Xinhua world news summary at 0900 GMT, Dec. 8
Xinhua,December 08, 2017 Adjust font size:
BRUSSELS -- The European Commission has found sufficient progress in the first phase of the Brexit talks and will recommend to the European Council to open the second phase, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said Friday.
He made the remarks during a joint press conference with British Prime Minister Theresa May who arrived in Brussels before dawn for her second meeting in a week with him to secure a deal for Britain's divorce from the bloc. (Brexit-EU-Talks)
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BUENOS AIRES -- A federal judge on Thursday ordered the arrest of former Argentine President Cristina Fernandez on charges of treason and covering up for alleged Iranian terrorists involved in the 1994 bombing of a Jewish community center here.
Judge Claudio Bonadio asked Argentina's Senate to remove Fernandez's immunity from arrest, claiming she could try to interfere with the investigation, which was originally opened by prosecutor Alberto Nisman in January 2015, four days before he was found dead in his apartment. (Argentina-Fernandez-Charge)
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SEOUL -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in called on key military commanders on Friday to prepare for the early transfer of wartime operational control from the United States.
Moon invited major commanders of the country's military to his office for lunch, saying conditions should be rapidly prepared for the transfer of wartime operational command of South Korean forces from Washington.
(S. Korea-US-Military)
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TOKYO -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Cabinet formally approved on Friday the date of April 30, 2019 as the abdication date for Emperor Akihito.
The Cabinet's approval occurred a week after a meeting of the Imperial House Council involving the prime minister, politicians, the judiciary and imperial family members, agreed upon the date. (Japan-Emperor-Abdication)
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KABUL -- At least 15 Taliban militants were killed and 10 others wounded by Afghan army personnel in two northern provinces, authorities said on Friday.
In early hours of Friday, three Taliban members were killed after special forces struck their position by an airstrike in Ghormach district of Faryab province, the command of Special Forces said in a statement. (Afghanistan-Security Operation) Enditem