Spanish PM says will vote no to Brexit deal if no change on Gibraltar
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said he would vote against the draft deal on Britain’s exit from the European Union on Sunday if he does not obtain assurances on the disputed peninsula of Gibraltar.
U.S. setting up ‘observation posts’ along Turkey-Syria border
The United States is setting up “observation posts” along parts of the border between Turkey and Syria to help keep the focus on defeating Islamic State militants in Syria, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Wednesday.
Saudi foreign minister says kingdom united around its leadership
Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister said on Wednesday the kingdom is united around its leadership, dismissing as “ridiculous” reports that members of the Saudi royal family want to see a change in the line of succession.
Lebanon can’t waste more time on government formation: president
Lebanese President Michel Aoun said on Wednesday the country no longer had the luxury of wasting time as a six-month government formation crisis drags on and economic pressures mount.
Iraq to unify customs procedures with Kurdistan, PM says
Iraq will unify customs procedures in all of its border areas, including within semi-autonomous Kurdistan, the prime minister said on Wednesday, signaling a further thaw in ties between Baghdad and Erbil after a resumption of Kirkuk oil flows.
U.S., South Korea to reduce scope of ‘Foal Eagle’ military exercise
U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Wednesday that a joint military exercise with South Korea called “Foal Eagle” would be reduced in scope next year so it does not harm diplomatic efforts with North Korea.
May meets EU’s Juncker on post-Brexit ties, EU sees progress but no deal yet
Prime Minister Theresa May and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker made progress in talks in Brussels on Wednesday on an outline of Britain’s future relations outside the EU but have yet to reach a final deal, an EU spokesman said.
U.S.’s Bolton says will meet Brazil’s Bolsonaro in Rio
U.S. President Donald Trump’s national security adviser John Bolton on Wednesday said he would meet with Brazil’s far-right President-elect Jair Bolsonaro this month in Rio de Janeiro.
Exclusive: Three more South Korean firms rigged U.S. military bids
South Korea’s S-Oil Corp , Hyundai Oilbank Co [INPTVH.UL] and Jier Shin Korea Co took part in a bid-rigging scheme that led to more than $100 million in overcharges to the U.S. military, according to two sources with knowledge of the matter.
Exclusive: U.S. weighs sanctions on Cuban officials over role in Venezuela crackdown
The Trump administration is considering imposing sanctions on Cuban military and intelligence officials who it says are helping Venezuela’s socialist government crackdown on dissent, according to a source with knowledge of the deliberations.
