Lebanon PM designate says wants government soon, won’t be under Hezbollah sway
Lebanon’s prime minister designate said he would work to form a government within six weeks to help pull the country out of a deepening economic crisis, dismissing accusations he would be dominated by the powerful Iranian backed-Hezbollah movement.
UK on track for Jan. 31 Brexit as PM Johnson wins vote on deal
Prime Minister Boris Johnson won approval for his Brexit deal in parliament on Friday, the first step toward fulfilling his election pledge to deliver Britain’s departure from the European Union by Jan. 31 after his landslide victory.
Pope and U.N. chief appeal for environment, religious tolerance
Pope Francis and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday appealed for nuclear disarmament, environmental protection and religious tolerance.
ICC to probe alleged war crimes in Palestinian areas, pending jurisdiction
The International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor said on Friday she would launch a full investigation into alleged war crimes in the Palestinian Territories as soon as the court’s jurisdiction had been established.
Russia names gunman behind Moscow shooting, death toll rises to two
Russian investigators on Friday named the man who opened fire on the headquarters of the FSB security service in Moscow as Yevgeny Manyurov, a 39-year-old former security guard from just outside the capital.
Hong Kong protesters denounce police raid on fund-raising platform
Hundreds of Hong Kong anti-government activists gathered outside a detention center on Friday, demanding the release of arrested activists and denouncing a police crackdown on a fund-raising platform supporting protesters in need.
British PM Johnson wins vote on Brexit deal in time for Christmas
Prime Minister Boris Johnson won approval for his Brexit deal in parliament on Friday, the first step towards fulfilling his election pledge to deliver Britain’s departure from the European Union by Jan. 31 after his landslide victory.
Level playing field a must for future EU-UK ties – EU’s Michel
The European Union will insist on guarantees of a level-playing field in any agreement on future ties with Britain after Brexit, the chairman of EU leaders said on Friday.
EU ready to take formal steps to conclude Brexit deal on EU side
The European Commission took note on Friday of the British parliament’s support for the withdrawal agreement with the EU, a key step to complete the process in January, and said it was ready to take formal steps to adopt the deal on its side too.
Wider Image: Portraits from the frontlines of global protests
Protests swept the globe in 2019, with millions of people taking to the streets from Catalonia to Colombia, Haiti to Hong Kong.
