Brazil’s top court releases testimony linking president to bribes
SAO PAULO/BRASILIA (Reuters) – Brazil’s Supreme Court released explosive plea-bargain testimony on Friday accusing President Michel Temer, along with former presidents Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Dilma Rousseff, of receiving millions in bribes.
Two suicide car bombs explode on highway near oilfields in southern Iraq
BASRA, Iraq (Reuters) – Two suicide car bombers blew themselves up at checkpoints on a highway near oilfields in the southern Iraqi province of Basra on Friday, killing several people, police sources and an interior ministry spokesman said.
U.S. raised concerns at ‘highest levels’ on incident involving Turkey security personnel
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. State Department said on Friday the conduct of Turkish security personnel in Washington this week was “deeply disturbing”.
EU eyes start of Brexit negotiations on June 19
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – European Union officials are preparing for talks on Britain’s exit from the bloc to begin on June 19 but expect confirmation of the date only after the British election on June 8, EU sources said on Friday.
New convention targets illicit trade in artifacts from war zones
NICOSIA (Reuters) – An international convention targeting the illicit trade in cultural artifacts took effect on Friday, a move to curb what is regarded as a major source of funding to militant groups in conflict zones.
Le Pen says FN to debate euro after French parliamentary elections
PARIS (Reuters) – France’s National Front (FN) leader Marine Le Pen said on Friday the far-right party would start debating its trademark anti-euro stance after next month’s parliamentary elections, fuelling disagreement among her closest aides and all…
Roadside bomb kills 11 Afghans headed to wedding, official says
KABUL (Reuters) – A suspected roadside bomb killed as many as 11 people from the same family on their way to a wedding in eastern Afghanistan on Friday, an official said.
Duterte says China’s Xi threatened war if Philippines drills for oil
MANILA (Reuters) – Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Friday Chinese counterpart China Xi Jinping had warned him there would be war if Manila tried to enforce an arbitration ruling and drill for oil in a disputed part of the South China Sea.
Spain’s Podemos files motion of no confidence against PM Rajoy
MADRID (Reuters) – Spanish anti-austerity party Podemos filed a motion of no confidence against Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy on Friday, citing a slew of corruption scandals that have shaken the ruling People’s Party (PP) over the last few years.
Philippines calls for ‘gentlemen’s agreement’ between ASEAN, China on sea code
MANILA (Reuters) – Southeast Asian nations and China should start with a “gentleman’s agreement” on the busy South China Sea waterway because no mechanism exists to legally enforce any deal, the Philippine foreign minister said on Friday.
