China says booming tourism shows all’s good in restive Xinjiang
Booming tourism in China’s far western Xinjiang shows that all is good there, China’s Foreign Ministry said on Thursday, amid growing international concern for human rights in the heavily Muslim region.
Kremlin gets telegram about downed Russian plane from Syria’s Assad: Ifax
The Kremlin said on Thursday it had received a telegram from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in which he expressed his condolences over a Russian military plane being downed near Syria earlier this week, the Interfax news agency reported.
South African man arrested for racist rant at Ramaphosa
A South African man was arrested and will be charged in court for posting a video on social media in which he hurled racial abuse at President Cyril Ramaphosa, police said on Thursday.
Irish foreign minister says intensified talks needed to reach Brexit deal
Ireland’s Foreign Minister said on Thursday that he believed a Brexit deal will be reached but that it will require an intensification of negotiations that has not happened to date.
Four children killed in Netherlands as train hits ‘cargo’ bicycle: report
Four children were killed and at least one woman was wounded when a train struck a “cargo” bicycle, popularly used by Dutch parents to transport their children, the newspaper De Telegraaf reported.
Former Malaysian PM charged with money laundering, abuse of power
Malaysian prosecutors charged former Prime Minister Najib Razak with 21 counts of money laundering and four counts of abuse of power on Thursday over hundreds of millions of dollars received in his personal bank account.
Ukraine president sees risk of Russia sanctions softening
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said on Thursday that there was a risk of international sanctions on Russia being softened.
Election in Russia’s Far East to be re-run after fraud scandal
A regional election in Russia’s Far East will be re-run, the local election commission said on Thursday, dealing a rare blow to the Kremlin after allegations the vote had been rigged in its candidate’s favor.
Thailand drops royal insult charges for burning royal portraits
A Thai appeals court has dropped royal insult charges against six people jailed for setting fire to portraits of Thai kings, it said, but they will still have to serve lengthy jail terms for damaging public property.
Britain’s Fox planning to scrap EU food standards: Business Insider
British trade minister Liam Fox is planning to scrap European food standards in order to pave the way for a trade deal with the United States after Brexit, Business Insider reported on Thursday.
