Reluctance to free ‘most dangerous’ Taliban prisoners slows Afghan peace talks: sources
Western powers are backing the Afghan government’s refusal to free hundreds of prisoners accused of some of Afghanistan’s most violent attacks, a release demanded by the Taliban as a condition to start peace talks, five sources told Reuters.
Discord thwarts U.N. nuclear watchdog’s plans for virtual Iran meeting
Opposition led by China to a planned resolution rebuking Iran at the U.N. nuclear watchdog’s 35-nation board has forced it to call an in-person session after four days of meeting online because of the coronavirus, diplomats said on Thursday.
After second round of voting, Kenya wins spot on U.N. Security Council
Kenya was elected to the U.N. Security Council on Thursday, defeating Djibouti in a second-round of voting by the 193-member General Assembly after an initial ballot failed to produce a clear winner.
‘Taking the knee’ seems to be from Game of Thrones: UK foreign minister
British foreign minister Dominic Raab said on Thursday that “taking the knee” seems to have come from the fantasy TV drama series “Game of Thrones” and felt like a symbol of subjugation and subordination.
Bank of England to remove any portraits of former governors linked to slave trade
The Bank of England said on Thursday it would remove any portraits still on display within the 325-year-old central bank of former governors or directors with links to the slave trade.
PM Johnson tells Macron: Brexit talks cannot stretch into autumn
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told French President Emmanuel Macron that it does not make sense to extend talks on a post-Brexit trade deal with the European Union into autumn, a statement issued by Johnson’s office said on Thursday.
U.S. House panel hears from Facebook, Google, Twitter on election security
Top officials from Facebook, Google and Twitter were grilled by U.S. lawmakers on Thursday at a virtual hearing on foreign influence and election security ahead of the Nov. 3 presidential contest.
France’s top court rejects core of law targeting online hate speech
France’s top court rejected most of a draft law that would have compelled social media giants such as Facebook and Twitter to remove any hateful content within 24 hours, it said on Thursday.
U.S. offers $10 million reward for capture of former Colombian rebels
The United States on Thursday said it was offering rewards of up to $10 million each for information leading to the arrest or conviction of two former leaders of Colombia’s FARC rebel group.
Diplomacy in the time of coronavirus: Johnson and Macron trade bows, thumbs up
Standing apart on either side of a strip of red carpet outside Number 10 Downing Street, Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron demonstrated the unusual reality of international diplomacy in the coronavirus era.
