Britain plans to send warship to South China Sea in move likely to irk Beijing
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Britain plans to send a warship to the disputed South China Sea next year to conduct freedom of navigation exercises, Defence Minister Michael Fallon said on Thursday, a move likely to anger Beijing.
Swedish PM reshuffles government after scandal, declines to call early election
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) – Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven on Thursday reshuffled his minority left-green government in response to a scandal over the outsourcing of IT services, shunning the more drastic option of calling an early election.
EU launches new aid scheme for Greece to help refugees with rent, cash
ATHENS (Reuters) – The European Commission offered 209 million euros ($245 million)in new emergency aid for Greece on Thursday to help refugees stranded in the country rent homes and pay for basics with a cash card.
Eyeing Deir al-Zor, Syrian army advances on Islamic State town
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syrian government forces are nearing the last major town held by Islamic State (IS) in Homs province, part of their multi-pronged advance toward the jihadist group’s strongholds in the east of the country, a military source said on T…
UAE asks banks to freeze accounts of those named on Qatar-linked blacklist: WAM
DUBAI (Reuters) – The United Arab Emirates’ central bank has asked all banks and financial institutions to stop dealing with 18 more individuals and entities with alleged links to Qatar, the state news agency WAM reported on Thursday.
With 20 months until Brexit, UK orders year-long EU migration study
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain ordered a year-long study of EU migration on Thursday to help it design a post-Brexit immigration system that is due to come into force just six months after report is completed.
Thousands of worshippers surge into Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa mosque, 113 injured
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Thousands of Muslim worshippers surged into Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque on Thursday and at least 113 were hurt in scuffles with police after Israel lifted security measures imposed at the sacred site in the face of days of violent …
In big win for Modi, Indian state leader teams up with his ruling BJP
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi scored a major political victory on Thursday when the chief minister of a populous northern state joined forces with his ruling party, further weakening the field of credible opposition candidat…
China’s exiled tycoon Guo ‘fabricated’ corruption claims: Xinhua
BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s Xinhua news agency accused fugitive tycoon Guo Wengui of using “fabricated and distorted information to mislead the public”, the latest salvo in a campaign to discredit the billionaire who has made accusations of Communist P…
Hezbollah and rebels agree ceasefire at Lebanese-Syrian border
BEIRUT (Reuters) – A ceasefire took effect on Thursday in a mountainous area of the Lebanese-Syrian border where Lebanon’s Hezbollah says it is on the verge of defeating jihadist militants in their last foothold at the frontier.
