Rattled by bombings, Indonesia set to pass tough anti-terror laws
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesia’s parliament is expected to adopt tough anti-terrorism laws on Friday as it seeks to combat a surge in homegrown Islamist militancy days after the deadliest attacks since 2002 bombings on the tourist island of Bali.
Italian PM-designate Conte taking his time to assemble cabinet
ROME (Reuters) – Italian Prime Minister-designate Giuseppe Conte began putting together his cabinet team on Thursday, with party leaders pushing for an 81-year eurosceptic economist to be given the pivotal post of economy minister.
Kremlin says unconvinced by Yulia Skripal’s first media outing
MOSCOW (Reuters) – The Kremlin said on Thursday it was skeptical about Yulia Skripal’s first media appearance since she and her father Sergei were poisoned by a nerve agent in England, saying it was unclear if she had been talking of her own free will….
Ukraine adds Russian tycoons and news agency RIA to sanctions list
KIEV (Reuters) – Ukraine has put Russian businessman Oleg Deripaska, whose company Rusal owns a large alumina plant in the country, and other prominent Russians on an expanded sanctions list, a document on the president’s website showed on Thursday.
Lebanon’s Hariri PM on track to become PM for third time
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Lebanon’s Saad al-Hariri is on track to become prime minister for a third time after winning the backing of a majority of MPs in official consultations on Thursday, and is expected to launch negotiations on a coalition government.
Sudan says committed to Yemen military campaign, weeks after signaling doubts
CAIRO (Reuters) – Sudan remains committed to a Saudi-led alliance fighting in Yemen, state news agency SUNA quoted President Omar al-Bashir as saying, three weeks after the Sudanese defense minister said Khartoum was assessing its participation in the …
Investigators say identify Russian military unit in MH17 downing
BUNNIK, NETHERLANDS (Reuters) – Prosecutors investigating the downing of flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014 said on Thursday they had identified the missile used to shoot down the plane as coming from Russia’s armed forces.
China scolds U.S. for withdrawing invite to naval drills
BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s Defence Ministry expressed regret on Thursday after the United States withdrew an invitation to China to attend a major U.S.-hosted naval drill, saying that closing the door does not promote mutual trust and cooperation.
Kidnapped U.N. staff member and son released in Afghanistan
KABUL (Reuters) – A member of the United Nations staff working in Kabul and her son, who were kidnapped in January, have been released, the UN’s mission in Afghanistan said on Thursday, expressing outrage at the death of her driver during the abduction…
Brexit transition will end in Dec. 2020, UK source denies reports of additional period
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain will end its implementation period with the European Union after Brexit in December 2020, a government source said on Thursday, denying a media report that Prime Minister Theresa May was seeking a new transition until 2023.
