U.S. pull diplomats from Iraqi city, citing threats from Iran
The United States announced on Friday it will effectively close its consulate in the Iraqi city of Basra and relocate diplomatic personnel assigned there following increasing threats from Iran and Iran-backed militia, including rocket fire.
Brazil’s Bolsonaro says to resume campaigning on Oct. 12: TV
Brazil’s front-running far-right presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro, still recovering from a near fatal stabbing, said on Friday he intends to resume campaigning on Oct. 12, five days after the first-round vote.
Qatar says regional security alliance with U.S. at risk with Gulf dispute
A proposed regional security alliance bringing together the United States, Gulf allies, Egypt and Jordan, is at risk of credibility if a Gulf dispute is not resolved, Qatar’s foreign minister said on Friday.
Delivery of Russian S-300 system to Syria has begun: Lavrov
The delivery of a Russian S-300 surface-to-air missile system to Syria has already begun, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday despite Israeli objections to the transfer.
Syria could face tough sanctions if it blocks political process: U.S. diplomat
The United States will pursue “a strategy of isolation,” including sanctions, with its allies if President Bashar al-Assad holds up a political process aimed at ending Syria’s seven-year war, a top U.S. diplomat for Syria told Reuters on Friday.
China says ‘no cause for panic’ over U.S. ties, but won’t be blackmailed
The Chinese government’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, said on Friday there was “no cause for panic” over friction between Beijing and Washington, but warned that China would not be blackmailed or yield to pressure over trade.
Palestinians say seven killed as Israeli troops fire on Gaza protest
Israeli soldiers shot dead seven Palestinians, including two boys, who were among thousands of people who thronged to the fortified Gaza Strip border on Friday as part of weekly protests launched half a year ago, Gaza health officials said.
Russia’s Lavrov takes swipe at U.S. ‘attacks’ on international order
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov suggested on Friday that the United States had undermined efforts to reach international agreements ranging from Middle East peace, Iran, climate and trade.
Kenyan workers say they warned Unilever before attacks in post-2007 vote violence
A group of Kenyan tea plantation workers have written to the chief executive of Unilever saying they had warned the firm’s local managers they would be caught up in ethnic violence after a disputed election in 2007, before being hunted and attacked.
Major quake and tsunami cause deaths in Indonesian city
A tsunami caused deaths when it hit a small city on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi on Friday after a major quake, collapsing buildings and cutting off power, officials said, although the exact number of casualties was not clear.
