India, Pakistan sign pact on cross-border temple visits
India and Pakistan signed an agreement on Thursday allowing Indian pilgrims to cross the border to a Sikh shrine in Pakistan, rare cooperation between the nuclear-armed rivals at a time of tension and clashes elsewhere on their frontier.
Russia to send more military policemen, hardware to Syria: RIA
Russia will send a further 276 military policemen and 33 units of military hardware to Syria in a week, Russia’s RIA news agency cited a defense ministry source as saying on Thursday.
Saudi minister says maximum pressure only way to get Iran to negotiate
A senior Saudi official said on Thursday that a policy of appeasement would not work with Iran and that the only way to get Tehran to the negotiating table was to apply maximum pressure.
Russian court extends detention of ex-U.S. marine Whelan to end-Dec. : Ifax
A Moscow court ordered former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan remain in jail until Dec. 29 on espionage charges, the Interfax news agency reported on Thursday.
Japan’s Abe renews call on South Korea to keep promises to mend ties
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon agreed on Thursday on the importance of cooperating on North Korea and other issues, seeking to rebuild relations amid a bitter feud over history and trade.
Russia sends S-400 missile defense systems to Serbia for drill: RIA
Russia has sent a division of S-400 missile defense systems to Serbia to take part in a military drill there, the RIA news agency cited Russia’s Defense Ministry as saying on Thursday.
Myanmarese on death row for British tourist murders ask Thai king for clemency
Two migrant workers from Myanmar on death row in Thailand for the murder of two British backpackers in 2014 have submitted a request for King Maha Vajiralongkorn to commute their sentence to imprisonment, their lawyer said on Thursday.
Brexit end game: UK leaves the EU with Johnson’s deal – Downing Street source
The United Kingdom will ultimately leave the European Union on the terms of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal even though parliament has complicated the timing of the divorce, a senior Downing Street source said.
Bangladesh sentences 16 to death for killing teenager in harassment case
The principal of a religious school in Bangladesh was among 16 people sentenced to death on Thursday for the murder of a teenage girl who refused to withdraw a complaint of sexual harassment against him, the public prosecutor said.
Hong Kong protesters to rally for Catalan separatists as China speaks out
Hong Kong protesters plan to rally on Thursday in support of demonstrators pushing for a separate Catalonia in northeastern Spain as a Chinese official denounced months of “mad violence” in Hong Kong and forces pushing for independence.
