World News Roundup: US, Japan challenge Beijing with naval drills; Europeans reject "ultimatums" from Iran and more

Pope issues sweeping decree holding bishops accountable for sex abuse or cover ups

Pope Francis introduced sweeping changes in Catholic Church law on Thursday to hold bishops accountable for sexual abuse or covering it up, making reporting obligatory for clerics and allowing anyone to complain directly to the Vatican if needed. A papal decree, which covers abuse of both children and adults, also obliges every Catholic diocese in the world to set up simple and accessible reporting systems and encourages local churches to involve lay experts in investigations.

Gunmen kill five members of a family near Iraq's Mosul

Gunmen shot dead five members of a family in an attack on their house near the northern Iraqi city of Mosul late on Wednesday, police officials and hospital sources said. Police officials in the area said Islamic State militants were involved in the attack.

Police investigating Northern Ireland journalist killing arrest four

Police investigating last month's murder of journalist Lyra McKee in Northern Ireland arrested four people in Londonderry on Thursday under terrorist legislation, authorities said. McKee's killing by an Irish nationalist militant during a riot in the city sparked outrage in the province where a 1998 peace deal mostly ended three decades of sectarian violence that cost the lives of some 3,600 people.

Rights group tries to block Saudi vessel loading French arms

A French human rights group on Thursday sought to block the loading of weapons onto a Saudi Arabian vessel that is due to dock in northern France later in the day, its lawyers said, arguing the cargo contravened an international arms treaty. The move comes weeks after an online investigative site published leaked French military intelligence that showed weapons sold to the kingdom, including tanks and laser-guided missile systems, were being used against civilians in Yemen's war.

U.S., Japan, India and Philippines challenge Beijing with naval drills in the South China Sea

In fresh show of naval force in the contested South China Sea, a U.S. guided missile destroyer conducted drills with a Japanese aircraft carrier, two Indian naval ships and a Philippine patrol vessel in the waterway claimed by China, the U.S. Navy said on Thursday. While similar exercises have been held in the South China Sea in the past, the combined display by four countries represents a fresh challenge to Beijing as U.S. President Donald Trump threatens to hike tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods.

Europeans reject "ultimatums" from Iran as it eases nuclear curbs

European countries said on Thursday they wanted to preserve Iran's nuclear deal and rejected "ultimatums" from Tehran, after Iran scaled back curbs on its nuclear program and threatened moves that might breach the pact. Iran announced steps on Wednesday to ease curbs on its nuclear program, in response to new U.S. sanctions imposed after Washington abandoned the deal a year ago.

Christian woman who was on death row has left country, Pakistan says

Pakistan on Thursday provided its first official confirmation that Asia Bibi, a Christian woman who spent eight years on death row falsely charged with blasphemy, had left the country more than six months after being acquitted by the Supreme Court. The case created an international furor in October, after her release prompted days of rioting and demands for her death from hardline Islamists who rejected the outcome and warned Prime Minister Imran Khan's government not to let her leave.

North Korea fires two short-range missiles in second test in a week

North Korea fired what appeared to be two short-range missiles on Thursday, the South's military said, less than a week after its leader, Kim Jong Un, oversaw the test-firing of multiple rockets and a missile. The launches came as U.S. special envoy for North Korea Stephen Biegun was in the South Korean capital for talks with Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and his counterpart, nuclear envoy Lee Do-hoon.

Labour's Corbyn says: "No big offer" yet from PM May on Brexit

British Prime Minister Theresa May's government has so far made no big offer to the opposition Labour Party on Brexit, leader Jeremy Corbyn said on Thursday. "So far in those talks there's been no big offer and the red lines are still in place," Corbyn said. "Its actually quite difficult negotiating with a disintegrating government, with cabinet ministers jockeying for succession rather than working for an agreement."

Deputy of Venezuela's Guaido arrested and dragged away by tow truck

Venezuelan intelligence agents detained opposition leader Juan Guaido's congressional deputy on Wednesday, using a tow truck to drag his vehicle away with him inside, prompting the U.S. government to warn of "consequences" if he was not released. The SEBIN intelligence agency seized Edgar Zambrano, vice president of the opposition-controlled National Assembly, which Guaido heads, in the first arrest of a lawmaker since Guaido tried to spark a military uprising last week to bring down President Nicolas Maduro's government.

(With inputs from agencies.)