World News Roundup: China's infiltration in Taiwan; Chances of UK remaining in EU

Tripoli urges Trump to stop Haftar's backers meddling in Libya

Libya's internationally recognized government denounced its foe Khalifa Haftar as an "aspiring military dictator" on Friday and urged U.S. President Donald Trump to stop foreign support for his month-long offensive on the capital Tripoli. Fayez Serraj, prime minister of the beleaguered Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA), said Haftar's U.S.-allied backers were turning Libya into a proxy battleground, risking a war with global implications and further mass migration to Europe.

Taiwan says China has stepped up infiltration efforts

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen said on Friday that China has stepped up efforts to infiltrate and gain influence in the self-ruled and democratic island, and asked national security agencies to counter the campaign. Tsai, speaking to reporters after a national security meeting, said China's influence operations included attempts to interfere with elections and fake news campaigns. Taiwan holds presidential elections next January.

Tusk sees chances of UK remaining in EU at 20-30%: daily

European Council President Donald Tusk said he sees the chances of Britain staying in the European Union after all at 20-30% as Britons had begun a genuine debate whether to leave or to remain only after the 2016 Brexit referendum. In a Polish newspaper interview, Tusk suggested holding another Brexit referendum given the precedent that Britain had already staged two plebiscites on Europe, first in 1975 on whether to stay in the then-European Economic Community that it had joined two years before.

China files formal charges against former Interpol chief

Chinese prosecutors filed formal charges on Friday against former Interpol chief Meng Hongwei, accusing him of abuse of power and taking bribes, in the next legal step before he faces a court. Interpol, the global police coordination agency based in France, last October said Meng had resigned as its president, days after his wife reported him missing after he travelled back to his home country of China.

'Missiles like these will start the war': North Korea tests showcase growing capability

North Korea's second missile test on Thursday signals it is serious about developing new, short-range weapons that could be used early and effectively in any war with South Korea and the United States, analysts studying images of the latest launches say. Last week, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the first flight of a previously untested weapon - a relatively small, fast missile experts believe will be easier to hide, launch, and manoeuvre in flight.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards reject talks with U.S. after Trump offer

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Friday Tehran will not negotiate with the United States and denied any U.S. attack was likely, a day after U.S. President Donald Trump urged talks and said he could not rule out a military confrontation. Trump on Thursday urged Iran's leadership to sit down and talk with him about giving up Tehran's nuclear program and said he could not rule out a military confrontation given the heightened tensions between the two countries.

Relentless Taliban violence casts a pall over 'slow' Afghan talks

Talks with the Taliban on ending Afghanistan's war are making steady but slow progress, the chief U.S. envoy involved in the negotiations said on Friday while signalling growing frustration with relentless militant violence. The sixth round of talks ended on Thursday in Qatar with "some progress" on a draft agreement on the withdrawal of foreign troops, a Taliban official said. The United States is seeking a Taliban guarantee they won't let militants use Afghanistan to stage attacks.

Saudi vessel left Le Havre without arms cargo, en route to Santander

A Saudi vessel that had been due to load arms in France left the country's Le Havre port without its arms cargo and is now sailing toward Santander in Spain, according to ship-tracking data and comments from a local French official to Reuters. On Thursday, two French human rights groups had sought to block the loading of weapons onto the Saudi Arabian vessel as it sought to dock in northern France, arguing the cargo contravened an international arms treaty.

Exclusive: U.S. commander says he could send carrier into Strait of Hormuz despite Iran tensions

The commander overseeing U.S. naval forces in the Middle East told Reuters on Thursday that American intelligence showing a threat from Iran will not prevent him from sending an aircraft carrier through the vital Strait of Hormuz if needed. Vice Admiral Jim Malloy, commander of the U.S. Navy's Bahrain-based Fifth Fleet, did not say whether he would send the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group into the strategic waterway off Iran, through which passes a fifth of oil consumed globally.

At least 70 migrants drown off Tunisia coast: state agency TAP

At least 70 migrants drowned on Friday when their boat sank in international waters off the Tunisian coast, and 16 were saved, the state-run Tunis Afrique Presse agency said. The boat sank 40 nautical miles off the coast of Sfax, south of the capital Tunis, it said. Fishing boats rescued the survivors, it said.