Doubts over success of firearm buybacks in New Zealand as amnesty ends
New Zealand’s ambitious firearm amnesty ends on Friday with questions over its success, as critics say the police only managed to collect about a third of the weapons that were outlawed after the Christchurch massacre.
U.S. to resume military training program for Pakistan: State Department
The Trump administration has approved a resumption of Pakistan’s participation in a coveted U.S. military training and educational program more than a year after it was suspended, the State Department said on Thursday.
Fishermen cry foul as China bids to fix drought-hit lake
After wading through mudflats, Fan Xinde, a 36-year-old fisherman, sifts old copper coins from the debris scooped from the bed of a dwindling river that feeds China’s biggest freshwater lake, the Poyang.
India widens internet shutdown to parts of Delhi to curb protests
Internet and text messaging services were suspended by government order in parts of India’s capital Delhi on Thursday, mobile carriers said, widening a communications clampdown in restive areas stretching from disputed Kashmir to the northeast.
Guatemala considers taking Mexican asylum seekers under U.S. plan: official
Guatemala’s Interior Minister Enrique Degenhart told Reuters on Thursday that he had analyzed whether Mexicans seeking asylum in the United States could be sent instead to the Central American country, adding that he could not “rule out” that possibili…
Guinea president announces constitutional referendum that could keep him in power
Guinea President Alpha Conde said on Thursday that he would seek a public referendum on a new constitution, a move his opponents fear he will use as a pretext to hang onto power beyond the end of his constitutional mandate.
U.S. deports Mexicans far from border, may send others to Guatemala
The United States began flying Mexican deportees deep into Mexico on Thursday, and senior U.S. and Guatemalan officials said Mexicans seeking U.S. refuge might be sent to the Central American nation, in a renewed effort to slash border crossings.
Two Australian firefighters die as flames circle Sydney; prime minister cuts short holiday
Two volunteer Australian firefighters died while battling blazes around Sydney, authorities said on Friday, forcing Prime Minister Scott Morrison to cut short a vacation in Hawaii as temperatures were again set to soar.
PM Johnson promises to wrap up Brexit for Christmas, parliament to vote
The British parliament will vote on Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal on Friday, a move the prime minister described as delivering on his promise to “get the Brexit vote wrapped up for Christmas” following his landslide election victory.
Russia, Ukraine, EU agree ‘in principle’ on new gas deal: EU official
Russia, Ukraine and the European Commission, after hours-long talks on Thursday, agreed in principle on a new gas deal starting after Jan 1, 2020, European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic told a briefing.
