Exclusive: Lebanon believes Saudi holds Hariri, demands his return
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Lebanon believes Saad al-Hariri is being held in Saudi Arabia, from where he resigned as Lebanese prime minister, two top government officials in Beirut said, amid a deepening crisis pushing Lebanon onto the frontlines of a power str…
Catalan parliament speaker freed on bail pending independence investigation
MADRID (Reuters) – A Spanish judge on Thursday freed on bail the Catalan parliament’s speaker and four lawmakers while authorities continue to investigate their leading roles in Catalonia’s banned independence drive.
Argentina says Russia wants more Argentine food products
BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – A Russian official expressed interest in Argentina providing more food products to Russia, Argentina’s foreign ministry said in a statement hours after the United States imposed steep anti-subsidy duties on Argentine biodiesel,…
East Congo militiamen go on trial for raping children
GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo (Reuters) – Eighteen people, including a provincial lawmaker, went on trial in eastern Congo on Thursday for the rapes of dozens of children, victims’ rights activists said.
Pence voices U.S. concern to Turkish prime minister about arrests
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Vice President Mike Pence expressed “deep concern” to Turkey’s prime minister on Thursday about the arrests of American citizens and local staff of U.S. missions in Turkey, the White House said.
East Libyan forces make new push to end Islamist resistance in Benghazi
BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) – Eastern Libyan forces on Thursday expelled Islamist fighters from one of their last strongholds in the country’s second-largest city of Benghazi, military officials said.
South Africa’s Dlamini-Zuma says business endorsement not a priority in ANC race
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South African politician Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said on Thursday it was fine if the country’s white business community declined to endorse her bid to succeed President Jacob Zuma as leader of the African National Congress (ANC)…
Amid Lebanon crisis, France’s Macron flies to Riyadh to see crown prince
DUBAI/RIYADH (Reuters) – French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Riyadh on Thursday for hastily scheduled talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman amid rising tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran, notably over Lebanon and Yemen.
Battle for Rome’s beachfront turns bloody with assault on journalist
ROME (Reuters) – A bloody attack on a journalist has prompted outrage in Italy and put the spotlight on suspected links between extreme right-wing politicians and organized crime in a notoriously unruly seaside suburb of Rome.
U.S. blacklists 10 Venezuelans for corruption, undermining state vote
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Treasury Department on Thursday sanctioned 10 more Venezuelan officials, including several government ministers, who it said had helped Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s attempts to undermine democratic rule in the c…
