Saudi: Kingdom has no foreign ambitions
MUNICH – Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister on Friday defended his country’s foreign policy and its stance in Yemen and Syria, insisting that the kingdom has no ambitions beyond its borders.
Since taking power last year, King Salman has led his country toward an aggressive new stance, confronting longtime regional rival Iran by leading a military coalition fighting Iranian-allied rebels in Yemen.
Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said at a security conference in Munich Friday that Saudi Arabia is “a country that has no ambitions beyond its borders” and is guided by pragmatism.
Greek farmers upset about new taxes
ATHENS, Greece – More than a dozen tractors rolled through Athens on Friday, honking horns and flashing lights outside parliament as thousands of Greek farmers thronged the capital’s main Syntagma Square to protest tax hikes and pension reforms.
The two-day protest kicked off Friday morning with clashes between riot police and Cretan farmers wielding shepherd’s staffs that left 10 policemen slightly injured and smashed windows at the agriculture ministry.
Music blared from loudspeakers and protesters braving rain lit a bonfire near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the foot of parliament.
Egyptian doctors hold police protest
CAIRO – Thousands of Egypt’s doctors staged a rare protest against police abuses after accusations two doctors were beaten up by policemen in a Cairo hospital. The doctors’ union also voted to offer free services in public hospitals and to call a partial strike in two weeks unless the officers involved are held accountable, measures are taken to protect medics from police intimidation and the health minister submits his resignation.
Medics chanted “strike” and raised banners that read: “dignity for doctors.”
Israel says its ties with EU are better
JERUSALEM – Israel’s foreign ministry says relations with the European Union are “close and friendly” again after tensions arose last year over the bloc’s decision to label West Bank exports.
Spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon said the sides had “overcome the crisis” after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini spoke Friday.
He said Israel received assurances the move “is not a political step to determine future borders or to boycott Israel.”
In November, Israel suspended contact with EU officials on the political process with the Palestinians to protest the move, which it said is discriminatory.
Associated Press
