Key EU lawmakers committee to query Juncker aide’s promotion at hearing
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Parliament’s budgetary control committee wants a senior EU Commission official to clarify the sudden promotion of its president’s chief aide to the top of the EU civil service, underlining the continuing unease among l…
Palestinian President threatens to end Gaza reconciliation with Hamas
RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday blamed the Islamist Hamas group for a bomb attack on the convoy of Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah in Gaza, and threatened to end reconciliation efforts with his bitter rivals….
Britain wins fresh EU, NATO support over nerve attack
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Britain’s foreign minister won further support from the European Union and NATO on Monday over a nerve agent attack on a former Russian double agent as he denounced Moscow’s denials of involvement as “increasingly absurd”.
After the battle: Aid, gunfire and looting in Syria’s Afrin
AFRIN, Syria (Reuters) – A day after Turkish troops and their Syrian rebel allies seized control of Afrin, a Turkish aid group started distributing relief supplies in the town center on Monday, but residents continued to leave after widespread reports …
On eve of Trump-Saudi meeting, Riyadh calls Iran nuclear deal flawed
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia called the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers a “flawed agreement” on Monday, on the eve of a meeting between the Saudi crown prince and U.S. President Donald Trump who have both been highly critical of …
Palestinian President Abbas blames Hamas for bomb attack on PM convoy in Gaza
RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas blamed the Islamist Hamas group on Monday for the March 13 bomb attack on the convoy of Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah in Gaza, saying it was a “despicable and sinful act.”
French island of New Caledonia to vote on independence on Nov. 4
PARIS (Reuters) – The nickel-rich Pacific island of New Caledonia will hold a referendum on Nov. 4 on whether to break away from France and become independent, a government source said on Monday.
Erdogan says Turkey may extend Afrin campaign along whole Syrian border
ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkish forces will press their offensive against Kurdish YPG forces along the length of Turkey’s border with Syria and if necessary into northern Iraq, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday, threatening wider conflict in Syria’s c…
Damascus sees some Ghouta rebels accepting deals soon
DAMASCUS/BEIRUT (Reuters) – Some rebels in eastern Ghouta may soon agree to withdraw from the opposition enclave or accept rule by the Syrian state after big advances by the army into the area, a Syrian government minister said on Monday.
After landslide re-election, Russia’s Putin tells West: I don’t want arms race
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin struck a softer tone towards the West on Monday after winning his biggest ever election victory, saying he had no desire for an arms race and would do everything he could to resolve differences with o…
