Under pressure, Canada’s Trudeau denies impropriety, offers no apology
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday denied interfering in Canada’s judicial system as he sought to defuse a crisis threatening his political future, and offered no apology, asserting only that lessons had been learned.
Trump’s Venezuela envoy pledges sanctions on banks backing Maduro
U.S. President Donald Trump’s special representative for Venezuela pledged on Thursday that Washington would “expand the net” of sanctions on the South American nation, including more on banks supporting President Nicolas Maduro’s government.
Syria rejects OPCW report on ‘toxic chemical’ used in attack: SANA
Syria’s foreign ministry said on Thursday it “categorically rejects” the finding of the global chemical weapons agency that a “toxic chemical” was used in an attack last April on a Syrian rebel-held town.
British minister apologizes for remarks on Northern Irish killings
Britain’s minister for Northern Ireland apologized on Thursday for suggesting that killings by British security forces during the province’s 30-year sectarian conflict were “not crimes”.
Italy wants funding review of rail link with France as government feuds
Italy called on Thursday for a funding review of a high-speed rail link with France, a multi-billion-dollar project that threatens to tear apart Rome’s ruling coalition.
Portugal’s parliament falls silent to remember domestic violence victims
Buildings across Portugal flew flags at half mast and parliament held a minute of silence in honor of domestic violence victims on Thursday, a day after a 39-year-old woman was strangled to death.
Iran’s leader names hardline cleric Raisi as judiciary chief: IRNA
Iran’s Supreme Leader appointed hardline cleric Ebrahim Raisi as the new head of the judiciary on Thursday, the state news agency IRNA said.
Brazil’s Bolsonaro says democracy, liberty depend on military
Brazil’s far-right president on Thursday described the country’s armed forces, which led the country under a military dictatorship for over two decades, as the ultimate arbiters of democracy.
Religious school that India says it bombed looks undamaged and deserted
Days after India said its warplanes hit a militant Islamist group’s training camp on the site of a religious school in northeastern Pakistan, killing a large number of militants, the site appeared undamaged and deserted.
Hardline cleric named to lead Iran judiciary
Hardline cleric Ebrahim Raisi, a protégé of Iran’s supreme leader who helped oversee the execution of political prisoners in 1988, was named chief of the judiciary on Thursday, a job that positions him to undermine the influence of moderates.
