Beijing / AFP Philippines’ President Rodrigo Duterte and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping pledged to enhance trust and deepen cooperation on Thursday, Chinese officials said, as Manila’s new leader seeks to rebalance his country’s diplomacy away from the US. China welcomed Duterte—who donned a suit and tie for the occasion—with an official ceremony outside the Great Hall of the People …

  Edinburgh / AFP Scotland’s government published a draft independence referendum bill on Thursday as a fallback plan if it is not able to keep strong ties with the EU and win more powers from London as part of Brexit talks. The bill would give non-British EU citizens living in Scotland, who were not allowed to take part in the EU …

  Jakarta / AFP An Indonesian IS group supporter was jailed for 10 years on Thursday for helping make a bomb used in a deadly attack in Jakarta, as the country faces an increase in IS-linked assaults. Dodi Suridi, 23, was found guilty of committing an act of terror over his links to the attack in the Indonesian capital in January, …