Yemen’s Houthis: prisoner swap talks could drag on for months
Talks on a U.N.-sponsored prisoner swap in Yemen’s war could drag on for months if the Saudi-backed government denies the existence of thousands of Houthi fighters in captivity, the Iranian-aligned Houthis said on Thursday.
Sudanese teacher died from injuries caused by ‘solid object’: investigator
A Sudanese teacher who was arrested after protests died due to injuries caused by a “solid object”, according to a medical report cited on Thursday by the head of a state investigations committee.
Total says accounts blocked, evacuating staff from Venezuela
French oil group Total has evacuated its remaining staff from Venezuela and its bank accounts there have been blocked as a result of U.S. sanctions, the company’s chief executive said on Thursday.
EU-backed group calls for political solution to Venezuela crisis
European and Latin American leaders met on Thursday to seek a peaceful and political solution to Venezuela’s deepening crisis, while a U.S. admiral suggested socialist President Nicolas Maduro does not have the loyalty of many within his military.
Iran reveals missile, shows off underground factory
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards inaugurated a surface-to-surface ballistic missile with a range of 1,000 km (621 miles), the semi-official Fars news agency reported on Thursday, ignoring demands Western demands that Tehran halt its missile program.
South Africa’s Ramaphosa pledges to split Eskom in rescue plan
South Africa’s struggling state power firm Eskom will be split into three separate entities and government will support its balance sheet in a new turnaround plan, President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Thursday.
More work to do for Brexit deal after Brussels talks: senior UK official
British Prime Minister Theresa May knows her government has “got work to do” to try to secure changes to her divorce deal with the European Union, a senior official in her office said, describing talks in Brussels as part of a process.
Dutch confident Russia will agree to talks about downed flight MH17
The Dutch government said on Thursday it was “increasingly confident” that Russian officials will be willing to meet soon for private talks on who was responsible for the downing of Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 in 2014.
U.N.: Yemen warring parties agree preliminary compromise on Hodeidah
Yemen’s warring parties have reached a preliminary compromise on how to implement a truce and troop withdrawal accord in the port of Hodeidah, although the deal has not yet been finally agreed, the United Nations said on Thursday.
For Putin, economic and political reality dampen appetite for arms race
With his ratings down and state funds needed to hedge against new Western sanctions and raise living standards, Russian President Vladimir Putin cannot afford to get sucked into a costly nuclear arms race with the United States.
