Iran seeks European assurances as US oil sanctions loom
Reuters, Dubai
Iran called on Saturday for European assurances of support in the face of Washington’s intent to reimpose sanctions on vital Iranian oil sales to force Tehran to curb its nuclear, missile and regional activities.
Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif spoke by telephone with the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, and his counterparts from Germany, Sweden and Denmark about European measures to counter the U.S. sanctions, the Iranian state news agency IRNA reported.
Putin, Trump to hold talks on sidelines of G20 in Argentina
Reuters, Moscow
Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S President Donald Trump will hold a long and substantive meeting on the sidelines of the G20 in Argentina which runs from Nov. 30 to Dec. 1, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said on Friday.
He said a separate meeting between the leaders on Nov. 11 on the sidelines of events in Paris to commemorate the centenary of the end of World War One would be short.
Myanmar’s
parliamentary
by-polls kick off
Xinhua, Yangon
A multi-party parliamentary by-election began in Myanmar Saturday morning with over 900,000 eligible voters expected to cast their ballots for open seats.
A total of 69 candidates, including 62 from 24 political parties and seven individual candidates, are competing for 13 parliamentary seats in nine regions and states, where 1,383 polling stations are set up.
IS kills 3 Iraq village chiefs in a week
AFP, Kirkuk
Jihadists have killed three village chiefs in less than a week in Iraq’s restive north, local officials said Saturday, as the targeting of state representatives escalates.
Iraq declared victory against the Islamic State group last year, but small jihadist cells still wage attacks, especially in mountainous areas like the northern province of Kirkuk.
There, IS has attacked state infrastructure and government officials, especially targeting local administrative heads known as “mukhtars.”
Aussie nun forced to leave Philippines
AP, Manila
An Australian nun who angered the Philippine president by joining anti-government protests has called on Filipinos to unite and fight human rights abuses ahead of her forced departure from the country.
Sister Patricia Anne Fox is set to leave the Philippines on Saturday for Australia after the Bureau of Immigration ordered her deported months ago and downgraded her missionary visa to a temporary visitor’s visa, which expires Saturday. During a farewell news conference Saturday, the 71-year-old Fox called on Filipinos to speak up and help the marginalized fight to gain land, houses and jobs.
