Hamas leader’s Jan. 15 trip to Moscow canceled
A planned trip to Moscow next week by the leader of Hamas has been canceled, Palestinian officials said on Thursday amid new friction between the Islamist group that controls Gaza and the Palestinian Authority, based in the West Bank.
Russia says it is investigating BBC for airing terrorist ideology
Russia’s state communications regulator said on Thursday the BBC had published material that propagated the ideas of a terrorist group and that it was investigating whether the British public broadcaster had broken Russian law.
Britain faces fresh food bottleneck if no Brexit deal
Britain faces a fresh food bottleneck if it drops out of the EU without a deal, the country’s largest supermarket group warned on Thursday, echoing comments from its biggest rival the previous day.
U.S. committed to dismantling Islamic State in Middle East: Pompeo
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Thursday the United States was a “force for good” in the Middle East and remained committed to the “complete dismantling” of the Islamic State threat despite its decision to withdraw troops from Syria.
French companies bruised by ‘yellow vests’ protests
French companies have this week revealed some 60 million euros ($69 million) of lost business from anti-government protests rocking the country, which could augur badly for the likes of supermarket chains Casino and Carrefour.
Women who defied Indian temple ban unable to return home after threats
Two women who made history by becoming the first in centuries to enter a hill temple in southern India are in hiding after threats by hardline Hindu groups.
Catholic Church rejects Congo vote result, loser decries ‘coup’
The Catholic Church rejected the official result of Congo’s presidential election on Thursday and the loser denounced a “coup”, dashing hopes that the country could stage the first uncontested transfer of power in its 59 years of independence.
UK ex-defense chiefs warn May’s Brexit deal threatens national security
Two Brexit-supporting former British defense chiefs have said that Prime Minister Theresa May’s European Union withdrawal agreement will threaten national security if it is passed by lawmakers next week, Sky News reported on Thursday.
Syrian jihadists cement grip, forcing deal on Idlib rebels
Blacklisted jihadist fighters tightened their grip over Syria’s last major rebel-held region on Thursday after nine days of battle with Turkey-backed groups, putting a deal to prevent a massive army assault on the area in jeopardy.
Indian federal police chief removed by PM Modi-led panel: TV
India’s federal police chief was ousted on Thursday by a panel led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, TV channels reported, a day after he took up his post again after being reinstated by the Supreme Court.
