Ukraine says detains senior Islamic State militant
Ukraine’s state security service (SBU) said on Friday it had detained a senior Islamic State militant, Al Bara Shishani, who illegally came to Ukraine in 2018.
Russia exchanges spies with Lithuania, Norway in Cold War-style swap
Russia freed two Lithuanians and a Norwegian on Friday in return for two Russian spies held in Lithuania, in a Cold War-style spy swap that brought several high profile espionage cases to a close.
Israel says it is probing ‘harm to civilians’ from deadly Gaza air strike
Israel’s military said on Friday it was investigating “harm caused to civilians” from an air strike it carried out in Gaza that Palestinian medics said killed eight members of one family including five children.
Pope compares politicians who rage against gays to Hitler
Pope Francis said on Friday politicians who rage against homosexuals, gypsies and Jews remind him of Hitler.
North Korea calls U.S. Democrat Biden a ‘rabid dog’ nearing death
North Korea’s state media on Friday stepped up a personal attack on former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden for slandering its leader, calling the Democratic presidential candidate “a rabid dog” that needed to be put down.
Highway blockade reveals splits in Hong Kong protest movement
Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters partially unblocked a key highway on Friday and then blocked it again during the evening rush hour, exposing splits in a movement that has been largely leaderless in months of often violent unrest.
Germany says two citizens detained in Hong Kong
Two German citizens have been detained in Hong Kong and are receiving consular support, a source at the German foreign ministry said on Friday.
In Lebanon, a renowned central bank governor faces attack
It was 2008 and unlike many countries, Lebanon was sailing through the worst global downturn in 80 years largely unscathed.
Ex-finance chief Safadi agrees to be put forward as Lebanon’s PM
Mohammad Safadi, a former finance minister, has agreed to be Lebanon’s prime minister if he wins the support of leading parties, Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil said on Friday.
Bolivia’s rival factions pursue dialogue to douse anger on streets
Bolivia’s rival political factions were pursuing dialogue on Friday to unsnarl a democratic crisis, to help calm anger on the streets of highland city of La Paz despite schools remaining closed and fuel deliveries disrupted by road blocks.
