Death toll surges to 46 as Iraq unrest accelerates; cleric blames politicians
The death toll from days of violent demonstrations across Iraq surged to 46 on Friday, most of them killed in the last 24 hours as unrest rapidly accelerated and the country’s most powerful cleric placed the blame squarely on politicians.
Exclusive: Iran not ‘drawing back’ militarily after Saudi attack-US admiral
Iran has not drawn back to a less threatening military posture in the region following the Sept. 14 attack on Saudi Arabia, the top U.S. admiral in the Middle East told Reuters, suggesting persistent concern despite a lull in violence.
Thai military files sedition case against opposition leaders, academics
Thailand’s military has filed a sedition case with police against a group of opposition politicians and academics, accusing them of stirring unrest with talk of amending the constitution, police said on Friday.
Restive election climate could deepen Tunisia’s political impasse
Dissatisfaction with established parties in Tunisian politics means Sunday’s parliamentary elections may not yield a clear winner, complicating the process of coalition building at a pivotal moment for the economy.
Hong Kong brings back colonial-era emergency powers to quell violence
Hong Kong’s embattled leader Carrie Lam invoked colonial-era emergency powers on Friday for the first time in more than 50 years in a dramatic move intended to quell escalating violence in the Chinese-ruled city.
Three Dutch people died from eating tainted meat in past two years: agency
Three people have died and one woman had a miscarriage in the Netherlands over the past two years due to eating processed meat tainted with the listeria bacteria, the national heath agency RIVM said on Friday.
Ukraine says plans second major prisoner swap with Russia
Ukraine plans to carry out a major prisoner swap with Russia and hopes it will take place next week, Ukraine’s foreign minister, Vadym Prystaiko, said late on Thursday.
Proposals offer chance for Brexit deal, says UK PM Johnson’s spokeswoman
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson views the Brexit proposals he sent to the European Union as offering a “broad landing zone” from which a Brexit deal could emerge, his spokeswoman said on Friday, again calling for Brussels to intensify talks.
Finnish sword attack suspect kept under arrest
A Finnish district court ordered on Friday the continued detention of a man suspected of killing a Ukrainian woman and wounding nine people with a sword at a vocational school in eastern Finland on Tuesday, police said after the hearing.
Greece says Turkey can and must control migrant flows to Europe
Greece’s prime minister accused Turkey on Friday of appearing to “exploit” Europe’s migrant crisis for its own ends and said Ankara could and should control migrant flows to the continent.
