Friend of former South Korea leader jailed for three years: Yonhap
SEOUL (Reuters) – The friend of former South Korean leader Park Geun-hye, who was at the center of an influence-peddling scandal that rocked the country’s business and political elite, has been sentenced to three years in jail, Yonhap News Agency repor…
Ecuador foreign minister says UK wants a solution to Assange standoff
QUITO (Reuters) – Britain is interested in finding a solution to the standoff that has led to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange being holed up in Ecuador’s London embassy for five years, the foreign minister of the South American country said on Thursda…
Mexico president calls for probe into alleged government spying
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto asked the attorney general’s office on Thursday to investigate charges the government spied on private citizens, saying he wanted to get to the bottom of the accusations that he called “false…
Venezuelan soldier shoots protester dead in airbase attack, minister says
CARACAS (Reuters) – A Venezuelan military police sergeant shot dead a protester who was attacking the perimeter of an airbase on Thursday, the interior minister said, bringing renewed scrutiny of the force used to control riots that have killed at leas…
Kuwait hands Qatar a list of demands from boycotting countries: Al Jazeera
DUBAI (Reuters) – Kuwait has handed Qatar a list of demands from the Arab states boycotting it, Al Jazeera television said quoting sources.
North Korea tests rocket engine, possibly for ICBM: U.S. officials
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – North Korea has carried out another test of a rocket engine that the United States believes could be part of its program to develop an intercontinental ballistic missile, a U.S. official told Reuters on Thursday.
Australia to send surveillance planes to help Philippines fight militants
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia’s defense force said on Friday it will send two military surveillance aircraft to assist Philippine soldiers fighting Islamist militants, as the archipelago nation battles to regain control of its southern city of Marawi.
U.S. on track to supply India with 22 Guardian drones: source
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States is on track to announce plans to supply India with 22 Guardian drones in a deal worth more than $2 billion, a source familiar with the deal said on Thursday.
Cuba says regional marijuana liberalization is fueling trafficking
HAVANA (Reuters) – The liberalization of marijuana laws is fueling drug trafficking but Cuba will not follow the trend of loosening restrictions on marijuana, a government official said on Thursday.
Belgian bombing suspect had marriage, job plans, say family
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The Moroccan suspected of trying to explode a bomb in Brussels Central Station on Tuesday was a normal man who had plans to marry and become a taxi driver, his family told Belgian public broadcaster VRT.
