Northern Ireland’s DUP not seeking ‘earth-shattering’ changes to Brexit deal
The Northern Irish party propping up Britain’s minority government is not asking for changes to the Brexit divorce deal that will “fundamentally undermine” what has been proposed, one of its senior lawmakers said on Thursday.
Chile President Pinera shakes up cabinet as economy wavers
Chilean President Sebastian Pinera sacked six ministers on Thursday in a bid to renew confidence in his center-right reform program, hours after pollster CEP showed approval for his administration had plunged to 25 percent.
Libya parliament chief allied to Haftar rules out talks before Tripoli captured
The head of the Libyan parliament aligned with eastern forces trying to seize the capital from the internationally-backed government said on Thursday there could be no peace talks until they had captured the city.
Islamic state claims responsibility for Tajikistani prison riot
Islamic State claimed responsibility for a prison riot in Tajikistan last month in which 32 people were killed, the militant group’s online publication said on Thursday.
Britain urges ‘extreme caution’ for vessels in Gulf of Oman
Merchant vessels sailing in the Gulf of Oman should show extreme caution following the incident involving two merchant tankers in the region, Britain’s Royal Navy said on Thursday.
Trump says neither Iran nor U.S. ready to make a deal
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he appreciated the recent visit by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to Iran to meet leaders, but that he believed it is “too soon to even think about” the United States making a deal with Tehran.
Senate confirms ex-Air Force General Stilwell as top diplomat for East Asia
The U.S. Senate on Thursday confirmed former Air Force General David Stilwell to be the State Department’s top diplomat for East Asia, a post that had remained unfilled for more than two years despite major challenges in the region.
Tanker attacks in Gulf of Oman stoke fears over conflict and oil
Two oil tankers were attacked on Thursday and left adrift in the Gulf of Oman, driving up oil prices and stoking fears of a new confrontation between Iran and the United States.
Unexploded device spotted on one of attacked oil tankers: U.S. source
An unexploded device, believed to be a limpet mine, was spotted on the side of one of two oil tankers attacked on Thursday in the Gulf of Oman, a U.S. official told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Albania busts gang trafficking migrants into EU, arrests eight
Albanian police said on Wednesday they had broken up a criminal gang trafficking Syrian, Turkish and Iraqi migrants to western Europe from Greece and had arrested eight people including the Turkish ringleader.
