Exclusive: In rare move, French warship passes through Taiwan Strait
A French warship passed through the strategic Taiwan Strait this month, U.S. officials told Reuters, a rare voyage by a vessel of a European country that is likely to be welcomed by Washington but increase tensions with Beijing.
Poland readies legislation to allow exams in strike-hit schools
Poland’s governing nationalists announced legislation on Wednesday to ensure final high school exams are held next month despite a teachers’ strike that has shut thousands of schools for more than two weeks.
U.N. envoy hopes Libya peace efforts can bear fruit soon
The U.N. envoy for Libya voiced hope on Wednesday that efforts to establish a peace dialogue between the country’s two warring sides could bear fruit within the next two weeks.
Ukraine’s outgoing and new presidents denounce Russia over east Ukraine passports
Ukraine’s outgoing leader and president-elect separately issued statements on Wednesday denouncing Russia as an occupying force in eastern Ukraine, after Moscow moved to simplify the procedure for Donbass residents to get Russian passports.
Trump renews threat to close Mexican border, send more troops
U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday again threatened to close part of the southern border and send more “armed soldiers” to defend it if Mexico did not block a new caravan of migrants traveling toward the United States.
Scotland will prepare for a second independence vote regardless of UK: Sturgeon
Scotland will start preparing for an independence referendum before May 2021 without permission from London, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said on Wednesday.
Macron to announce response to ‘yellow vests’ after months of protests
Shaken by five months of often-violent “yellow vest” protests, Emmanuel Macron will announce a package of measures that could include lower taxes and the abolition of France’s elite Ecole Nationale d’Administration to quell the unrest.
Disaffected Venezuelan military tell of rising desertions to Brazil
Venezuelan military personnel are deserting to Colombia and Brazil in growing numbers, refusing to follow orders to repress protests against the government of President Nicolas Maduro, six of them told Reuters.
Heavy fighting flares between Taliban, Islamic State in Afghanistan
Afghan Taliban insurgents are battling fighters loyal to Islamic State over control of territory in eastern Afghanistan in some of the heaviest clashes over the past year between the rival militants, officials said on Wednesday.
Axa provided insurance cover for Notre-Dame artworks for a few million euros
French insurer AXA said on Wednesday that it had provided insurance coverage for a few artworks from Notre-Dame Cathedral for a maximum amount of a few million euros.
