UK minister visits Iran for first time since Trump quit nuclear deal
A junior British minister will arrive in Tehran on Friday to discuss the future of Iran’s international nuclear deal, in the first visit to the country by a UK minister since U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 agreement.
EU, Britain talk up chances of autumn Brexit deal
EU and UK negotiators on Friday talked up prospects of agreeing a Brexit deal this autumn, citing recent progress in detailing very close security cooperation to take effect after Britain leaves the bloc.
Palestinians clash with Israeli police in West Bank protest
Israeli security forces fired tear gas and rubber bullets on Friday at rock-throwing Palestinians protesting against land seizures for Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, among the disputes stalling peace efforts.
Journalists arrested over documents used in Northern Ireland documentary
Two journalists were arrested on Friday over the suspected theft of documents from Northern Ireland’s police ombudsman that were used in a documentary about the investigation into the 1994 murder of six soccer fans.
Tunisian energy minister, officials sacked over graft accusations – government
Tunisia’s Prime Minister Youssef Chahed sacked the energy minister, Khaled Kaddour, and four other senior figures linked to that ministry on Friday over corruption accusations, government officials said.
Senior Italian official casts doubt over nationalizing Autostrade
A top Italian official raised doubts on Friday over the idea of nationalizing Autostrade per l’Italia following a deadly bridge collapse, saying the other option was to launch a European tender for the toll-road company’s concessions.
Germany urges Russia to help prevent humanitarian crisis in Syria
German Chancellor Angela Merkel expects the Kremlin to use its influence with the Syrian government to prevent a humanitarian disaster in the rebel-held northern region of Idlib, a government spokeswoman said on Friday.
Germany warns on Serbia-Kosovo land swap idea
Germany warned on Friday that redrawing Serbia’s border with Kosovo would fan ethnic tensions, but the EU’s top diplomat said the bloc would abide by a deal if it respected international law.
Norwegian PM shuffles cabinet as male ministers seek family time
Norway’s Conservative Prime Minister Erna Solberg replaced her ministers for oil and transportation in a cabinet reshuffle on Friday after both men sought to spend more time with their families.
Norway’s new oil minister says Lofoten moratorium remains in place
Norway’s moratorium on oil exploration in the waters around the Arctic Lofoten-Vesteraalen-Senja archipelago will remain in place, the country’s new oil minister Kjell-Boerge Freiberg told reporters on Friday.
