Israeli court orders closed-door hearings in NSO surveillance firm case
An Israeli court on Thursday ordered closed-door hearings in Amnesty International’s legal bid to stop NSO Group exporting surveillance software, which rights groups say is used to spy on journalists and dissidents worldwide.
Seeking peace in Libya and Iran, EU haunted by past diplomatic inaction
After war broke out again in Libya early last year, a special team of EU diplomats in Tripoli was forced back to neighboring Tunisia to do what they had been doing for several years: wait.
U.N. says around 350,0000 Syrians have fled Russian-led assault in Idlib
Around 350,000 Syrians, mostly women and children, have fled a renewed Russian-backed offensive in the opposition-held Idlib province since early December, and have sought shelter in border areas near Turkey, the United Nations said on Thursday.
Trump might raise Burisma hacking with Putin: White House
U.S. President Donald Trump may discuss the reported hacking of Ukrainian energy firm Burisma the next time he talks to Russian President Vladimir Putin, White House adviser Kellyanne Conway told reporters at the White House on Thursday.
Lebanon on brink of forming government: caretaker finance minister
Lebanon is on the brink of forming a new government, caretaker finance minister Ali Hassan Khalil said on Thursday.
Rescuers hunt for survivors as Pakistan landslide death toll rises
Army helicopters flew rescue missions for the third day running in an avalanche-hit area of Pakistani-Kashmir as the death toll from the disaster rose to 77 on Thursday, officials said.
UK’s Prince Harry appears in public for first time since royal split
Britain’s Prince Harry made his first public appearance on Thursday since Queen Elizabeth acceded to the wishes of her grandson and his American wife Meghan to step back from their senior royal roles and seek a more independent future.
Russian parliament backs Putin’s pick for PM after ‘January Revolution’
The Russian parliament overwhelmingly backed President Vladimir Putin’s surprise choice for prime minister on Thursday after what one daily called a “January revolution”, a major political overhaul that some say could set Putin up as leader for life.
Factbox: Russia’s new PM pledges to accelerate work on national projects
Russia’s new prime minister, Mikhail Mishustin, promised on Thursday to speed up work on achieving national goals set two years ago by President Vladimir Putin across a wide range of policy areas from health to infrastructure.
French unions block ports as pension strikes lose steam
French trade unions blocked ports and disrupted power production on Thursday, trying to force President Emmanuel Macron to ditch a planned pension overhaul, but turnout dropped again at protest marches and the impact of transport strikes weakened.
