Russian lawmakers approve Mishustin as PM
Russia’s lawmakers approved Mikhail Mishustin as prime minister on Thursday in a lower house vote, less than 24 hours after President Vladimir Putin nominated him for the role.
Lesotho PM Thabane says he intends to resign: SABC
Lesotho Prime Minister Thomas Thabane announced his intention to resign on Thursday, the South African Broadcasting Corporation reported.
South Korea to decide on first transgender soldier amid debate
South Korea’s military said on Thursday it will hold a meeting to discuss whether it will discharge the first soldier to have undergone gender reassignment surgery, which has sparked national debate about the treatment of LGBT troops.
Record 45 million people across Southern Africa face hunger: U.N. food agency
The United Nations World Food Programme said on Thursday that a record 45 million people in the 16-nation Southern African Development Community faced growing hunger following repeated drought, widespread flooding and economic disarray.
Canadian, UK ministers pay respects to victims of plane downed by Iran
Foreign ministers from Canada and Britain paid their respects on Thursday to those who died when Iran shot down an airliner last week, ahead of talks between the affected countries to discuss their response.
Russia’s Putin confirms Mishustin as new prime minister
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday signed a decree appointing Mikhail Mishustin as prime minister, shortly after the former head of the tax service won the backing of parliament.
EU parliament condemns rights crackdown in Burundi ahead of 2020 election
The European parliament has passed a resolution condemning Burundi for restricting freedom of expression and violating human rights ahead of elections due in May this year.
Explainer: How Putin’s shake-up of Russian politics could pan out
Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed sweeping changes to the country’s political system that would shift powers away from the presidency in favor of parliament and the prime minister.
Ukraine asks FBI for help to probe suspected Russian hack of Burisma
Ukraine has asked the FBI in the United States for help in investigating a suspected cyberattack by Russian military hackers on the energy company Burisma, a Ukrainian interior ministry official said on Thursday.
Sweden suffers surge in bomb attacks as gang violence rises
A surge in drug-linked gang-violence in Sweden led to a 60% increase in bomb blasts in 2019, government statistics showed on Thursday, as police work to rid the streets of explosives and guns with more officers on patrol.
