Iran’s Rouhani backs Qatar, rejects ‘siege’
DUBAI (Reuters) – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani voiced support on Sunday for Qatar in its confrontation with Iran’s rival Saudi Arabia and its allies, saying a “siege of Qatar is unacceptable”, the state news agency IRNA reported.
U.S.-backed Syrian groups take Raqqa district from Islamic State
BEIRUT (Reuters) – A U.S.-backed Syrian coalition of Kurdish and Arab groups advanced against Islamic State in the jihadists’ Syrian capital of Raqqa on Sunday, taking the al-Qadisia district, they said.
Albania’s ruling Socialists set to win Sunday vote: exit poll
TIRANA (Reuters) – Albania’s Socialist Party looked set to win Sunday’s parliamentary vote, an exit poll showed, which would give the ruling party a mandate to push judicial reforms vital for membership of the European Union.
Iraqi forces say major Islamic State attack blocked outside old city of Mosul
ERBIL, Iraq (Reuters) – Iraq’s armed forces blocked a major wave of attacks by Islamic State suicide bombers outside the Old City of Mosul on Sunday, a military statement said.
Quake measuring 6.3 hits area northwest of Tonga: USGS
(Reuters) – A 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit an area about 200 kms (125 miles) northwest of the Pacific island of Tonga on Sunday, the U.S. Geological Survey said.
Istanbul police enforce ban on gay, transgender pride march
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkish police deployed in central Istanbul on Sunday to enforce a ban on the city’s annual gay and transgender pride march, blocking off a main street and dispersing groups of demonstrators who gathered nearby.
Sixty high-rise buildings fail safety tests after London fire: UK government
LONDON (Reuters) – Sixty high-rise buildings have failed safety tests carried out after a fire killed at least 79 people in London earlier this month, the British government said on Sunday.
UAE president receives Eid al-Fitr greeting in rare appearance since 2014 stroke
DUBAI (Reuters) – The president of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan, made a rare public appearance on Sunday since suffering a stroke in 2014, state news agency WAM said, receiving well-wishers for the Muslim Eid al-Fi…
Israel attacks Syrian posts after cross-border fire from Syria
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel said it had attacked Syrian military targets on Sunday after stray shells from fighting in Syria’s civil war landed inside the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights.
Merkel’s SPD rivals rally in search of German election rebound
DORTMUND/BERLIN, Germany (Reuters) – Germany’s Social Democrats (SPD) rallied behind their leader on Sunday, agreeing policies on investment, social justice and Europe that they hope will reverse a slump in opinion polls and end Angela Merkel’s 12-yea…
