International

• Saturday, December 31st 2016 - 06:47 UTC

  Different bird flu cases detected throughout Asia as winter conditions worsen

  

  Hong Kong has confirmed a new human case of H7N9 bird flu, while the H5 bird flu virus has been detected in two cats that died in the South Korean city of Pocheon, it was reported on Friday.

• Friday, December 30th 2016 - 17:40 UTC

  An attempt to bypass Lords could turn into fresh legal challenge for Brexit

  

  A fresh legal challenge to triggering Brexit could be launched unless UK Prime Minister Theresa May allows the House of Lords to vote on the issue. Businesswoman Gina Miller, who helped bring the action which saw the High Court insist the Commons must vote on invoking Article 50, has said the upper House of Parliament also needs a “proper debate”.

• Friday, December 30th 2016 - 03:48 UTC

  Ceasefire between Syria and rebels effective since midnight, but gunshots already reported

  

  A ceasefire between Syria's government and rebel forces started at midnight on Friday after nearly six years of civil war. The agreement, brokered by Russia and Turkey which back opposing sides in the conflict, got off to a dubious start as clashes had already been reported less than two hours after the truce's beginning.

• Thursday, December 29th 2016 - 22:51 UTC

  Obama's gov't expels 35 Russian diplomats - Moscow to take reciprocal steps

  

  The government of the United States Thursday expelled 35 Russian diplomats from Washington and San Francisco, US Department of State said in an official statement. Meanwhile, lawmaker Vladimir Dzhabarov, who is Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council's (Parliamantary Upper House) warned that “reciprocal steps will be made with regards to the U.S. embassy in Moscow and, quite possibly, the consulates will be cut down in size as well.” In any case, it is believed that this decision “will destroy diplomatic relations” between the two countries, as one Kremlin source put it.

• Thursday, December 29th 2016 - 22:28 UTC

  Whereabouts of Greek Ambassador to Brazil unknown since Monday

  

  Local police said in a statement on Thursday that Greece's ambassador to Brazil, Kyriakos Amiridis, has been last seen Monday night in Nova Iguacu, 40 kilometers northwest of Rio de Janeiro.

• Thursday, December 29th 2016 - 19:02 UTC

  Filipino President Duterte threatens to throw corrupt officials off a helicopter

  

  “If you are corrupt, I will fetch you using a helicopter to Manila and I will throw you out. I have done this before. Why would I not do it again?,” said Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte during a speech to victims of a typhoon on Tuesday, a clip of which was posted later on a video feed.

• Wednesday, December 28th 2016 - 21:16 UTC

  “Real opportunities” from Brexit forecasts ex Bank of England governor

  

  Lord King, the former governor of the Bank of England, has said that the UK should be “self-confident” about leaving the European Union since there were “real opportunities” for economic reform and new trade deals which meant Brexit could be a success. He highlighted agricultural reform and a developing relationship with the Republic of Ireland as areas where the UK could be positive.

• Wednesday, December 28th 2016 - 19:26 UTC

  “Queen backs Brexit”, no longer a controversy according to BBC political editor

  

  The BBC’s political editor has said she was told that the Queen supported EU withdrawal, but did not report it as she could not find a second source. Laura Kuenssberg said she was told about the alleged comment months before the eventual appearance of The Sun’s “Queen backs Brexit” headline in March.

• Wednesday, December 28th 2016 - 06:28 UTC

  False alarm leads to evacuation of NY's Trump Tower - child left a bag of toys behind

  

  The notorious Trump Tower building in New York was evacuated at around 4.30 pm Tuesday due to fears caused by a strange package which turned out to be a backpack full of toys a little kid left behind, authorities said.

• Wednesday, December 28th 2016 - 04:00 UTC

  Iran wants stronger maritime capabilities, including an aircraft carrier

  

  Iran's Deputy Navy Commander for Coordination, Admiral Peiman Jafari Tehrani, admitted his country needs better military equipment, including but not limited to the bulding of a new aircraft carrier, as cited by semi-official Fars news agency. Iran's fleet regularly escorts from the threat of modern age pirates ships, particularly oil tankers, from the Persian Gulf all the way down to South Africa and the Atlantic Ocean.