U.S. believes Islamic State likely responsible for Manbij blast: sources
The U.S. government believes the Islamic State militant group is likely responsible for Wednesday’s attack in northern Syria that killed four Americans, although it has not reached a firm conclusion, two U.S. government sources said on Thursday.
African Union calls on Congo to delay release of final vote
The African Union on Thursday called on Democratic Republic of Congo to suspend the release of the final results of its disputed presidential election due to its doubts over the provisional results.
Morocco foils 89,000 illegal migration attempts in 2018: interior ministry
Morocco stopped 89,000 people from illegally migrating in 2018, up 37 percent compared to a year earlier, the interior ministry said on Thursday, as the country became the main launchpad in the Mediterranean for Europe-bound migrants.
Norway PM Solberg to form majority government
Norway’s minority center-right government has struck a deal with the small Christian Democratic Party to form a four-party majority coalition, it said on Thursday, confirming earlier reports.
U.N. members owe $2 billion in debt to peacekeeping, U.S. owes a third
U.N. member states owe nearly $2 billion in peacekeeping funds, United Nations chief Antonio Guterres has warned, with the United States responsible for more than a third of that.
Chinese envoy to Canada warns against any future Huawei 5G ban
China’s envoy to Canada on Thursday warned Ottawa of possible repercussions if it banned technology firm Huawei Technologies Co Ltd [HWT.UL] from supplying equipment to Canadian 5G networks, the latest blast in a deepening bilateral dispute.
UK in deadlock over Brexit ‘Plan B’ as May and Corbyn tussle
Britain’s last-minute scramble to shape an EU exit, its biggest policy upheaval in half a century, stalled on Thursday as Prime Minister Theresa May and opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn dug in their heels for competing visions.
Want to be Danish? You’d better shake hands
Afghan-born Sakandar Khan, 30, was among the first nine new Danish citizens who shook hands with Denmark’s immigration minister under a new law that makes a handshake the final step in the naturalization process.
Italy government approves flagship welfare reforms
The Italian government on Thursday approved flagship reforms of the welfare and pension system, election pledges of the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement and the right-wing League, which mark a major overhaul of the country’s welfare state.
Factbox: Italian early-retirement option rolls back 2011 pension reform
The Italian government on Thursday approved a scheme to allow people to retire earlier, rolling back a 2011 law that had sharply raised the pensionable age.
