30 killed, 100 wounded in wedding attack in Turkish city of Gaziantep

Here is a round-up of global news developments:

• A bomb blast at a wedding party in the southern Turkish city of Gaziantep has claimed the lives of at least 30 people and wounded nearly 100 more. The Gaziantep Governor has been cited as saying that the explosion was a terror attack.
• Turkey takes a u-turn on the Syria crisis, saying President Bashar al-Assad can be part of the transition period in the conflict-ridden Arab country. Turkish prime minister Binali Yildirim says Ankara is willing to become more of a regional player in regard to Syria over the next six months.
• Israeli authorities have extended for three more months the detention term of Palestinian journalist Omar Nazzal who was due to be released on Monday. Israelis arrested Nazzal in the occupied West Bank in April and have ever since held him behind bars without charge or trial.
• Tunisian premier-designate Youssef Chahed has unveiled his unity government line-up which includes seven ministers from the previous administration. The cabinet still needs the approval of the lawmakers. Chahed took the position after his predecessor Habib Essid lost a confidence vote in parliament in late July.
• Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has pledged to stand to the end by the Iraqi government in its fight against terrorism. During a meeting with visiting Iraqi parliament speaker Salim al-Jabouri, Rouhani has called for religious and ethnic unity among Iraqis in order to uproot terrorism in the country.
• Iran’s Intelligence Ministry says it has identified and arrested a number of terrorists in the west of the country. It also says the terrorists were part of two Takfiri groups busted last week. Iranian forces have captured a large number of explosive belts and weapons during the operation.
• Thousands of Yemenis flood the streets of the capital Sana’a and several others cities to express support for the newly-formed Supreme Political Council. The body is tasked with running the country. It was formed by representatives from ex-president Saleh’s General People’s Congress party and the Ansarullah movement.
• The Organization of Islamic Cooperation has expressed deep concern over what it calls human rights violations in Indian-controlled Kashmir. The secretary-general of the 57-member body has called for international help to stop the bloodshed in Kashmir. At least 63 civilians have been killed in the Himalayan region since last month.

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