Syria says U.S. chemical attack warning untrue, aims to justify new attack
BEIRUT (Reuters) – The Syrian government said a U.S. warning this week to Damascus not to carry out a new chemical weapons strike were baseless and a ploy to justify a new attack on the country, state television said.
France sees Syria opportunity through closer dialogue with Russia
PARIS (Reuters) – France said on Thursday it saw a chance to break the stalemate in Syria’s war as Russia now seemed to accept there could be no military solution and preconditions set by some opponents of President Bashar al-Assad had been dropped.
Qatar working with U.S., Kuwaitis on response to Gulf demands: minister
DOHA/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Qatar said on Thursday it was working with the United States and Kuwait to respond to a list of demands presented by Arab states who have accused Doha of supporting terrorism, an allegation that ignited a regional crisis bet…
Turkey to retaliate against Kurdish YPG fire from Syria: Deputy PM
ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkey will retaliate against any cross-border gunfire from the Kurdish YPG militia in Syria and will not remain silent in the face of anti-Turkey activities by terrorist groups abroad, Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said on T…
Iraq declares end of caliphate after capture of Mosul mosque
MOSUL/ERBIL, Iraq (Reuters) – After eight months of grinding urban warfare, Iraqi government troops on Thursday captured the ruined mosque at the heart of Islamic State’s de facto capital Mosul, and the prime minister declared the group’s self-styled c…
Russian military hits back over Fallon’s jibe
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia’s defense ministry snapped back on Thursday over comments by British Secretary of Defense Michael Fallon who mocked Moscow’s aircraft-carrying cruiser and said the Russians would look with envy on Britain’s new warship.
British PM faces vote test in parliament over government plan
LONDON (Reuters) – British Prime Minister Theresa May faces a test of her authority on Thursday when parliament votes on her policy program, watered down after an election setback and growing pressure over her Brexit and austerity plans.
Erdogan events in Germany outside G20 would be ‘inappropriate’: Gabriel
KRASNODAR, Russia (Reuters) – The German government believes it would be inappropriate for Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan to make public appearances in Germany outside the G20 summit given current tensions between the two NATO allies, German Foreign …
Former Israeli PM Olmert, 71, wins early release from prison
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who is serving a 27-month prison term for corruption, won parole on Thursday, one of his lawyers said.
Saudi official denies former crown prince confined to palace
DUBAI (Reuters) – A senior Saudi official on Thursday denied as “baseless” a New York Times report that Prince Mohammed bin Nayef has been confined to his palace and barred from traveling abroad after being replaced by the king’s son as next in line to…
