UK lawmakers can secure May 22 Brexit delay by approving divorce deal on Friday: government
Britain’s parliament will be able to secure a delay to Brexit to May 22 by approving the government’s Withdrawal Agreement with the European Union in a vote on Friday, the leader of the House of Commons Andrea Leadsom said.
Norway’s justice minister resigns amid domestic threats riddle
Norway’s Justice Minister Tor Mikkel Wara resigned on Thursday hours after police filed new accusations against his partner in a case involving bizarre domestic incidents that has baffled the Norwegian public.
Saudi Arabia temporarily frees three women activists
Three out of nearly a dozen prominent Saudi women activists arrested over nine months ago were temporarily released on Thursday, state news agency SPA said, and sources told Reuters the rest were set to be freed on Sunday.
Pope, in Morocco, hopes to boost King’s moderate Islam vision
Pope Francis makes a lightning trip to Morocco this weekend to promote inter-religious dialogue and support efforts by the North African country’s King Mohammed VI to spread a moderate form of Islam.
Opponents say Egypt’s constitutional changes will cement ‘absolute rule’
A coalition of Egyptian opposition parties said constitutional changes that could allow President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to stay in power until 2034 would pave the way for years of “absolute individual rule” and is urging Egyptians to vote against them.
NATO’s Stoltenberg to stay in top job until 2022
NATO allies extended on Thursday Jens Stoltenberg’s term as secretary-general until late 2022, putting the former Norwegian prime minister on course to become one of the Western military alliance’s longest-serving leaders.
Violence in some areas of Colombia has worsened since peace deal, Red Cross says
Violence in some regions of Colombia has worsened significantly since the 2016 signing of a peace deal with Marxist rebels, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on Thursday.
Romania’s president calls referendum to back anti-graft reform
President Klaus Iohannis on Thursday called a national referendum for May 26, seeking to thwart a drive by Romania’s ruling Social Democrats (PSD) to weaken anti-graft legislation.
Quebec to ban public workers from wearing religious symbols
The Canadian province of Quebec will ban public sector employees from wearing religious symbols during work hours, in legislation introduced on Thursday, a controversial move that critics say targets Muslim women who wear hijabs or other head coverings…
U.N. rebukes Vietnam for activist arrests, executions
A U.N. human rights watchdog called on Vietnam on Thursday to stop imprisoning activists and journalists for criticizing state policies and voiced concern at a “high number of death sentences and executions” imposed for lesser crimes after flawed trial…
