Bulgaria bans full-face veils in public places
SOFIA (Reuters) – Bulgaria’s parliament on Friday banned the wearing of face veils in public in a move supporters said would boost security after Islamist militant attacks in Europe, but which drew criticism from Amnesty International.
German minister heads to Iran, business ties still limited
BERLIN (Reuters) – German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel heads to Iran next week with a planeful of industry executives keen to rebuild trade ties, but remaining U.S. sanctions and political concerns are holding back a hoped-for business boom.
Switzerland agrees extra $825 million for IMF poverty fund
ZURICH (Reuters) – Switzerland has agreed an extra 800 million Swiss francs ($825 million) for the International Monetary Fund to support economic reforms in poorer countries.
Anger in Africa at U.S. police killing of Ugandan immigrant
GULU, Uganda (Reuters) – The killing of Alfred Olango by police officers in the United States this week provoked shock and anger in the Ugandan town he left more than two decades ago to escape poverty and conflict.
Greece says Erdogan remarks on islands ‘dangerous’ for bilateral ties
ATHENS (Reuters) – Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Friday said comments by Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan questioning a treaty establishing borders between the two countries as ‘dangerous’ for bilateral ties.
Duterte visit to China may lead to changing alliances in East Asia
MANILA/BEIJING (Reuters) – Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte travels to China next month on a visit that could redraw alliances in East Asia after his incendiary comments about the United States and active courting of Washington’s chief rivals.
Peres funeral, attended by Obama, briefly brings Israeli, Palestinian leaders together
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israeli and Palestinian leaders shook hands during a brief chat and U.S. President Barack Obama gently reminded them of the “unfinished business of peace” at the funeral Friday of Shimon Peres, the last of a generation of Israel’s…
Syrian army, rebels wage fierce battles in Aleppo
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syrian government forces and rebels fought battles in the center of Aleppo and north of the city on Friday, a week into a Russian-backed offensive by the Syrian army to take the entire area, a war monitor and sources on both sides sa…
Famine killing tens of thousands in Boko Haram region: U.N.
GENEVA (Reuters) – Tens of thousands of people are dying of hunger in the area of west Africa where Boko Haram militants are active, the U.N. humanitarian coordinator for the region, told a news conference on Friday.
Enter stage left: the woman who could break Spain’s political deadlock
MADRID (Reuters) – A new actor is waiting in the wings of Spain’s nine-month-old political drama, with the potential to bring it to a badly needed conclusion and break up its male-dominated cast.
