U.S. envoy: 700,000 displaced in northwest Syria
Two hundred air strikes by Syrian government and Russian warplanes have hit Syria’s Idlib region in the last three days, the U.S. special envoy for Syria James Jeffrey said on Thursday.
Europe to Britain: So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, adieu
With sorrow, some support for Brexit and even hope of a return, Europeans from across the EU’s 27 remaining members bade farewell to the United Kingdom on the eve of its historic departure.
Coronavirus causes slump in Chinese travel: study
The coronavirus outbreak in China caused a slump in outbound travel from China around its New Year period, data from travel analytic firm ForwardKeys showed on Thursday, a setback from what would otherwise have been a record year.
China virus epicenter province reports 317 new cases
China’s Hubei province, at the epicenter of an outbreak of the new coronavirus, had 317 new cases of the virus as of midday (0400 GMT) on Thursday, the province’s Communist Party boss Jiang Chaoliang told a news conference.
Factbox: Airlines suspend China flights over coronavirus
Airlines have started suspending flights to China in the wake of a new coronavirus outbreak, which as of Thursday had killed 170 people and infected almost 8,000.
Algerian protests blunted without a shot fired in anger
While uprisings across North Africa and the Middle East have been quelled by deadly force, Algerian authorities are on the way to becalming a powerful protest movement without a shot fired – at least for now.
Pompeo plays down rift with Britain over Huawei, but steadfast on Chinese threat
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday sought to defuse tension over Britain’s decision to allow China’s Huawei a role in its communication network, but described the Chinese Communist Party as the biggest threat of the current era.
U.S. to renew waivers on Iran nuclear work, sanction nuclear organization: sources
The United States will allow Russian, Chinese and European firms to continue work at Iranian nuclear sites to make it harder for Iran to develop a nuclear weapon, but will impose sanctions on its nuclear entity and top official, sources said on Thursda…
Russia frees U.S.-Israeli woman jailed in drug bust after Putin pardon
Russia freed a U.S.-Israeli woman on Thursday who had been jailed on drugs charges, after President Vladimir Putin granted her a pardon following a high profile lobbying campaign championed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Trump launches coronavirus task force as U.S. readies more Wuhan evacuations
The Trump administration launched a task force with a brief to protect the United States from the fast-spreading coronavirus, as the country prepared to evacuate more of its citizens from the epicenter of the outbreak in Wuhan, China.
