Globe Trot: Turkey tries to eradicate growing Kurdish influence

TURKEY: Turkey’s prime minister has called for snap elections after failing to form a coalition government. The ruling Islamic parties took a hit when a Kurdish coalition won 41 percent of the vote in June elections, and it’s not surprising the majority has dragged its feet. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is trying to oust Kurdish fighters near the Syrian border. Now we will see if he can rid the political landscape of their growing influence.

IRAN: U.S. Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., became the second leading Democrat to come out against President Barack Obama’s Iran nuclear deal today, making it difficult for the president to secure an agreement with no strings attached by Capitol Hill. Earlier this week, Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., joined Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., in opposing the deal, which would grant sanctions relief to Iran for disclosing its nuclear capacity. Even those who may support a negotiated agreement with Iran have decried the current deal for cumbersome and weak inspections requirements.

NORTH KOREA: Remember Ji Seong-ho, the North Korean who dragged himself on crutches 6,000 miles to freedom? A Human Rights Foundation campaign to raise money for other North Korean refugees has collected $14,000 in pledges based on his story.

LEBANON: The U.K.’s departing ambassador to Lebanon has sent a not-so-funny, funny farewell letter.

CHINA: In the latest issue of WORLD, read about the hundreds of new Christian schools in China that don’t officially exist.