundreds of others were hurt on Friday, Palestinian medical workers said, bringing to 44 the number killed during a six-week protest at the Gaza-Israel border.
Nigeria’s Buhari returns home after seeing doctor in Britain
ABUJA (Reuters) – Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari returned home on Friday after traveling to Britain this week to see his doctor, his spokesman said.
Macau billionaire gets four years prison for bribing U.N. officials
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Billionaire Macau real estate developer Ng Lap Seng was sentenced to four years in prison on Friday after being found guilty last July of bribing two United Nations ambassadors to help him build a multibillion dollar conference cen…
Pentagon to keep backing Lebanon military, despite Hezbollah gains
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. military is committed to supporting and providing assistance to the Lebanese armed forces, the Pentagon said on Friday, despite the Iran-backed Hezbollah group and its allies making significant gains in parliamentary ele…
U.S. Ambassador gives first glimpse of new Jerusalem embassy compound
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Viewers were given a sneak preview of the compound housing what will be the new American Embassy in Jerusalem on Friday, when the U.S. Ambassador to Israel posted footage of preparations for the opening ceremony.
UK court rules Moldova tycoon’s dispute with Kazakhstan must go to trial
ALMATY (Reuters) – A British court has ruled that a dispute between a Moldovan businessman and Kazakhstan, which has already led to the freezing of more than $20 billion of Kazakh assets in the West, must go to trial.
Europe moves to safeguard interests in Iran after U.S. pullout
BERLIN/PARIS (Reuters) – Europe’s largest economies lobbied to protect their companies’ investments in Iran on Friday, seeking to keep the nuclear deal with Tehran alive after Washington pulled out and threatened to impose sanctions on European compani…
Ranger killed, two British nationals kidnapped in Congo national park
BENI, Democratic Republic of Congo (Reuters) – A park ranger was killed and two British citizens were kidnapped on Friday in Democratic Republic of Congo’s Virunga National Park, a park service official and a local civil society leader said.
