Syrian army, allies step up attacks on last militant bastion in Deir al-Zor city
AMMAN (Reuters) – The Syrian army, supported by Russian jets and Iranian-backed militias, escalated bombing on Sunday of areas of the Syrian city of Deir al-Zor still held by Islamic State.
Kurdish leader Barzani’s dream of independence led to downfall
ERBIL, Iraq (Reuters) – Masoud Barzani, who spent decades leading the long-oppressed Kurds, confirmed on Sunday he was stepping down as president of the Kurdistan Regional Government after his drive for independence backfired.
Hundreds of thousands march for unified Spain, poll shows depths of division
BARCELONA (Reuters) – Hundreds of thousands of supporters of a unified Spain filled Barcelona’s streets on Sunday in one of the biggest shows of force yet by the so-called silent majority that has watched as regional political leaders push for Catalan …
At least 29 dead after Islamist attack on Somali hotel
MOGADISHU (Reuters) – An Islamist attack on a hotel in Mogadishu ended on Sunday after 29 people were killed during a siege lasting nearly 12 hours, police said, prompting the government to sack two top security officials over their failure to stop rep…
Iraqi Kurdish leader Barzani confirms intention to step down on Nov. 1
ERBIL, Iraq (Reuters) – Iraqi Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani on Sunday confirmed his intention to step down on Nov. 1 and asked parliament to take measures to fill the presidential power vacuum.
Turkey detains 143 people over suspected Islamic State links: Anadolu
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkish police detained 143 people over suspected links to Islamic State in anti-terror operations in eight cities over the weekend, the state-run Anadolu Agency said on Sunday.
Rouhani says Iran will keep producing missiles, state TV reports
DUBAI (Reuters) – Iran will continue to produce missiles for its defense and does not consider that a violation of international accords, President Hassan Rouhani said on Sunday in a speech broadcast on state television.
Iraqi forces, Kurdish Peshmerga start new round of talks, Iraqi State TV says
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraqi forces and Kurdish Peshmerga fighters on Sunday started a second round of talks to resolve a conflict over control of the Kurdistan region’s border crossings, Iraqi state TV said.
Trump and Netanyahu share a kiss on West Bank wall mural
BETHLEHEM, West Bank (Reuters) – Another Donald Trump mural believed to be the work of Australian graffiti artist Lushsux has popped up on Israel’s barrier in the occupied West Bank, this time depicting the U.S. president sharing a kiss with Israeli Pr…
Kenya opposition leader calls for calm in slum hit by deadly violence
NAIROBI (Reuters) – Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga called for calm on Sunday as he visited a slum in the capital that was hit by violence when a political stand-off over a repeat presidential election fed into rising ethnic tensions.
