Soccer euphoria brings no lasting respite to Iraq violence
An overnight celebration of a soccer victory offered only brief respite to Iraq’s violence, as anti-government protesters returned to the streets and security forces fired on them with live ammunition, killing at least three and wounding dozens.
Claiming to be UK’s new ‘party of business’ UK Lib Dems enter election spending race
The anti-Brexit Liberal Democrats claimed the mantle of Britain’s “party of business” on Friday, setting out their proposed fiscal rules while dismissing rivals’ plans for the economy as unrealistic and undeliverable.
Erdogan aide says Russia’s Putin planning visit to Turkey in January
Russian President Vladimir Putin is planning a visit to Turkey in the first week of January, a senior aide to Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan told state broadcaster TRT Haber on Friday.
Ukraine says detains deputy of slain Islamic State ‘minister of war’
Ukraine’s security service said on Friday it had detained the deputy of Abu Omar al-Shishani, the man the Pentagon described as Islamic State’s “minister of war”, after he crossed into Ukraine on a fake passport last year.
Turkey says it will not step back from its purchase of Russian defenses
Turkey will not step back from its purchase of Russian S-400 missile defense systems, a senior aide to President Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday, two days after talks with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Bolivia’s ousted Morales can return, but would face inquiry: interim president
Bolivia’s interim President Jeanine Anez said on Friday that ousted former President Evo Morales is free to return, but would have to respond to allegations of electoral fraud and would not be immune from investigation.
Gang violence hits Mexican leader’s ratings, U.S. warns of ‘parallel government’
Support for Mexico’s president has fallen some ten percentage points during a surge in gang-related violence, a poll showed on Friday, just as the U.S. ambassador voiced concern about “parallel government” by cartels in parts of the country.
Amid protests, Chile moves towards dumping Pinochet-era constitution
Chilean lawmakers agreed on Friday to hold a referendum next April on replacing the country’s unpopular Pinochet-era constitution, bowing to demands of protesters who say the country’s decades-old social model has created deep inequality.
China envoy threatens to ban Swedish minister over Gui Minhai award
Sweden’s minister for culture defended freedom of speech at a literary award ceremony for detained bookseller Gui Minhai in Stockholm on Friday, after Beijing’s ambassador threatened to ban her from entering China if she attended the prize-giving.
France to host December 9 ‘Normandy’ summit in push for east Ukraine peace
The leaders of France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine will meet in Paris on December 9 in an attempt to advance efforts for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in eastern Ukraine, the French presidency said on Friday.
