Catalan leader under pressure to drop independence
Catalonia’s secessionist leader faced increased pressure on Monday to abandon plans to declare independence from Spain, with France and Germany expressing support for the country’s unity.
France
Iran’s foreign minister urges Europe to defy US if Trump sinks nuclear deal
Iran’s foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, has called on Europe to defy US sanctions if the Trump administration torpedoes the international nuclear agreement with Tehran.
Five held after ‘failed bomb attempt’ in upmarket Paris district
Five people are in custody after an apparent failed bomb attempt in an upmarket district of Paris.
Merkel celebrates fourth-term victory; right-wing nationalists win seats in German parliament
German voters delivered Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative Christian Democrats a fourth consecutive term and the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party a spot in the parliament in Sunday’s federal election, which was widely seen as a referendum on Ms. Merkel’s performance over the past 12 years.
Hurricane Jose staying off U.S. East Coast as Storm Maria forms
Hurricane Jose is expected to pass east of the North Carolina coast on Monday and remain off the U.S. East Coast from Virginia to New England, while Tropical Storm Maria formed and is forecast to become a hurricane early next week, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said on Saturday.
Terrorist Attack in France: At least 60 killed as truck crashes into Bastille Day crowd
France’s national holiday turned bloody and violent Thursday night in the southern city of Nice, as a truck drove through crowds of Bastille Day revelers and gunmen attacked several tourist haunts throughout the city.
Officials: IS determined to produce chemical weapons
The Islamic State group is aggressively pursuing development of chemical weapons, setting up a branch dedicated to research and experiments with the help of scientists from Iraq, Syria and elsewhere in the region, according to Iraqi and U.S. intelligence officials.
France retaliates to Paris terror attacks, hits ISIS command center, training camp in Syria
French warplanes pounded Islamic State positions in Syria on Sunday as police in Europe widened their investigations into coordinated attacks in Paris that killed more than 130 people.
Obama huddles with Putin, backs France’s pursuit of deadly terrorists, on sidelines of G-20 summit
President Obama said Sunday at an international summit that America stands with France in its pursuit of those who committed the ‘horrific’ terror attacks in Paris and met informally with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Iranian official says expects nuclear deal to be implemented this year
Iran’s nuclear negotiator Abbas Araqchi said on Monday he expected a deal with six world powers on shrinking Tehran’s atomic program in exchange for sanctions relief to be implemented by year-end.
France laying groundwork to recognize ‘Palestine’
Indications the French do not intend to bring a Middle East peace resolution to the UN Security Council in the coming months were strengthened Tuesday after Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius met his Palestinian Authority counterpart and made no mention of the resolution in a statement after the meeting.
France not backing away from plans to submit UN resolution on two-states
France denied on Wednesday that it was backing away from plans to submit a UN Security Council resolution calling for a two-state solution based on the 1967 lines.
France to Propose ‘UN Security Council Resolution’ to Bring Mideast Peace
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius warned Sunday of an “explosion” in the absence of Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts during a visit to the region Sunday, after Paris said it would propose a U.N. Security Council resolution to set a framework for negotiations.
Israel, Hamas Agree to 72-hour Truce
As Operation Protective Edge enters its fifth week, Israel and Hamas have agreed to an Egyptian proposal for a 72-hour ceasefire beginning Tuesday morning.
Pro-and-Anti-Israel Rallies Take Place Throughout the World
As the conflict in Gaza entered its third week, pro-and-anti Israel rallies took place throughout the world. Since the beginning of the war, a surge in anti-Jewish hate crimes has taken place especially in Europe, leading to fears among Jewish communities that Europe is no longer a safe haven for its population.
EU set for election ‘Super Sunday,’ with far-right vote in spotlight
European elections reach their culmination on “Super Sunday” when the remaining 20 of the EU’s 28 countries go to the polls, with the vote expected to confirm the dominance of pro-European centrists despite a rise in support for the far-right and left.
Christians in CAR threatened by Islamists
More than four months after Islamic rebels seized control of the Christian-majority Central African Republic (CAR), many non-Muslims are now faced with the prospect of being forced to live under Islamic law, according to Morning Star News.
Will growing Islamist unrest restore their Caliphate?
The recent Arab unrest against U.S. embassies throughout the Middle East may prove to be the galvanizing event Muslims need to unite their disparate “Arab Springs” and usher in the return of the Islamic Caliphate.
Iran Says Pastor Nadarkhani Must Be Executed For Being “Zionist”
Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani faced tense hours early Saturday, October 1, after a government official said he should be executed for being a traitorous “Zionist” and committing “security crimes.”
Poland Rescues Christian Refugees
Poland has granted asylum to 16 Christian refugees who accompanied Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski on a flight back from Tunisia.The Foreign Ministry said Friday, June 17, that the six adults and 10 children were “political refugees” from Eritrea and Nigeria, whose lives have been upturned by recent turmoil in North Africa.