Obama backs Iraq ambassador nominee Brett McGurk. Reuters: 'President Barack Obama has no plans to withdraw Brett McGurk's nomination to be U.S. ambassador to Iraq, despite Republican demands after revelations that the nominee had engaged in an extra-marital affair with a journalist whom he later married, the White House said on Sunday. ...' I wouldn't care about the affair if it weren't an ambassador post; he's got to represent the United States and he's got to look good.
Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Nayef to be laid to rest. BBC: 'Saudi Arabia is preparing to bury Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud, who died in Geneva on Saturday. Prince Nayef, who was also deputy prime minister and interior minister, will be buried after sunset prayers in the holy city of Mecca. ...' He'll likely be succeeded by his brother, Prince Salman, who's 76.
Grenade thrown at Greek TV station. Via YNet: 'A hand grenade was thrown outside Greek TV station Skai but did not explode, police said on Sunday, as people voted in the parliamentary election. ...'
Nigeria: Another explosion in Kaduna. Stratfor: 'A third explosion occurred at a church in northern Nigeria's Kaduna state, AFP reported June 17. The number of casualties is unknown.' BBC:
At least three blasts have hit churches in the northern Nigerian state of Kaduna.
A local Red Cross worker told Associated Press that at least two people had been killed and 48 injured in two of the attacks.
Two blasts hit Sunday church services close to the city of Zaria.
No one has yet claimed responsibility, but Kaduna state has previously seen attacks by the radical Islamist group Boko Haram. ...
