DUBAI / Reuters Iran’s parliament gave initial approval on Sunday to a bill to boost spending on Tehran’s missile programme and the elite Revolutionary Guards in retaliation for new sanctions imposed by the United States. Lawmakers overwhelmingly approved the outlines of the bill to “counter America’s terrorist and adventurist actions” as some chanted “Death to America”, the state broadcaster IRIB …

Bloomberg German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s chief rival, Social Democrat Martin Schulz, slammed US President Donald Trump and said he still stands a chance to win the election despite polls showing him trailing six weeks ahead of the contest. Schulz said he wouldn’t criticize Merkel’s approach to a possible nuclear conflict over North Korea, saying German political parties should stand together. …

Bloomberg The US’s top general plans to meet with South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Monday, just days after his counterpart Trump said military options against North Korea were “locked and loaded.” General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, will meet with senior military officials along with Moon, according to an official with South Korea’s Blue …