Pope names new ‘camerlengo’ to run Vatican in papal transition period
Pope Francis on Thursday named the Irish-American cardinal Kevin Farrell as the new “camerlengo”, the prelate who runs the Vatican between the death or resignation of a pontiff and the election of a new one.
Acting Pentagon chief backs NATO, despite Trump’s past criticism
Acting U.S. Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan said on Thursday that he backed a strong NATO, a move likely to calm allies nervous about Washington’s commitment to the alliance after his predecessor resigned over differences with President Donald Trump…
Putin to Iran, Turkey: We should not tolerate militants in Syria’s Idlib
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday told his Turkish and Iranian counterparts that the presence of what he called terrorist groups in Syria’s Idlib region should not be tolerated.
Ireland under pressure over border plans for no-deal Brexit
The European Union will give Ireland some leeway to establish new border arrangements with Northern Ireland in case of a no-deal Brexit, sources in the bloc’s political hub Brussels said.
Egyptian lawmakers back changes that could keep Sisi in power till 2034
The Egyptian parliament on Thursday approved in principle proposed constitutional amendments that would allow President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to stay in power until 2034 and boost his control of the judiciary.
U.S. won’t pull out of Afghanistan alone: acting Pentagon chief
Any potential U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan will not be done alone but with other allies, U.S. Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan said on Thursday.
Portuguese charity ‘takes court to court’ over poor access for disabled people
A Portuguese charity has sued the government to get it to force a courthouse to comply with a 12-year-old decree requiring all public spaces to be accessible to disabled people and set an example for other offenders.
Cuba charges U.S. moving special forces, preparing Venezuelan intervention
Cuba charged on Thursday that the United States was secretly moving special forces closer to Venezuela as part of a plan to intervene in the South American country using the pretext of a humanitarian crisis.
Sweden replaces China envoy in furor over dissident bookseller
Sweden said on Thursday it had replaced its ambassador to China after her “incorrect” handling of unauthorized meetings intended to help free dissident bookseller Gui Minhai.
Blast kills at least 18 police in India-controlled Kashmir
A bomb blast killed at least 18 Indian paramilitary police in India-controlled Kashmir on Thursday, police said, a day after an explosion wounded a dozen schoolchildren in the state.
