7 December 2019; AFP: Twelve demonstrators were killed and dozens wounded late Friday after unidentified men attacked an anti-government protest camp in Baghdad, marking a new violent turn for the anti-government movement.
The bloodshed came as the US accused Iran of "meddling" in Iraq's turmoil and slapped sanctions on Iran-backed groups for allegedly cracking down on protesters.
DUBAI (Reuters) - A Chinese-American detained in Iran in 2016 and later charged for spying will soon be united with his family while an imprisoned Iranian will be released by Washington in return, Iran’s foreign minister said on Saturday.
“Glad that Professor Massoud Soleimani and Mr. Xiyue Wang will be joining their families shortly. Many thanks to all engaged, particularly the Swiss government,” Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted.
DAMASCUS, Dec 7 (NNN-SANA) – An unknown group attacked a U.S. base in an oil field, in the eastern province of Deir al-Zour overnight, pushing the U.S. forces to respond.
The attackers targeted the base, in the al-Omar oil field, in the northeastern countryside of Deir al-Zour, as truckloads of military gears were reaching the base.
The U.S. forces responded with artillery shelling and flare bombs, according to the report.
ANKARA, Dec. 6 (Xinhua) -- The maritime boundaries deal sealed between Turkey and the internationally recognized government in Libya has angered regional neighbors, inflaming tensions in eastern Mediterranean over energy resources.
The agreement, inked in Istanbul on Nov. 27 to delimit and especially extend maritime zones for Turkish energy explorations, is an attempt to block further Greek and Cypriot energy drilling activities in the Mediterranean, a move hailed as a "historic step" by the Turkish press and experts.
BAGHDAD (AP) — Gunmen in cars opened fire Friday in Baghdad’s Khilani Square. leaving at least 15 people dead and 60 wounded, Iraqi security and medical officials said. At least two of the dead were policemen.
Protesters fearing for their lives ran from the plaza to nearby Tahrir Square and mosques to take cover. It wasn’t immediately clear who did the shooting.
06 Dec 2019; MEMO: The director of Israel’s Central Elections Committee yesterday warned that it is unprepared for a likely third vote in less than a year, reported the Times of Israel.
“We don’t have staff, offices, equipment. The storerooms are empty. This is the current situation,” Orly Adas said during a press conference at the Knesset.
06 Dec 2019; MEMO: Sudan’s ruling council on Thursday hailed the exchange of ambassadors between Sudan and the US which ended a 23-year hiatus, Anadolu reports.
“It is a positive step in the right direction toward normalizing relations between the two countries along with removing Sudan from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism,” Mohamed al-Faki, spokesman of the Sovereign Council, told Anadolu Agency.
06 Dec 2019; MEMO: The Turkish president on Thursday said Turkey took NATO allies’ security concerns seriously and expected a similar policy toward Turkey from its alliance partners, Anadolu Agency reports.
Speaking to reporters about his meetings during Wednesday’s NATO leaders’ summit in London, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the main topics were the refugee crisis, fight against terrorism, burden sharing, cyber and hybrid threats, strengthening solidarity among allies, Russia and China.
DUBAI (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel al-Jubeir said there is a possibility of calming the situation in Yemen as a prelude to reaching a settlement in the four-year conflict, Saudi-owned channel Al-Arabiya cited him as saying on Friday.
Saudi Arabia released at the end of November a group of Yemeni prisoners belonging to the Iran-aligned Houthi group, a step that may support efforts to end a war that has killed tens of thousands and pushed millions to the brink of famine.
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanon said on Friday it had asked friendly states to help finance imports of essential goods, as sources said France is planning an international meeting to mobilize support for its former colony’s deep economic crisis.
Caretaker Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri said that his office had sent an appeal for assistance in securing credit for imports of food and raw materials for manufacturing.
The appeal was sent to Saudi Arabia, France, Russia, Turkey, the United States, China, and Egypt, Hariri said in a statement.
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