No Korean military talks after North snubs South’s call
SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korea’s proposed military talks aimed at easing tension between the two Koreas planned for Friday failed to happen after the North snubbed the call, a setback for new President Moon Jae-in’s hopes for dialogue.
Brazil’s Lula says he is being persecuted in court as supporters protest
SAO PAULO (Reuters) – Former Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, a leftist leader who is topping polls for the 2018 election, on Thursday told supporters protesting his conviction for corruption charges that his political opponents were persecuting him in the courts.
‘Let’s get the hell out of here’ – quake off Greece and Turkey kills two
KOS, Greece/ANKARA (Reuters) – A powerful earthquake killed two people on the Greek holiday island of Kos in the early hours of Friday, sending tourists fleeing into the streets, and causing disruption in the nearby Turkish tourist hub of Bodrum.
Peru gov’t fires special attorney on Odebrecht graft probe
LIMA (Reuters) – The government of Peru’s President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski said on Thursday that it was firing its special counsel in a corruption probe of Brazilian builder Odebrecht, sparking accusations of interference.
UK must agree implementation period for EU migration curbs: lawmakers
LONDON (Reuters) – The British government should agree an implementation period for curbs to immigration from the European Union after Britain leaves the bloc to allow businesses time to adapt, a committee of lawmakers said in a report published on Fri…
U.N. rights chief seeks meeting with China over Liu Xiaobo’s widow
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – United Nations human rights chief Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein said on Thursday he plans to seek a meeting with Chinese officials to urge freedom of movement for the widow of Nobel Peace Prize-winning dissident Liu Xiaobo, who died …
U.S. lawmakers want fresh sanctions on Hezbollah
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Republican and Democratic U.S. lawmakers introduced legislation on Thursday seeking to increase sanctions on Hezbollah, accusing the powerful Shi’ite Muslim political group of violence in Syria and amassing rockets along Israel’s…
U.S. general says allies worry Russian war game may be ‘Trojan horse’
BERLIN (Reuters) – U.S. allies in eastern Europe and Ukraine are worried that Russia’s planned war games in September could be a “Trojan horse” aimed at leaving behind military equipment brought into Belarus, the U.S. Army’s top general in Europe said …
Qatari emir amends laws to bolster fight against terrorism: agency
DOHA (Reuters) – Qatar’s ruler has amended the country’s anti-terrorism laws in a royal decree issued on Thursday, state news agency QNA reported, in a move that appears aimed at countering charges the Gulf Arab state supports terrorism.
South Sudan rebel Machar declines to renounce violence: mediator
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Exiled South Sudanese opposition figure Riek Machar declined to renounce violence or declare a unilateral ceasefire and instead demanded new peace talks outside the war-torn country, an international mediator told the United …
