UAE signs $5.45 billion worth of defense contracts this week: spokesman
The United Arab Emirates’ Armed Forces signed AED 20 billion ($5.45 billion) in defense contracts this week at the IDEX military exhibition in Abu Dhabi, a spokesman said on Thursday.
Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi expected in Geneva next week
Myanmar’s de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi is scheduled to address the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva next Wednesday, according to a U.N. official and an agenda for the meeting seen by Reuters on Thursday.
Putin to U.S.: I’m ready for another Cuban Missile crisis if you want one
President Vladimir Putin has said that Russia is militarily ready for a Cuban Missile-style crisis if the United States is foolish enough to want one and that his country currently has the edge when it comes to a first nuclear strike.
Hungary accepts hundreds of refugees from Venezuela: report
Hungary has accepted hundreds of refugees with Hungarian ancestry from crisis-hit Venezuela under a government program involving a local charity, news website index.hu reported on Thursday.
Nigeria’s Buhari, Atiku make final appeal for votes ahead of delayed poll
Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari and his closest rival Atiku Abubakar made their final appeal for votes on the last day of campaigning on Thursday ahead of a tight contest in a presidential election on Saturday that was delayed by a week.
Algeria military plane crash kills two: ministry
An Algerian military plane crashed during a training flight, killing two people on board, the defense ministry said on Thursday.
Islamic State on brink of defeat in Syria enclave
Remaining civilians are expected to be evacuated from Islamic State’s final enclave in eastern Syria on Thursday, U.S.-backed forces said, clearing the way for them to wipe out the last vestige of jihadist rule that once straddled Syria and Iraq.
Police think Gatwick worker may have launched drone attack, Times says
A drone attack that crippled London’s Gatwick Airport for three days may have been carried out by a disgruntled current or former airport employee, British police believe, according to The Times.
Pope opens child sex abuse conference, promising ‘concrete’ remedies
Pope Francis promised that concrete actions against child sexual abuse by priests would result from a conference he opened on Thursday, countering scepticism among survivors who said the meeting looked like a public relations exercise.
UK’s Hammond: talk of warship deployment complicates China ties
Britain’s talk of deploying a warship in the Pacific has complicated its relationship with China, finance minister Philip Hammond said on Thursday.
