Iran and Syria sign deal for military cooperation
Iran and Syria signed a deal for military cooperation in a meeting between the defense ministers of the two countries in Damascus, the Tasnim news agency reported on Monday.
EU
Netanyahu says has not given up on U.S. recognition of control over Golan
Israel is not giving up trying to gain US recognition of its sovereignty over the Golan Heights, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday.
U.S. and China officials meet as Thursday tariff deadline looms
U.S. and Chinese officials met for the first time in more than two months to try find a way out of their deepening trade conflict, but there was no evidence that the low-key discussions would halt a new round of U.S. tariffs due on Thursday.
Russian military braces for massive war games in the east
Russia’s military forces in the country’s east were put on high alert Monday ahead of massive war games that also involve China and Mongolia, the largest show of power in nearly 40 years, the Russian defense minister said.
US not discussing recognition of Israeli sovereignty on Golan — Bolton
US President Donald Trump’s national security adviser John Bolton on Wednesday said the administration wasn’t discussing potential recognition of Israel’s claim to sovereignty over the Golan Heights, despite reported pressure from Jerusalem to make the move.
Hurricane Lane strengthens to Category 5 as it heads for Hawaii
Hurricane Lane strengthened to a Category 5 storm on Tuesday as it headed toward Hawaii where residents braced for ‘life threatening’ winds and flooding when it hits the U.S. islands this week, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.
Iraq’s neighbors siphon Fertile Crescent water supply for their own agriculture, power projects
The Islamic State hold on territory has been broken, but Iraq now faces another existential threat as it battles neighboring Iran and Turkey for access to an increasingly scarce flow of water to the once-flourishing Fertile Crescent running down the spine of the country.
Erdogan vows Turkey will not be cowed by US
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared Saturday that his country would not be cowed by the United States, his latest broadside in the bitter feud between Ankara and Washington.
Britain urges US, Europe to ‘go further’ in countering Russia
New British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt on Tuesday (Aug 21) will urge the United States and European countries to do more to call out Russia’s ‘malign behavior’ and keep Vladimir Putin in check, notably by implementing tough sanctions.
Fire that prompted closure of parts of Yosemite Park is contained
A massive and deadly California wildfire that sent choking smoke into Yosemite National Park, causing a temporary closure of large parts of the tourist destination, is completely contained, fire officials said on Sunday.
EU minister: Brexit vote could ‘in theory’ be reversed
Britain’s vote to leave the European Union could ‘in theory’ be reversed although there is a still a strong probability it will go ahead, said the European Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs Pierre Moscovici on Monday.
Amid Vatican talks, China official says foreign forces can’t control religion
Religious matters in China cannot be controlled by foreigners, Beijing’s seniormost official for religion wrote in a Communist Party journal, amid talks with the Vatican to resolve a dispute over the appointment of Catholic bishops.
U.S. welcomes Saudi Arabia’s pledge of $100 million for Syria
The United States on Thursday welcomed Saudi Arabia’s contribution of $100 million to help stabilize parts of Syria no longer held by Islamic State, which comes as the Trump administration looks to cut back on foreign aid.
Wall St. rallies on solid earnings, U.S.-China trade talks
U.S. stocks rebounded on Thursday with the Dow posting its biggest percentage gain in over four months, as positive earnings and waning trade jitters buoyed investor confidence.
U.S. and Mexico to set up joint team to fight drug cartels
U.S. and Mexican law enforcement authorities will set up a joint team based in Chicago targeting the leaders and finances of drug cartels that ship opioids into the United States, aiming to stanch a spike in overdose deaths, officials said on Wednesday.
Mexico unsure if it will finish NAFTA talks with U.S. in August
Mexico’s economy minister on Wednesday said that Mexico and the United States may not meet an August goal to finish bilateral talks to revamp the NAFTA trade deal, which is beset by disagreements over automobile trade rules and other issues.
U.S. Says Small Russian Satellite A Space Weapon
Russia has deployed a suspicious satellite the United States says is part of Moscow’s plans to attack orbiting satellites in a future conflict, a State Department official revealed in Geneva on Tuesday.
Evacuations, rescues as ‘historic’ floods hit northeastern U.S.
New Jersey declared a partial state of emergency on Tuesday as forecasts for further heavy rainfall posed new danger in parts of that state, New York and Pennsylvania, where rescuers hauled people from waterways, flooded cars and homes.
North, South Korea agree on third summit to be held in Pyongyang
North and South Korea agreed to hold a summit in Pyongyang in September, the latest step forward in cross-border ties this year after more high-level talks on Monday, the South’s Unification Ministry said.
More than 100 large wildfires in U.S. as new blazes erupt
Six large new wildfires erupted in the United States, pushing the number of major active blazes nationwide to over 100, with more expected to break out sparked by lightning strikes on bone-dry terrain, authorities said on Saturday.