Colombian soldier held by ELN rebels freed, ombudsman says
A Colombian soldier held hostage for a month by the country’s rebel National Liberation Army (ELN) was freed on Thursday, the Ombudsman’s Office said, the fourth hostage released by the group in less than a week.
In Brussels, EU gives May glimpse of Brexit hope
British Prime Minister Theresa May came away from a day in an increasingly impatient Brussels on Thursday with a pledge of renewed talks that held out some hope for a new Brexit deal, if no sign of compromise yet.
With Troubles in mind, Irish concern grows over British stance on border
As Britain’s exit from the European Union grows closer with no agreement reached on the Irish border, many in Ireland fear that pro-Brexit British politicians have forgotten the bombs and bullets of three decades of conflict in Northern Ireland and fai…
Death toll in Istanbul building collapse rises to 10: governor
The death toll from the collapse of an eight-storey building in Istanbul rose to 10 on Thursday, while 13 others were injured, the governor’s office for the Turkish city said.
Indebted Lebanon commits to reforming state finances
Lebanon’s new government on Thursday approved a policy statement committing to reforms that are seen as critical to putting the heavily indebted state’s finances on a sustainable path.
EU-backed group backs ‘good faith’ plan to avoid Venezuelan chaos
European and Latin American leaders gathered on Thursday in the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo to discuss a plan to solve the deepening crisis in Venezuela, while urging the global community to back away from direct intervention.
Turkey’s Erdogan says swift steps needed for Syria safe zone
Steps on forming a planned safe zone in northern Syria should be taken as soon as possible, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday.
Canada’s Trudeau denies pressuring justice minister on SNC-Lavalin
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday denied a newspaper report that his office had attempted to pressure Canada’s former justice minister to intervene in the prosecution of engineering and construction firm SNC-Lavalin Group.
Italy’s Di Maio says meeting France’s yellow vests was legitimate
Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio said his meeting with France’s “yellow vest” activists this week was legitimate and not meant as an act of provocation, after France recalled its ambassador to Rome on Thursday.
U.S. military ready to protect diplomats in Venezuela: admiral
The U.S. military is prepared to protect U.S. personnel and diplomatic facilities in Venezuela if needed, the U.S. admiral in charge of American forces in South America said on Thursday.
