Author: Reuters
Greek banks face closures, bailout or not - sources
Some large Greek banks may have to be shut and taken over by stronger rivals as part of a restructuring of the sector that would follow any bailout of the country, European officials have told Reuters.
Yemen government tells UN it agrees to conditional truce
Yemen's government told the United Nations on July 8 it would agree to a truce to end more than three months of fighting provided key "guarantees" were met, a spokesman said.
Lawmakers bash US Army plan to cut 57,000 troops and civilians
Lawmakers on July 8 sharply criticized long-announced US Army plans to cut nearly 60,000 soldiers and civilian personnel due to tight budgets, warning it was risky and short-sighted at a time of Middle East conflict and rising tensions with Russia.
Afghan delegation to meet Taliban as twin attacks hit Kabul
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said on July 7 he had sent a delegation to Pakistan to meet with representatives of the Taliban, his first acknowledgement of official talks with the insurgents fighting to topple the government in Kabul.
Euro zone gives Greece until July 11 for debt deal
Euro zone members have given Greece until the end of the week to come up with a proposal for sweeping reforms in return for loans that will keep the country from crashing out of Europe's currency bloc and into economic ruin.
Iran nuclear talks extended
Iran and major powers gave themselves at least until July 9 to negotiate an agreement on the Iranian nuclear program, but a source from one of the powers said on July 7 they had to wrap up in the next 48 hours.
Obama says US to increase support for Syria opposition
President Barack Obama pledged to increase US support for the moderate opposition in Syria's civil war on July 6 and said the United States needed to do more at home to prevent attacks and combat Islamic State efforts to recruit followers.
Air strikes kill nearly 100 in Yemen, cast shadow on truce talks
Nearly 100 people were killed on July 6 in air strikes across Yemen, the Houthi-run state news agency reported, as a Saudi-led coalition stepped up attacks that are likely to weigh on efforts to broker a humanitarian truce.
New Greek finance minister is a change of style, not substance
Euclid Tsakalotos, the mild-tempered professor who was appointed as Greece's new finance minister on July 6, is a clear change in style from his combative predecessor Yanis Varoufakis.
Greek finance minister quits to smooth talks after 'No' vote
Greece's outspoken finance minister resigned on July 6, removing a major obstacle to any deal to keep Athens in the euro zone after Greeks voted resoundingly to back the government in rejecting the austerity terms of a bailout.
