Spain’s hosting of COP25 climate summit largely a done deal: Government Source
Hosting the COP25 climate summit in Madrid following Chile’s withdrawal as host, is largely a done deal, a Spanish government source said on Thursday.
U.S. envoy for North Korea Biegun tapped for No. 2 job at State Department: White House
President Donald Trump plans to nominate U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun to become the next deputy secretary of state, the White House said on Thursday.
Syria’s Assad says Kurdish controlled northeast Syria must return to state authority
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said on Thursday that his government’s ultimate goal was to restore state authority over Kurdish controlled areas in northeast Syria after an abrupt U.S. troop withdrawal but he expected it to happen gradually.
Mexican president dismisses report alleging military discontent
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador denied on Thursday discord among the upper echelons of the military, after a newspaper published the alleged speech of an army general sharply criticizing the government and a “politically polarized society…
UK grant for firm run by Johnson’s friend was appropriate: audit
A decision by Britain’s government to award a 100,000-pound ($129,500) grant to a company run by an American businesswoman who was a friend of Boris Johnson before he became prime minister was appropriate, a government audit report said.
Lebanon’s president calls for new government of technocrats to push economic reforms
Lebanese President Michel Aoun called on Thursday for the formation of a new government of technocrats following the resignation of prime minister Saad al-Hariri amid nationwide protests against a sectarian elite blamed for mishandling the economy.
Syria’s Assad says Kurdish controlled northeast of Syria to fall eventually under state control
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said on Thursday his country’s ultimate goal was to restore state authority over Kurdish controlled areas in northeast Syria after an abrupt U.S. troop withdrawal but said this would happen gradually.
British Columbia moves to introduce permanent daylight saving time
(This October 31 story corrects paragraph 5 to clarify that California has introduced legislation to move to permanent DST and not yet passed it, and sources Yukon’s plans to BC press release, para 6)
Bolivia election audit ready to start after street clashes turn deadly
Bolivia was set to start a politically charged review of its recent presidential election on Thursday, as the country contended with fresh protests and street clashes that left at least two dead and others injured.
Argentina sets floor under peso as reserves dwindle
Argentina’s central bank is setting a price floor under the volatile peso in hopes to avoid a sharp plunge in the currency after an opposition-won presidential election last Sunday shifted the country firmly back to the left.
