Trump seeks to revive ‘Arab NATO’ to confront Iran
The Trump administration is quietly pushing ahead with a bid to create a new security and political alliance with six Gulf Arab states, Egypt and Jordan, in part to counter Iran’s expansion in the region, according to U.S. and Arab officials.
Turkey’s Erdogan plans state visit to Germany: Bild newspaper
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan will pay a state visit to Germany, probably around late September, German newspaper Bild reported in Saturday editions, citing government sources in Berlin and Ankara.
Putin says Trump can ‘be my guest’ in Moscow, White House welcomes idea
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday he wanted U.S. President Donald Trump to be his guest in Moscow, an idea that the White House welcomed despite lingering criticism over the Helsinki summit.
Maduro in denial over Venezuela hyperinflation: former finance minister
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has refused to recognize the country’s hyperinflationary problem and has no plan to address it, a former finance minister, who served under the late socialist leader Hugo Chavez, said in an interview.
U.S. expresses concern about ‘flaws’ in Pakistan campaign
The United States expressed concern on Friday about “flaws” in the campaign process leading up to the Pakistani election this week.
Israeli police raid al-Aqsa mosque after clashes; two dead in Gaza
Israeli troopers entered Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa mosque, the third-holiest shrine in Islam, and carried out arrests on Friday in what police described as a pursuit of youths who had lobbed rocks and fireworks during clashes with its forces outside.
Trump thanks Kim as North Korea hands over Korean War remains
North Korea on Friday handed over 55 boxes carrying remains thought to be of U.S. soldiers killed in the 1950-53 Korean War, a first step in implementing an agreement reached at a landmark summit in June.
Anger and misunderstanding fuel Turkey-U.S. standoff
Any Turkish hopes that a crisis with the United States might be eased by personal chemistry between their two leaders hit the rocks this week when President Donald Trump directly warned Turkey of possible sanctions over a detained U.S. pastor.
Cambodia blocks some independent news media sites: rights group
Cambodia blocked the websites of some independent media on Friday, a human rights group said, just two days before a general election in which Prime Minister Hun Sen faces almost no challenge to his 33-year-old rule.
Envoys accuse Bosnia lawmakers of undermining crime fight
International envoys have accused some Bosnian lawmakers of damaging the fight against organized crime, corruption and terrorism by failing to pass a criminal code in line with international standards.
