Tongue-lashings from North Korea’s Kim underscore shift in focus to economy
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s strident rebukes of officials during recent trips to industrial sites were aimed at rallying support at home for his economic drive and convincing outsiders about his willingness to denuclearize.
South Korea court orders compensation to victims of 2014 ferry sinking
A South Korean court ruled on Thursday that the government and the operator of the Sewol ferry, which sank in 2014 killing 304 people mostly school children, must compensate the victims’ families.
Mexico’s leftist election winners to appeal campaign funding fine
Mexican President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s political party said on Wednesday it would appeal a $10 million fine from the National Electoral Institute (INE) for breaking campaign finance rules.
Xi’s campaign to draw people back to graying rural China faces uphill battle
Liu Deke, 73, puffed away on a roll-up as he threshed stalks of dried rapeseed on a large canvas sheet. Nearby, plumes of billowy smoke from burning stalks drifted across the rice fields.
Turkish court keeps U.S. pastor in jail; Trump calls on Erdogan to act
A Turkish court decided on Wednesday to keep an American pastor in jail, dashing hopes that he could be released during his trial on terrorism and spying charges, a case that has deepened a rift with NATO ally Washington.
Trump urges Turkey’s Erdogan to free jailed U.S. pastor
President Donald Trump on Wednesday called on Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan to “do something” to free American pastor Andrew Brunson, who has been jailed in Turkey on terrorism and spying charges.
South Korea court orders compensation to victims of 2014 ferry sinking: Yonhap
A South Korean court ruled on Thursday that the government and the operator of the Sewol ferry, which sank in 2014 killing more than 300 people mostly school children, must compensate the victims’ families, the Yonhap news agency said.
Israel adopts divisive Jewish nation-state law
Israel passed a “nation-state” law on Thursday declaring that only Jews have the right of self-determination in the country, stirring anger from members of the Arab minority who said it was racist and drawing an expression of concern from the EU.
Thailand’s cave boys wake up at home for first time in weeks
Thailand’s rescued cave boys woke up in their own homes for the first time in more than three weeks on Thursday, with many rising at dawn to take part in a religious ceremony.
White House struggles to contain political outcry over Trump-Putin summit
The White House struggled on Wednesday to contain a political outcry and confusion over U.S. President Donald Trump’s summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, denying Trump ever meant to say that Moscow was no longer targeting the United States.
