Heavy security in Tehran as campaigning starts for Iran’s May presidential vote
ANKARA (Reuters) – Campaigning officially started on Friday for Iran’s May presidential election, pitting pragmatist President Hassan Rouhani against hardliners just as the United States reassesses its policy on the Islamic Republic.
U.S. defense secretary says Syria dispersed warplanes, retains chemical weapons
TEL AVIV (Reuters) – U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Friday that Syria had dispersed its warplanes in recent days and that it retained chemical weapons, an issue he said would have to be taken up diplomatically.
Pakistan opposition vows protests to press PM to resign during investigation
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistani opposition party lawmakers tore up the agenda and shouted in a parliament session on Friday as they demanded that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif step down during an investigation into his finances.
Turkey at ‘final stage’ with Russia over S-400 missile system: Defense minister
ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkey’s talks with Russia about the purchase of the S-400 air missile defense system have reached a “final stage”, although this does not mean a deal will be signed immediately, Defense Minister Fikri Isik said on Friday.
Police seek possible accomplices of Paris gunman
PARIS (Reuters) – Investigators are trying to find out whether the man who shot dead a policeman in Paris had accomplices, a prosecutor said, adding that he had shown no previous signs of radicalization despite a long prison record.
Thai royal agencies brought under control of new king
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand’s parliament has agreed in a confidential session to transfer control of royal agencies from the government to new King Maha Vajiralongkorn, members of the military-appointed legislature said on Friday.
Trump invites Vietnam’s prime minister to visit U.S.
HANOI (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump has invited Vietnam’s prime minister to visit the United States, the Southeast Asian nation’s government said on its website on Friday.
Evacuations from besieged Syrian towns end after two-day halt
BEIRUT (Reuters) – The evacuation of Syrian civilians and fighters from four besieged towns, part of a mediated swap deal between the warring sides, ended on Friday after a 48-hour halt, state media and a rebel official said.
German soccer bomb suspect wanted to drive down share price: prosecutor
FRANKFURT (Reuters) – German police arrested a man on Friday suspected of detonating three bombs that targeted the Borussia Dortmund soccer team bus in the hope of forcing down the club’s share price and making a profit on an investment, prosecutors sa…
Ocean drift analysis shows MH370 most likely in new search area: Australian scientists
SYDNEY (Reuters) – A new ocean debris drift analysis shows missing Malaysia Airlines MH370 is most likely within a proposed expanded search area rejected by Australia and Malaysia in January, the Australian government’s scientific agency said on Friday…
