U.S.-backed Syrian forces seize town from Islamic State: rights monitor
U.S.-backed Syrian fighters have seized control of the town of Hajin in eastern Syria from Islamic State, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor and a source in the militia leading the battle said on Friday.
Yemenis in Hodeidah hope truce holds as warring parties talk peace
Yemenis dared to hope on Friday that a ceasefire agreed in the contested port city of Hodeidah might bring a permanent end to fighting that has driven many from their homes and into an existential struggle for food and medical care.
Britons will have to pay 7 euros for visa-free travel to EU after Brexit
British travelers will have to pay 7 euros ($7.91) for a three year pre-travel authorization to visit the European Union after Brexit, provided London seals a divorce agreement with the bloc.
Britain’s EU referendum cost almost 130 million pounds to organize
The cost of staging the 2016 referendum that triggered Britain’s impending exit from the European Union was almost 130 million pounds ($163 million), the UK’s electoral regulator said on Friday, amid calls from some politicians for a second vote.
Strasbourg reopens Christmas market after attacker shot dead
Strasbourg reopened its traditional Christmas market under heavy security on Friday, the morning after French police shot dead a gunman suspected of killing four people in the heart of the historic city.
Italy’s Conte seeks EU leaders’ backing on revised budget
Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte sought to convince European Union leaders on Friday that his offer to cut Italy’s deficit target for next year should make an EU disciplinary procedure unnecessary.
U.N. alarmed by violence ahead of Congo presidential election
The U.N. human rights chief on Friday called on the government of Democratic Republic of Congo to halt violence and inflammatory speech ahead of the country’s long-delayed Dec. 23 presidential election.
UK PM May’s spokeswoman: We are confident we can get the Brexit solutions we need
Britain is confident it can get the assurances it needs from the European Union over Brexit to get Prime Minister Theresa May’s deal though parliament, May’s spokeswoman said on Friday, stressing however there was more work to be done.
Kosovo approves new army despite Serb opposition, NATO criticism
Kosovo’s parliament voted on Friday to create a 5,000-strong standing army, a week after Serbia’s premier suggested the move could provoke military intervention by Belgrade.
Brexit bother: animated May remonstrates with EU’s Juncker
British Prime Minister Theresa May remonstrated with Jean-Claude Juncker at a Brussels summit on Friday, and the EU chief executive had to placate her after publicly calling Britain’s Brexit demands “nebulous”.
