Exclusive: Iran to match stance with Russia in push for Syria deal
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Iran has decided to unify its stance with Russia’s in the push for a political deal to end Syria’s civil war, Iranian officials said, in a sign it could ease its opposition to the departure of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad…
Yemen govt forces take northwestern city, U.N. concern at truce violations
DUBAI/GENEVA (Reuters) – Yemeni troops loyal to President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi gained control of an important northwestern city on Friday, residents and tribal sources said, as the U.N. scurried to salvage an increasingly fragile ceasefire.
U.N. envoy concerned at Yemen ceasefire violations, talks continue
GENEVA (Reuters) – The United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen voiced deep concern on Friday, the fourth day of peace talks, at “numerous reports of violations of the cessation of hostilities” and set up a mechanism to strengthen compliance, a U.N. stat…
Obama urges Turkey’s Erdogan to withdraw troops from Iraq: White House
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama urged Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan in a phone call on Friday to “deescalate tensions” with Iraq by continuing to withdraw Turkish forces from northern Iraq, the White House said in a statement.
U.S. studying Chinese complaint that B-52 flew near man-made island
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Pentagon said on Friday it was looking at Chinese complaints that a B-52 bomber recently flew near a Chinese artificial island in the South China Sea, a sensitive issue because the two powers disagree over Beijing’s territori…
Cuba’s Castro says U.S. can do more to normalize relations
HAVANA (Reuters) – Cuba is willing to keep improving relations with the United States even though Washington has failed to meet its key demands for normalization, Cuban President Raul Castro said on Friday, a day after the anniversary of detente.
No sign of peace for Turkey’s Kurds after Erdogan victory
SILVAN, Turkey (Reuters) – The shepherd’s widow no longer asks God for peace.
U.N. veto powers agree endorsement of Syria peace process
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The five United Nations Security Council veto powers have agreed the text of a draft resolution to endorse an international roadmap for a Syria peace process and the 15-member body is expected to adopt it later on Friday, dip…
Israeli troops kill three Palestinians in West Bank, Gaza clashes
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israeli soldiers shot dead a Palestinian who tried to ram them with a car and another who took part in a violent demonstration in the occupied West Bank on Friday, the military and medical officials said.
Exclusive: NATO agrees Turkey air defense package, seeks ‘predictability’
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – NATO allies agreed on Friday to send aircraft and ships to Turkey to strengthen Ankara’s air defenses on its border with Syria, the alliance’s chief said.
