Rights group urges Myanmar to drop charges against satirical performers, filmmaker
Human Rights Watch urged Myanmar on Thursday to drop charges against four satirical performers and a filmmaker arrested after criticizing the military, as an army spokesman defended “rules and limits” on freedom of expression.
Baluch insurgent group claims responsibility for killing 14 in Pakistan
A Baluch insurgent group on Thursday claimed responsibility for killing 14 people in southwest Pakistan, it said in a statement emailed to reporters and newspaper offices.
Peace talks postponed as Taliban objects to size of Afghan delegation
A meeting between the Taliban and Afghan politicians and civil society aimed at ending more than 17 years of war in Afghanistan has been postponed, officials and diplomats said on Thursday, citing Taliban objections to the size of the Afghan delegation…
Iran says its armed forces are not a regional threat
President Hassan Rouhani said Iran’s armed forces did not pose a threat to its neighbors as he addressed a display on Thursday of Iran’s latest military equipment, including domestically produced fighter jets and Russian-made missile systems.
North Korea calls for Pompeo to be dropped from talks; tests tactical weapon
North Korea said on Thursday it no longer wanted to deal with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and that he should be replaced in talks by someone more mature, hours after it announced its first weapons test since nuclear talks broke down.
Comedian Zelenskiy keeps Ukraine presidential poll lead
Comic actor Volodymyr Zelenskiy, a political novice who plays a fictional president in a popular TV series, has kept his lead in Ukraine’s presidential election race, according to an opinion poll published on Thursday.
Steelmaker ArcelorMittal to offer steel for Notre-Dame Cathedral restoration
ArcelorMittal has offered steel for the restoration of Notre-Dame de Paris after a fire gutted the gothic cathedral’s roof and destroyed its iconic spire, the steelmaker said on Thursday.
More than 155 million Indians go to polls in second phase of mammoth election
Voters across swaths of southern India began queuing up early on Thursday in the second phase of a mammoth, staggered general election in which opposition parties are trying to stop Prime Minister Narendra Modi from winning a second term.
Iraqi PM Abdul Mahdi met Saudi crown prince in Riyadh
Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi met with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, his office said on Thursday, a day after his first official visit to the kingdom which has been wooing Baghdad to stem the influence of Tehran.
British would boost eurosceptics in next EU parliament: survey
British voters at the elections for the next European Parliament would strengthen eurosceptic groups, while the center-right would remain the largest grouping in the legislature, an EU survey showed on Thursday.
