Exclusive: Khashoggi murder further complicates ‘Arab NATO’ plan – U.S. sources
President Donald Trump’s strategy to contain Iranian power in the Middle East by forging Arab allies into a U.S.-backed security alliance was in trouble even before the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Now, three U.S. sources said, the plan …
Israeli intelligence minister calls for Gulf cooperation on aviation security, other areas
Israel and Gulf Arab states should cooperate on aviation security and other civilian areas such as transportation, commercial aviation and tourism, Israel’s intelligence minister told Reuters on Thursday after a visit to Oman.
Seventh body found under collapsed buildings in French city of Marseille
The body of a seventh victim has been found in the wreckage of two dilapidated buildings that collapsed this week in the city of Marseille, said the city’s mayor Jean-Claude Gaudin and fire brigade services.
EU watchdog proposes derivatives fix in case of no-deal Brexit
The European Union’s markets watchdog has proposed a temporary fix to avoid uncleared derivatives contracts worth trillions of euros being disrupted if there is a no-deal Brexit next March.
Car bomb kills several people in Iraq’s Mosul: medical, security sources
A car bomb blast near a restaurant in Iraq’s northern city of Mosul killed at least five people and wounded 14 others on Thursday, medical sources at a nearby hospital said.
Ecuador ex-president Correa denies seeking Belgian asylum
A lawyer for former Ecuadoran president Rafael Correa denied a report on Thursday that he had requested asylum in Belgium as he faces prosecution at home over a kidnapping case.
Center-right set to remain top in EU parliament: poll analysis
The European People’s Party will remain the biggest group in the European Parliament come elections in May, giving the center-right EPP’s lead candidate Manfred Weber a shot at succeeding Jean-Claude Juncker as EU chief executive, according to a Reuter…
WFP to double food aid to Yemen, says 14 million risk starvation
The World Food Programme plans to double its food assistance program for Yemen, aiming to reach up to 14 million people “to avert mass starvation”, it said in a statement on Thursday.
Iran’s economy to suffer but likely ride out U.S. sanctions storm
Iran is likely to ride out the storm from U.S. oil sanctions, suffering recession but no economic meltdown, thanks to rising crude prices and deepening divisions between the United States and other major powers, officials and analysts say.
Italian police make major heroin haul on ship from Iran
Italian police discovered 270 kg (600 lb) of heroin hidden in a container that arrived aboard a ship from Iran, the biggest such haul for at least 20 years in Italy, police said on Thursday.




