Paris / AFP France deployed special forces in northern Syria to advise the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighting the IS group, a defence ministry official said on Thursday. “The offensive at Manbij is clearly being backed by a certain number of states including France. It’s the usual support —it’s advisory,” the official said, without giving further details on the …

  London / AFP Brexit campaigners accused the government of trying to rig the EU referendum and threatened legal action on Thursday as former London mayor Boris Johnson squared up for the campaign’s first TV debate. British MPs prepared to approve emergency legislation to extend voter registration—a move that has infuriated the “Leave” camp because many late requests have been from …

  Tokyo / AFP A Chinese naval ship sailed into waters surrounding disputed East China Sea islands for the first time early Thursday, prompting Tokyo to summon the Chinese ambassador to protest, the Japanese government said. Russian naval ships were also seen in the area around the same time. A Chinese naval vessel entered waters surrounding the Tokyo-administered isles, called …