- Associated Press
Clashing statements expose rift in Iraqi paramilitary force
The head of Iraq's paramilitary forces supported by Iran on Thursday walked back a statement by his deputy the day before in which he blamed Israeli drones and held the U.S. responsible for a series of attacks on bases run by the militias. Faleh al-Fayyadh said the statement by his deputy, Abu Mahdi
- The Telegraph
Did you hear the one about the German city that doesn't exist?
A German city is offering a reward of €1m (£900,000) to anyone who can prove it doesn’t exist. The city of Bielefeld in north-western Germany launched the bizarre marketing stunt this week to mark the 25th anniversary of one of the country’s longest running jokes. The Bielefeld conspiracy theory is often
AFP'Sorry!' Johnson puts foot in it at Macron's palace
An invitation to the gilded Elysee palace of France's president in Paris usually prompts a sense of decorum and formality in a visitor of any rank. During crunch talks over Brexit with French President Emmanuel Macron -- who Johnson insisted on repeatedly addressing as "Monsieur le President
- Associated Press
UN report condemns sexual violence by Myanmar military
Sexual violence carried out by Myanmar's security forces against the country's Muslim Rohingya minority was so widespread and severe that it demonstrates intent to commit genocide as well as warrants prosecution for war crimes and crimes against humanity, a U.N. report charged Thursday. Its
- AFP
Macron backs more Brexit talks but insists no concessions
French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday backed holding further talks to avoid Britain crashing out of the EU without a deal but rejected major concessions, as he hosted Prime Minister Boris Johnson just over two months ahead of the planned British exit. Echoing comments by German Chancellor Angela
AFPMozambique, Russia sign energy, security deals
Mozambique's President Filipe Nyusi signed energy and security agreements with Russian's Vladimir Putin on Thursday in the first visit by a leader from the southern African state in two decades. Nyusi's visit came weeks his government signed a peace deal with former rebel movement Renamo
- Associated Press
Palestinians: Tax deal with Israel to ease fiscal crisis
The Palestinian Authority says it has reached an agreement with Israel to restore some of the much-needed tax funds withheld by Israel in recent months. Israel began this year withholding parts of some $200 million in monthly tax transfers that the Palestinians give to families of people killed or imprisoned
- Associated Press
Syrian convicted of Germany stabbing that sparked protests
A German court on Thursday convicted a Syrian man over a fatal stabbing in the city of Chemnitz last year that touched off far-right protests. Judges convicted asylum-seeker Alaa S. of manslaughter and dangerous bodily harm in the killing last August of 35-year-old Daniel Hillig. The 24-year-old defendant
- Associated Press
Angela Merkel calls for EU-wide climate neutrality by 2050
German Chancellor Angela Merkel called Thursday for the European Union to support ambitious targets for the entire 28-nation bloc to become climate neutral. Merkel made her appeal after she and members of her "climate Cabinet" met their Dutch counterparts at the official residence of Prime
- Bloomberg
Trump Plans Breakfast With U.K.’s Boris Johnson on Sunday
(Bloomberg) -- President Donald Trump and U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson plan to meet for breakfast on Sunday while in France for the Group of Seven leaders’ summit, according to people familiar with the matter.Trump lands this weekend in Biarritz, France for the meetings. The two leaders are scheduled
- Associated Press
Syrian government opens corridor for civilians in rebel area
Syrian authorities opened Thursday a "humanitarian corridor" so civilians from a besieged, rebel-held area in the north of Hama province can leave and move to parts of the country controlled by the government, the Foreign Ministry said. Government warplanes, meanwhile, carried out an airstrike
- Associated Press
Some Egyptian rights activists dismiss country's new NGO law
Some Egyptian human rights activists Thursday hailed the country's new law regulating non-governmental organizations as a step forward, while others dismissed it as more of the same restrictive measures. It amends Egypt's notorious law regulating local as well as international NGOs working in
- Bloomberg
Sweden Delivers `Neutral' Fiscal Policy as Recession Fears Grow
(Bloomberg) -- Sweden’s government cut its economic growth forecasts for a second time this year, and promised a “neutral” fiscal policy for next year to cope with the slowdown.At a press conference in Harpsund, south of Stockholm, Finance Minister Magdalena Andersson said next year’s budget, which still
- Bloomberg
Ex-Tory MP Sets Out His Plan to Block a No-Deal Brexit
(Bloomberg) -- Follow @Brexit, sign up to our Brexit Bulletin, and tell us your Brexit story. Nick Boles, who quit the Conservative Party this year over its refusal to vote for a Brexit deal, said lawmakers trying to stop the U.K. leaving the European Union in chaos must focus on passing a law to force
- Reuters
UPDATE 1-Merkel: "30 days" Brexit remarks were meant to highlight urgency
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she had not given Britain 30 days to find a solution for the so-called Irish backstop but had wanted to highlight how short time was before Britain's planned European Union exit date of Oct. 31. "I said that what one can achieve in three or two years can
- Bloomberg
Merkel Didn't Give Johnson 30 Days to Fix Brexit
(Bloomberg Opinion) -- Throughout the Brexit negotiations, the U.K. government and its European interlocutors have spoken in different languages to one another. But the closer the Oct. 31 deadline draws, the more deliberate the misunderstanding appears to be. The most recent exhibit: The glaring difference
- Bloomberg
Merkel Didn't Give Johnson 30 Days to Fix Brexit
(Bloomberg Opinion) -- Throughout the Brexit negotiations, the U.K. government and its European interlocutors have spoken in different languages to one another. But the closer the Oct. 31 deadline draws, the more deliberate the misunderstanding appears to be. The most recent exhibit: The glaring difference
- The New York Times
Midway Through His Year, Our 52 Places Traveler Answers Readers' Questions
Some mornings when I wake up, it takes me a few minutes to remember where I am. I look around my hotel room, piecing together how I ended up here. Then, once I've calibrated my internal GPS (coffee helps), it's time to start exploring.Days of the week and even what month it is matter less when
- Associated Press
No Rohingya turn up for planned repatriation to Myanmar
COX'S BAZAR, Bangladesh (AP) — No Rohingya Muslims staying in crowded refugee camps in Bangladesh turned up for a planned repatriation to Myanmar on Thursday because they want to be guaranteed safety and citizenship first, officials said. Bangladesh refugee commissioner Abul Kalam said none of the
- The National Interest
Taiwan Really Wants to Buy the THAAD Missile Defense System and F-35 Stealth Fighters
In response to questions on whether Taiwan has received related information on such arms sales, Wu said again there has been no official word from the U.S.As we have recently reported Taiwan could be next country to buy the F-35.In fact according to Focus Taiwan, on Apr. 5, 2017 an official from Taiwan
- The National Interest
A Letter to the Editor Regarding "Constraining Iran Requires Ending its Colonization of Arabistan"
Editor’s Note: The National Interest has always stood for publishing a variety of perspectives on the most pressing international security and foreign policy challenges of the day as well as doing all we can to present all sides of a debate. Keeping with that mantra, we offer the following response to
- The Telegraph
UN warns Yemenis could face food aid cuts after Saudi and UAE pledges fail to materialise
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have been accused of “leaving Yemenis to die” after the United Nations revealed they have paid only a fraction of the $1.2bn promised in aid to the war-torn country. At a UN pledging conference in February, donors pledged $2.6 billion, including $1.5bn (£1.2bn
- Associated Press
No Rohingya turn up for repatriation to Myanmar
COX'S BAZAR, Bangladesh (AP) — Bangladesh's refugee commissioner said Thursday that no Rohingya Muslims turned up to return to Myanmar from camps in the South Asian nation as they wanted their demands for citizenship and guarantees of safety met first. Abul Kalam told a news conference that
- The Telegraph
South Korea to scrap military intelligence sharing pact with Japan as trade dispute worsens
South Korea said Thursday it will terminate its military intelligence-sharing pact with Japan amid intensifying trade and diplomatic disputes with Tokyo. The decision comes as Seoul and Tokyo are locked in a tit-for-tat trade and diplomatic dispute following a series of South Korean court rulings against
- Bloomberg
The Hidden Gender Politics of Trump’s China Tariffs
(Bloomberg) -- Want to receive this post in your inbox every day? Sign up for the Terms of Trade newsletter, and follow Bloomberg Economics on Twitter for more.Much has been made of how businesses are suffering from U.S. tariffs on everything from Chinese steel wiring to plastic tubes. But companies
