Top U.S. general cautiously optimistic about Afghan peace push
The top U.S. general said on Friday he was cautiously optimistic about efforts to reach a negotiated end to the nearly 18-year-old war in Afghanistan, in remarks that followed talks in Kabul with Afghanistan’s president and the top U.S. negotiator.
Sweden rebuffs Trump over US rapper charges, saying courts independent
Sweden on Friday dismissed an angry outburst from U.S. President Donald Trump after prosecutors charged U.S. rapper A$AP Rocky with assault, saying the country’s judicial system was independent of political interference.
Indonesia plans new rules to curb jump in imports of plastic waste
Indonesia plans tighter rules to combat a surge in imports of plastic waste, such as a registry of trash exporters and tougher border checks, officials said on Friday.
Cyprus extends remand of seven Israelis for alleged rape, five freed
A court in Cyprus on Friday detained seven Israeli youths for further questioning in connection with a group rape alleged by a British tourist on the island.
Ireland says UK’s Johnson ‘very unhelpful’ on Brexit, risks no deal
Ireland’s foreign minister, Simon Coveney, said new British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s approach to Brexit was “very unhelpful” and would block an agreement, after Johnson rejected a key Irish demand his predecessor had agreed to.
UK PM Johnson set out Brexit position to France’s Macron
British Prime minister Boris Johnson spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday night, Johnson’s spokesman told reporters, saying the new British leader used the call to set out his position on Brexit.
Erdogan says Turkey to turn elsewhere if U.S. will not sell F-35s
President Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday Turkey would turn elsewhere for fighter jets if the United States will not sell it the F-35 jets, adding that a U.S. decision to cut Ankara from the program would not deter it from meeting its needs.
Erdogan says Turkey will destroy militants in north Syria regardless of U.S. talks
Turkey is determined to destroy the “terror corridor” east of the Euphrates river in Syria regardless of how talks conclude with the United States on a planned safe zone in the country’s north, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday.
U.N. says Syria air strikes killed at least 100 civilians in past 10 days
Air strikes by the Syrian government and its allies on schools, hospitals, markets and bakeries have killed at least 103 civilians in the past 10 days, including 26 children, U.N. human rights chief Michelle Bachelet said in a statement on Friday.
Bulgaria parliament overturns presidential veto on F-16s deal
Bulgarian lawmakers overturned on Friday the presidential veto of a deal to purchase eight Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter jets from United States, clearing the way for Bulgaria’s biggest military purchase since the fall of Communism.
