UK lawmakers back proposal to hamper a no-deal Brexit
British lawmakers on Thursday backed proposals to make it harder for the next prime minister to force through a no-deal Brexit by suspending parliament, showing again their determination to stop a divorce from the European Union without agreement.
UK business and international development ministers both abstained on Brexit vote: aides
Britain’s business minister and international development minister both abstained in a key vote on Thursday which the government lost, aides said, defying an instruction from Prime Minister Theresa May.
Indian warships to stay longer in Persian Gulf, but won’t join U.S. coalition
Indian warships escorting merchant vessels in the Persian Gulf will remain deployed for the longer term, officials with direct knowledge of the matter said, as tensions between Iran and Western powers rise.
UK PM May disappointed by ministers’ voting after Brexit loss
Outgoing British Prime Minister Theresa May was disappointed ministers did not vote with her on Thursday, her office said, after lawmakers backed a plan that would make it harder for her successor to force through a no-deal Brexit.
Pompeo calls China’s treatment of Uighurs ‘stain of the century’
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday called China’s treatment of its Uighur Muslim minority the “stain of the century” and accused Beijing of pressuring countries not to attend a U.S.-hosted conference on religious freedom.
Senior UK Labour members challenge decision to back new EU Commission chief
Members of Labour’s top policy team are angry over a decision by their party in the European Parliament to support a new Commission president, questioning an “anti-democratic” move that elected what they called a right-wing candidate.
Europe’s human rights court rules against owners of Georgian pro-opposition TV channel in ownership row
Europe’s human rights court dismissed on Thursday a case filed by the owners of a Georgian pro-opposition television channel Rustavi 2 accusing Georgia’s Supreme Court of bias and that it was subject to a state-led campaign to silence it.
Greece picks Commisssion chief spokesman as its EU Commissioner
Greece nominated the EU Commission’s chief spokesman Margaritis Schinas as its next commissioner, the prime minister’s office said in a statement on Thursday.
Factbox: Recent mass killings in Japan
Thirty-three people were confirmed killed in an arson attack on an animation studio in Japan’s ancient capital of Kyoto on Thursday, making it the nation’s worst mass killing in 18 years.
‘Appalling’ arson attack on Japanese animation studio kills at least 33
A man shouted “die” as he doused an animation studio with fuel and set it ablaze in Japan on Thursday, public broadcaster NHK said, killing at least 33 people in the nation’s worst mass murder in nearly two decades.
