For buoyant Assad, Syrian war enters tricky phase
President Bashar al-Assad’s path to a final victory in the war in Syria is strewn with diplomatic landmines that will complicate his attempt to recover “every inch” of the country and may leave big areas out of his grasp indefinitely.
Spain to invest $35 million in initial costs of migrant influx
Spain aims to invest 30 million euros ($35.1 million) in an emergency plan to manage its new status as the main destination for seaborne migration from Africa, the government said.
Macedonia sets Sept. 30 for referendum on name deal with Greece
The Macedonian parliament on Monday set Sept. 30 as the date for a referendum on NATO and EU membership bids and on its agreement with Greece on the country’s name.
Syrian government forces and allies close to capturing entire southwest
Government forces are on the brink of seizing the last part of southwestern Syria still in rebel hands, having taken control of the border with the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, a war monitor and a media outlet close to Damascus said on Monday.
Suicide bomber kills prominent Afghan militia commander
A suicide bomber in the eastern Afghan province of Nangarhar killed at least four people, including a prominent local militia commander, considered a leading opponent of Islamic State fighters in the region, officials said on Monday.
Macedonia sets Sept. 30 as date for referendum on name deal with Greece
The Macedonian parliament on Monday set Sept. 30 as the date for a referendum on the country’s NATO and EU membership bids and on its agreement with Greece on the country’s name.
Armed attacks disrupted vote in a fifth of Malian polling stations
Attacks by gunmen or other violence disrupted around a fifth of Mali’s polling stations during Sunday’s presidential election, with about three percent unable to function at all, the Ministry of Territorial Administration said on Monday.
EU observers offer mixed picture of first Zimbabwe vote since Mugabe’s fall
Zimbabwe held its first election on Monday since former president Robert Mugabe was ousted in a de facto coup and European Union observers said the vote was “very smooth” in some places and “totally disorganized” in others.
Vietnam jails fugitive tycoon for nine years after one-day trial
A Hanoi court sentenced a fugitive Vietnamese tycoon to nine years in prison on Monday for deliberate disclosure of state secrets following a one-day trial, the government said.
Italian far right’s Salvini under fire after black athlete hurt in attack
Opposition politicians accused far-right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini on Monday of creating a climate of hate in Italy following a spate of racist attacks that have coincided with his anti-immigration drive.
