Thousands rally in Beirut over politician’s presidential election call
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Thousands of protesters rallied in Beirut on Friday to support Christian faction leader Michel Aoun’s call for Lebanon to elect its president by popular vote to address a crisis that has paralyzed government and parliament.
German U.N. official seen as favorite for Libya post: envoys
UNITED NATIONS/GENEVA (Reuters) – Martin Kobler, a German United Nations official currently overseeing the mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is the top candidate to take over as head of the world body’s mission to Libya, U.N. diplomats s…
Saudi king to meet with Obama amid Gulf concerns over Iran deal
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Saudi King Salman will meet with U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington on Friday to seek more support in countering Iran, as the Obama administration aims to use the visit to shore up relations after a period of tensions.
Iranian official says there are ways to free U.S. journalist: NPR
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The speaker of Iran’s parliament said there were “practical ways” to free Jason Rezaian, the Washington Post’s correspondent in Tehran who has been tried on espionage charges, and said a prisoner swap was one possible option.
At least 10 killed in armed attacks in Tajikistan, U.S. embassy shut
MOSCOW (Reuters) – At least eight policemen and two gunmen were killed in Tajikistan on Friday in attacks the authorities in the Central Asian nation blamed on forces loyal to the country’s own deputy defense minister.
U.S., allies conduct 21 air strikes against Islamic State: U.S. military
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – An international coalition led by the United States conducted 15 air strikes against Islamic State in Iraq on Thursday and also targeted the militant group with six strikes in Syria, the U.S. military said in a statement on Frida…
After Iran deal, EU bids to restart Israel-Palestinian talks
LUXEMBOURG (Reuters) – Arab countries will join the Middle East Quartet in New York at the end of September to seek ways to revive peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, the EU’s top diplomat said on Friday, part of a new European diplomatic …
Support for Merkel drops over handling of refugee crisis
BERLIN (Reuters) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s popularity has dropped abruptly over her handling of Europe’s refugee crisis, a poll for ARD television network showed.
Cameron wins Spain’s backing for EU reform drive
MADRID (Reuters) – David Cameron won Spain’s support on Friday for his campaign for European Union reforms before a British referendum on membership, with his counterpart in Madrid, Mariano Rajoy, saying a British EU exit would be “unthinkable”.
Ahead of Greek election, Syriza’s ‘lost generation’ deserts Tsipras
ATHENS (Reuters) – So divided has Syriza’s youth wing become over the direction of Greece’s leftist party, that when its council planned to convene at the end of August, the meeting was abandoned. Too many of its 71 members were on the point of quittin…
