Brazil prosecutors probe surge in Amazon deforestation and fires
Federal prosecutors in Brazil said on Thursday they will investigate a spike in deforestation and wildfires raging in the Amazon state of Pará to determine whether there has been reduced monitoring and enforcement of environmental protections.
Pompeo tells Trudeau U.S. focused on release of two Canadians in China
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday assured Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that American officials were working to free two Canadian men who have been held by China since late last year.
Ninth round of U.S., Taliban peace talks start in Qatar
The United States and the Taliban officials resumed talks in Qatar on Thursday to firm up a deal enabling the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan in return for the Taliban security guarantees, the Taliban and senior U.S. official said.
Zimbabwe arrests senior opposition official over demonstration
Police in Zimbabwe arrested a senior opposition official on Thursday on charges of failing to stop a banned protest last week in the capital, his lawyer said.
Stena Bulk tanker seized by Iran could be released soon: Sweden’s SVT broadcaster
Sweden has received “very strong indications” that a British oil tanker seized last month by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz is to be released soon, Swedish public service broadcaster SVT reported on Thursday, citing sources within Sweden’s foreign minist…
UK’s Boris Johnson puts his feet up in Macron’s palace
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson may have taken a month to embark on his first trip abroad, but he was quick to make himself at home in President Emmanuel Macron’s gilded palace, putting his feet up on the furniture.
Tunisian PM delegates his powers to focus on presidential race
Tunisian Prime Minister Youssef Chahed will temporarily delegate his powers to Public Service Minister Kamal Morjane to focus on the presidential campaign and to ensure equal opportunities for all candidates, he said on Thursday.
Somali president replaces security chiefs and Mogadishu mayor
Somalia’s president announced on Thursday a major shake-up of the country’s security chiefs as well as a replacement for the mayor of Mogadishu after Abdirahman Omar Osman died of his wounds following a suicide bomb attack last month.
Algeria court detains former justice minister over alleged corruption
Algeria’s Supreme Court on Thursday placed former justice minister Tayeb Louh in custody over alleged corruption under former president Abdelaziz Bouteflika, state television reported.
Argentina presidential front-runner Fernandez pledges ‘no default’ if elected
Argentine presidential candidate Alberto Fernandez said on Thursday there was “no possibility” the country would default on its debt if he were elected in October, but that the government would have to negotiate new terms with creditors due to the weak…
