World Briefs: Erdogan to visit Gulf region amid row

Erdogan to visit Gulf region amid row

ISTANBUL • Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will be visiting Qatar and Saudi Arabia, which are locked in a deep diplomatic crisis, his office announced yesterday. Mr Erdogan will also visit Kuwait, the main mediator in the Qatar crisis, during his July 23-24 tour.

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said Ankara would continue to play a "constructive and active" role to help solve what he described as a "pointless" crisis. Mr Yildirim added that Mr Erdogan's visit would be part of this effort.

AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE


Lebanon ready for Syrian border op

BEIRUT • Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri said yesterday the army would carry out an operation in an area of the border with Syria that has been a base of operations for militants, including militant groups.

Speaking in Parliament, Mr Hariri described the operation planned for the Juroud Arsal area as carefully studied, the National News Agency reported. The government had given the army the "freedom" to act, he said.

REUTERS


Polish lawmakers to debate court Bill

WARSAW • Poland's Lower House of Parliament voted yesterday to start a debate on a Bill that the opposition said would erode judges' independence. Amid loud opposition chants of "shame, disgrace", Parliament voted to start debating the Bill that calls for an overhaul of the Supreme Court.

REUTERS

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on July 19, 2017, with the headline World Briefs: Erdogan to visit Gulf region amid row. Subscribe