Pompeo urges coalition to take back Islamic State detainees, boost funding
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday urged members of the coalition fighting Islamic State to take jihadi detainees back to their countries and step up their funding to help restore infrastructure in Iraq and Syria, parts of which were sever…
Pakistan protests block roads but fail to oust prime minister
Thousands of anti-government protesters blocked highways across Pakistan on Thursday in a bid to oust prime minister Imran Khan, though the disruption fell short of what organizers had planned.
North Korea rebuffs U.S. offer of December talks, urges halt in military drills
North Korea said on Thursday it had turned down a U.S. offer for fresh talks, saying it was not interested in more talks merely aimed at “appeasing us” ahead of a year-end deadline Pyongyang has set for Washington to show more flexibility in negotiatio…
ICC approves investigation into deportation of Myanmar’s Rohingya
The International Criminal Court said on Thursday it had approved a request from ICC prosecutors to investigate crimes against humanity against Myanmar’s Rohingya minority who were systematically driven across the border to Bangladesh.
Four killed, scores wounded in Baghdad protests: police, medics
At least four protesters were killed and more than 65 wounded on Thursday in clashes with Iraqi security forces who were trying to push them back to their main camp in central Baghdad, police and medical sources said.
Suspend Hong Kong status in event of China crackdown: U.S. commission
The U.S. Congress should enact legislation that would suspend the special economic status Hong Kong enjoys under U.S. law should China deploy forces to crush protests in the territory, a congressional advisory body said on Thursday.
Lebanon’s crisis is ‘dangerous’, evokes start of civil war: defense minister
Lebanon’s Defence Minister said on Thursday the country was in a “very dangerous situation” and compared street unrest of recent days to the start of 1975-90 civil war.
China’s Xi says restoring order and stopping violence is most urgent for Hong Kong
China President Xi Jinping said restoring order and stopping violence is the most urgent task right now for Hong Kong, China’s state television CCTV reported on Thursday.
S&P lowers credit ratings on three Lebanese banks on liquidity pressures
S&P Global Ratings said on Thursday it was lowering the ratings on three Lebanese banks further into junk, citing rising liquidity pressures due to faster deposit erosion.
Taiwan opposition candidate calls for return to one China formula
Taiwan’s opposition presidential candidate Han Kuo-yu called on Thursday for a return to a consensus with the mainland that there is only one China, but rejected Beijing’s formula for Hong Kong-style “one nation, two systems” unification.
