Colombian army frees two foreigners held by FARC dissidents
Colombian soldiers have freed two foreign nationals who were being held hostage by FARC rebel dissidents in the country’s southwestern Cauca province, the government said on Thursday.
Iran foreign minister: An ‘agreeable solution’ possible for IAEA inspection request
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted that “an agreeable solution is possible” for the United Nations nuclear watchdog’s request for access to two nuclear sites in the country.
Brazil education minister steps down, heading to World Bank
Brazilian Education Minister Abraham Weintraub on Thursday announced he was stepping down to take a role at the World Bank.
New French coronavirus deaths steady, infections creep up
The number of people who died from coronavirus infection in France rose by 28 to 29,603 on Thursday, the same increase as Wednesday, but the number of new confirmed cases crept up again to reach a five-day high.
Iran’s death toll from coronavirus outbreak approaches 10,000
Iran is approaching 10,000 deaths from the coronavirus outbreak in the country, according to official figures from the Ministry of Health.
Romanians protest against ban on gender identity studies
Hundreds protested outside the Romanian president’s palace on Thursday against a proposed ban on gender identity studies which they said would infringe human rights and fuel discrimination.
U.S. sanctions Mexican firms, individuals over links to Venezuela
The United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on Mexican companies and individuals and two oil tankers under a program meant to pressure the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Canada hits 100,000 coronavirus cases, major challenges remain
Canada officially racked up 100,000 cases of the novel coronavirus on Thursday and although the outbreak is slowing, health experts said major challenges remain.
Brexit deadline looms over day of Anglo-French solidarity
Prime Minister Boris Johnson told France’s President Emmanuel Macron that talks on a post Brexit deal cannot drag on into the autumn, as the French leader visited London to mark the 80th anniversary of General de Gaulle’s call for wartime resistance,
Discord thwarts U.N. nuclear watchdog’s plans for virtual Iran meeting
Opposition led by China to a planned resolution rebuking Iran at the U.N. nuclear watchdog’s 35-nation board has forced it to call an in-person session after four days of meeting online because of the coronavirus, diplomats said on Thursday.
Belarus president’s main rival held in pre-election clampdown
President Alexander Lukashenko’s main rival was detained on Thursday and accused of siphoning $430 million out of Belarus, in a widening crackdown ahead of August’s presidential election.
Reluctance to free ‘most dangerous’ Taliban prisoners slows Afghan peace talks: sources
Western powers are backing the Afghan government’s refusal to free hundreds of prisoners accused of some of Afghanistan’s most violent attacks, a release demanded by the Taliban as a condition to start peace talks, five sources told Reuters.
Macron told PM Johnson France still supports reaching a deal on Brexit: source
French President Emmanuel Macron told British Prime Minister Boris Johnson that France still supports reaching a deal on Brexit, a presidential source said on Thursday after the two leaders met earlier in London.
After second round of voting, Kenya wins spot on U.N. Security Council
Kenya was elected to the U.N. Security Council on Thursday, defeating Djibouti in a second-round of voting by the 193-member General Assembly after an initial ballot failed to produce a clear winner.
Satellite images suggest Chinese activity at Himalayan border with India before clash
In the days leading up to the most violent border clash between India and China in decades, China brought in pieces of machinery, cut a trail into a Himalayan mountainside and may have even dammed a river, satellite pictures suggest.
Gaza horse riders compete again as coronavirus curbs eased
Wearing riding pants, logo-decorated shirts and helmets, Gaza horse-riders resumed local show-jumping competitions on Thursday as coronavirus restrictions were eased.
France reports 28 more coronavirus deaths, cases up slightly
The number of people who died from coronavirus infection in France rose by 28 to 29,603 on Thursday, the same increase as Wednesday.
At least 13 killed in landslide in Ivory Coast’s main city
A landslide on the outskirts of Ivory Coast’s main city of Abidjan in the early hours of Thursday caused by heavy rains killed at least 13 people, the defence minister said.
Mozambique court jails police officers for murder of election observer
A Mozambique court on Thursday convicted six officers from an elite police unit of murder in the killing of electoral observer and rights activist Anastácio Matavel days before last year’s presidential election.
Slovenia imposes quarantine for people coming from Serbia, Bosnia, Kosovo
Concerned about the biggest rise in new cases of coronavirus in seven weeks, Slovenia will introduce an obligatory 14-day quarantine from Friday for most people coming from Serbia, Bosnia and Kosovo, the government said on Thursday.
PM Johnson tells Macron: Brexit talks cannot stretch into autumn
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told French President Emmanuel Macron that it does not make sense to extend talks on a post-Brexit trade deal with the European Union into autumn, a statement issued by Johnson’s office said on Thursday.
Bank of England to remove any portraits of former governors linked to slave trade
The Bank of England said on Thursday it would remove any portraits still on display within the 325-year-old central bank of former governors or directors with links to the slave trade.
U.S. offers $10 million reward for capture of former Colombian rebels
The United States on Thursday said it was offering rewards of up to $10 million each for information leading to the arrest or conviction of two former leaders of Colombia’s FARC rebel group.
France’s top court rejects core of law targeting online hate speech
France’s top court rejected most of a draft law that would have compelled social media giants such as Facebook and Twitter to remove any hateful content within 24 hours, it said on Thursday.
U.S. House panel hears from Facebook, Google, Twitter on election security
Top officials from Facebook Inc , Alphabet Inc’s Google and Twitter Inc appeared remotely before U.S. lawmakers on Thursday at a virtual hearing on foreign influence and election security.