Pirates kidnap 19 crew members of Greek tanker off Nigeria
Pirates have kidnapped 19 crew members of a crude oil tanker off Nigeria, an official with the ship’s operator said on Thursday.
Russia declares Bulgarian diplomat ‘persona non grata’: Interfax
The Russian government declared a Bulgarian embassy official “persona non grata” on Thursday, Interfax news agency reported, in a tit-for-tat move after Sofia expelled a Russian diplomat and also declined a visa to Russia’s incoming defense attache.
Striking unions cripple France in stand-off with Macron
Railway workers, teachers and emergency room medics launched one of the biggest public sector strikes in France for decades on Thursday, determined to force President Emmanuel Macron to abandon plans to overhaul France’s generous pension system.
Israel’s foreign minister says he hopes Corbyn loses British election
Israel’s foreign minister said on Thursday that he hopes Jeremy Corbyn loses next week’s British election, citing allegations of anti-Semitism buffeting the Labour Party leader.
Malaysia’s Anwar says sexual assault claim is ‘politics at its worst’
Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysia’s prime-minister-in-waiting, denied on Thursday that he had sexually assaulted a former male aide, describing the accusation as “politics at its worst” days before his ruling party’s annual congress.
Russia expels Bulgarian diplomat in tit-for-tat move
The Russian government has expelled a Bulgarian diplomat in a tit-for-tat move after Sofia declined a visa to Russia’s incoming defense attache, Bulgaria’s foreign ministry said on Thursday.
Cyprus petitions The Hague to safeguard offshore rights
Cyprus has petitioned the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague to safeguard its offshore mineral rights, its president said on Thursday, upping the ante with neighbor Turkey which disputes its claims.
India may force social media platforms to offer user verification: government sources
India’s proposed new privacy bill may require large social media platforms to offer an identify-verification option, a potentially precedent-setting effort to rein in the spread of “fake news”, two government sources told Reuters on Thursday.
China too distracted to worry about Taiwan, Taipei mayor says
China has too many other issues to worry about at the moment, from protests in Hong Kong to a slowing economy, to give much thought to Taiwan, the mayor of Taipei, sometimes seen as a potential future president, said on Thursday.
Finland’s Social Democrats set to pick PM candidate on Sunday
Finland’s Social Democrats, who lead the five-party government, will hold a council meeting on Sunday, Dec. 8 where they are set to pick a candidate for prime minister after incumbent Antti Rinne was forced out by coalition partner the Centre Party.
