‘Cornerstones of cruelty’: Recalling Berlin Wall, Pompeo warns of authoritarianism
When Mike Pompeo was posted to Europe as a U.S. soldier in the late 1980s, he patrolled the border that marked the “Iron Curtain” dividing East and West.
North Korea says ‘window of opportunity closing’ for outcome of talks with U.S
A North Korean diplomat said on Friday the window of opportunity for progress in dialogue with the United States was getting smaller, adding that Pyongyang expects reciprocal steps from Washington by the end of the year.
‘So many dead’: Survivors describe terrifying Burkina Faso ambush
A mine worker shot during an ambush on a mining convoy in Burkina Faso said on Friday he was one of only three survivors from a bus with up to 80 people aboard, suggesting the death toll may be much higher than officially reported.
UK election: Conservatives steady at 40%, Labour up 1 point to 30%: poll
Support for Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Conservatives was unchanged at 40% while the opposition Labour Party was up one percentage point at 30% after the first days of campaigning for Britain’s Dec. 12 election, a poll by Panelbase showed.
Austria charges retired army colonel with spying for Russia for decades
Austrian prosecutors said on Friday they have charged a retired army colonel with spying and betraying state and military secrets, alleging that he worked for Russian military intelligence for at least 25 years.
IMF to release first tranche of $6 billion Pakistan loan package
Pakistan’s fiscal deficits are narrowing, the IMF said on Friday as it announced it would release the first tranche of its $6 billion financial assistance program to the country.
Bolivian opposition repeats call for new elections; Morales says going nowhere
Bolivian opposition leader Carlos Mesa asked Congress on Friday to pass an emergency bill setting the details of new elections as his political archenemy, President Evo Morales, vowed again not to buckle to mounting pressure on him to step down.
Hong Kong mourning for student spirals into street violence
Candlelight Hong Kong vigils mourning a student who died on Friday after a high fall during a pro-democracy rally quickly spiraled into street fires, bursts of tear gas and cat-and-mouse clashes between pro-democracy protesters and police.
India tightens security ahead of verdict on contested religious site
India deployed more than 5,000 troops and police in the northern town of Ayodhya and Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for calm, ahead of an expected court ruling on Saturday over control of a religious site violently disputed by Hindus and Muslims.
First Syria talks in more than a year ‘better than expected’ but no handshake
The opening round of the first Syrian peace talks in more than a year went “better than most people would have expected”, a U.N. envoy said, although delegates described a chilly atmosphere with those from opposing sides not yet shaking hands.
