Exclusive: Surprise Syria truce hinged on Turkey’s deadline demand – top official
The surprise deal to suspend Turkey’s military offensive against Kurdish-led forces in Syria hinged on President Tayyip Erdogan’s demand that Washington agree a time limit on any ceasefire, a senior Turkish official said on Friday.
Violent clashes rock Barcelona on fifth day of separatist protests
Hundreds of protesters battled police in the heart of Barcelona on Friday, setting up fiery barricades and hurling rocks at security forces on the fifth day of unrest following the jailing of Catalan separatist leaders.
U.S. hits Cuba with new sanctions over human rights, Venezuela
The United States is imposing new sanctions on Cuba over its human rights record and its support for Venezuela’s government, the U.S. Commerce Department said on Friday.
Lebanon’s Hariri gives government 72-hour deadline to act amid protests
Lebanon’s Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri gave a 72-hour deadline on Friday to his “partners in government” to stop obstructing reforms and threatened to take a different approach otherwise, but stopped short of resigning.
Spanish minister warns protesters face up to six years in prison
Spain’s acting interior minister said on Friday violent protesters in Catalonia could face up to six years in prison under Spanish law.
‘Failure:’ Mexico admits bungled arrest of kingpin’s son after mayhem
Mexican officials on Friday admitted they had bungled the arrest of kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman’s son, who they let go during shootouts with drug gangs in the streets of a major city, but the president insisted his security strategy was working.
Factbox: Major incidents in Mexico’s drug wars
Heavily armed fighters surrounded security forces in a Mexican city and made them free one of jailed drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman’s sons, after his capture triggered gunbattles and a prison break that sent civilians scurrying for cover.
Factbox: Canada’s political party positions ahead of October 21 election
Here is a roundup of the main Canadian political parties’ positions ahead of the Oct. 21 federal election, where Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Party is neck and neck in opinion polls with the opposition Conservatives led by Andrew Scheer.
Spain closes Catalan protest group website and probes riots
A Spanish judge ordered the closure of a secretive Catalan protest group’s website on Friday as authorities scrambled to find who is behind street demonstrations that have turned unusually violent.
U.S. Supreme Court to hear Trump appeal over rapid deportation dispute
The U.S. Supreme Court stepped into a new immigration dispute on Friday, agreeing to hear an appeal by President Donald Trump’s administration of a lower court ruling that could frustrate a top priority of his: quickly deporting illegal immigrants.
