Hottest ticket in Washington? It's for the Pope at Capitol
WASHINGTON (AP) — It’s the hottest ticket in Washington, a chance to sit in the upper galleries of the U.S. House for Pope Francis’ historic speech to Congress.
WORLD HEADLINES
Greek lawmakers debate third bailout deal
Greek lawmakers were preparing to vote Thursday on the terms of the country’s third international bailout since 2010, which have split the ruling radical left Syriza party and met with a wary response in Berlin. The vote comes a day before eurozone finance ministers meet to issue their verdict on the draft deal reached by Athens and its creditors after weeks of negotiations — and despite Germany saying it needs
Turkey, Iran help broker rare truce in Syria
By Mariam Karouny and Tom Perry BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syria’s warring parties declared a 48-hour ceasefire in two frontline areas on Wednesday after unprecedented mediation from Turkey and Iran, signaling a new approach by some of the main regional backers of the opposing sides. Three officials close to Damascus described the truce as a result of mediation by Turkey, which backs rebels fighting against President Bashar al-Assad, and Iran, whose
Syrian air strikes kill 31, rebels bombard Damascus: monitor
Syrian government air strikes on rebel-held areas near Damascus killed at least 31 people on Wednesday, and insurgents bombarded the capital with rockets that killed at least 13 people, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported. The violence came ahead of an expected visit by Iran’s foreign minister to Damascus to discuss a new plan to resolve the more than four-year-long civil war. Warplanes targeted several areas in the insurgent-held
South Korean, 80, sets himself on fire in anti-Japan protest
By Dagyum Ji and Ju-min Park SEOUL (Reuters) – A 80-year old South Korean set himself on fire on Wednesday during a protest calling for Japan to apologize for forcing Korean girls and women to work in military brothels during World War Two, days ahead of the anniversary of the end of hostilities. With the anniversary looming, Wednesday’s protest was larger than usual, with about 2,000 demonstrators, including three of
Three killed in PKK grenade attack on security outpost in southeast Turkey
A Turkish soldier and two fighters from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) were killed when militants attacked a military outpost in the southeastern province of Diyarbakir, security sources said on Wednesday. At least four other soldiers and a local security contractor were wounded when militants fired a rocket-propelled grenade at the outpost, sparking a firefight. The incident is the latest in a surge of violence during the recent weeks between
IAEA to discuss its role, money needs under Iran deal on Aug 25
An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) meeting later this month will consider how to finance the monitoring of Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers, a crucial step toward an eventual end of sanctions on Tehran. The IAEA has been asked to report on whether Iran is taking the necessary measures to shrink its nuclear program as agreed in the July 14 accord, which was days later enshrined in a Security
Spain arrests man marketing Islamic State clothing range
Spanish police have arrested a man for selling T-shirts showing a British aid worker as he was about to be executed by Islamic State militants as well as a range of clothing bearing IS slogans, the government said on Wednesday. The man, a Spanish citizen whose name was not released, was detained during a police operation on Tuesday night in Naron in northwestern Spain. From his shop and online he
IS claims to have beheaded Croatian hostage in Egypt
The Islamic State group claimed Wednesday to have beheaded a Croatian hostage abducted in Egypt, posting a purported picture of the victim’s body on IS-affiliated Twitter accounts. Tomislav Salopek, was abducted last month west of the capital Cairo. The jihadists had issued a 48-hour deadline that ended last Friday threatening to kill him if Muslim women prisoners were not released from Egyptian jails.
Turkey: 3 killed after PKK attacked military post
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey’s military says Kurdish rebels attacked a military outpost in southeast Turkey, triggering a clash that left a soldier and two militants dead.