Arson suspected as fire engulfs Japanese studio; at least 23 feared dead
Fire swept through an animation studio in Japan on Thursday and 23 people were feared killed and scores injured, with the cause suspected to have been arson after a man was seen shouting “die” as he doused the building with petrol.
Manchester bomber’s brother appears in UK court charged with murder
A man accused of helping his suicide bomber brother plan a deadly 2017 arena attack in the northern city of Manchester appeared in a London court on Thursday.
Hong Kong’s protesters dig in for long summer of discontent
Hong Kong’s extradition bill demonstrations have mutated into a much bigger and more complex animal, ripping open old wounds and expanding a political fight as the city battens down for a summer of protests.
British defense minister urges Iran to de-escalate Gulf tensions
Britain urged Iran on Wednesday to ease tensions in the Gulf, while pledging to defend its shipping interests in the region.
Lufthansa plane evacuated at Belgrade airport after bomb threat call
A Lufthansa plane bound for Frankfurt was evacuated at Belgrade airport on Thursday after police received a call saying a bomb was on board, the Serbian interior ministry said.
At least 23 people feared dead in Japan in suspected arson: fire department
At least 23 people were feared dead in a suspected arson incident at an animation studio in the Japanese city of Kyoto on Thursday, an official for the Kyoto City Fire Department said.
UK secures first anti-graft order against man suspected of serious crime links
British police said on Thursday they had used anti-graft powers in a serious organized crime case for the first time after freezing assets owned by a businessman with suspected links to gangs involved in armed robberies and drug trafficking.
UK lawmakers to vote on latest bid to try to prevent a no-deal Brexit
British lawmakers will vote on Thursday on a measure aimed at making it harder for the next prime minister to try to force through a no-deal Brexit by suspending parliament.
UK’s Hammond says fears impact of worst case no deal Brexit
British Finance Minister Philip Hammond said that he feared the consequences on the economy and the public finances of a worst case no deal departure from the European Union as analyzed in a fiscal risk report out on Thursday.
Zelenskiy’s second act: Ukraine leader set to win snap parliamentary election
The party of Ukraine’s new president looks set to win Sunday’s snap parliamentary election, repeating Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s shock victory in the April presidential race that has upended politics in the war-scarred nation.
