U.N. rights office urges Egypt to free blogger, lawyer, journalist
The U.N. human rights office called on Egypt on Friday to free a prominent blogger, lawyer and journalist allegedly mistreated in custody who are among several thousand people detained since street protests began a month ago.
Mexico ‘did well’ in releasing Guzman son to avoid violence, president says
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador defended security forces on Friday over their handling of a shocking outbreak of drug violence, saying they had saved lives by releasing a son of jailed kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman after his brief cap…
Blasts in Afghanistan mosque kill at least 62, wound more than 100
Blasts in a mosque in eastern Afghanistan during Friday prayers killed at least 62 men who had gathered for worship, local officials said.
France’s Macron criticizes NATO reaction over Turkish offensive
France’s president on Friday bemoaned Turkey’s offensive into northern Syria as “madness” and decried the North Atlantic Organisation’s (NATO) inability to react to the assault as a “serious mistake.”
Shells fall in northeast Syria despite five-day ceasefire agreement
Shelling could be heard at the Syrian-Turkish border on Friday morning despite a five-day ceasefire agreed between Turkey and the United States, and Washington said the deal covered only a small part of the territory Ankara aims to seize.
Lebanon’s Bassil urges reforms, no new taxes amid protests
Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil said on Friday that the government must not impose any new taxes, work to stop corruption and enact long-delayed reforms but warned that mass protests may lead to strife.
Turkey plans to establish 12 posts in Syria ‘safe zone’: Erdogan
Turkey aims to establish 12 observation posts in a planned so-called safe zone in northern Syria, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday, adding Ankara would respond if the Syrian government “makes a mistake” in the region.
Erdogan says he will discuss Syria ‘safe zone’ moves with Putin next week
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday he would discuss with Russia’s Vladimir Putin next week what steps to take in a planned “safe zone” in northeast Syria, adding that Moscow needs to lead efforts in the west to establish peace.
It was wrong not to take Boris Johnson seriously, Macron says
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who clinched a Brexit deal with the European Union on Thursday, had been underestimated.
Indonesia ramps up Pacific diplomacy with aid fund
Indonesia launched an international aid agency on Friday to strengthen its regional diplomatic relations, some of which have been strained by Jakarta’s approach to the restive Papua region.
