Party cups as gas masks: Idlib civilians prepare for battle
Hudhayfa al-Shahad strapped a colorful paper cup filled with cotton and charcoal to a child’s face and tightened a plastic bag around his head: an improvised gas mask if chemicals once again fall on Syria’s Idlib.
U.S. envoy sees Israel keeping Golan Heights forever
The U.S. ambassador to Israel said in remarks published on Thursday he expected Israel to keep the Golan Heights in perpetuity, in an apparent nod towards its claim of sovereignty over the strategic plateau captured from Syria in a 1967 war.
North Korea’s Kim aims for denuclearization within Trump’s first term: Seoul
North Korea’s Kim Jong Un has given his first time line to achieve denuclearization, aiming for the end of U.S. President Donald Trump’s first term, and has agreed to a third summit with his South Korean counterpart, Seoul officials said on Thursday.
South Sudan to pay damages to foreign aid workers raped in hotel raid
A South Sudanese military court on Thursday said the government will pay damages to foreign aid workers raped in a 2016 hotel raid on a hotel in the capital Juba, as well as to the family of a local journalist killed in the attack.
Thousands to feast royally to fete Thai cave boys’ dramatic rescue
Thousands of Thais will feast royally in the capital on Thursday to celebrate the rescue of 12 boys and their soccer coach from a flooded cave, a dramatic and highly dangerous mission that gripped the world for more than two weeks.
One dead, 25 injured in Basra protests, unrest spreads to main Iraqi port
One protester died and 25 more were injured on Wednesday night, in a third day of violent clashes with security forces in Iraq’s southern city Basra, and unrest spread to the country’s main port, local health, security and human rights sources said.
Ethiopia reopens embassy in Eritrea in further warming of ties
Ethiopia reopened its embassy in the Eritrean capital Asmara on Thursday, the state-affiliated Ethiopian Fana Broadcasting said, a further sign of improving ties after the Horn of Africa neighbours signed a peace accord on July 9.
China finds African swine fever at farm in eastern province; 10th outbreak in a month
China has detected African swine fever on a farm in the eastern province of Anhui, its tenth case since the first outbreak of the virus was discovered just over a month ago, the government said on Thursday.
China says Nauru should apologize for its behavior
China’s Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that Nauru should apologize for its behavior, after its president, Baron Waqa, demanded China formally apologize following a dispute with Beijing’s representative at this week’s Pacific Islands Forum.
Exclusive: British Navy warship sails near South China Sea islands, angering Beijing
Beijing expressed anger on Thursday after a British Royal Navy warship sailed close to islands claimed by China in the South China Sea late last month, saying Britain was engaged in “provocation” and that it had lodged a strong complaint.
