Alleged Russian spy Butina expected to return home from U.S. prison on Saturday: Foreign Ministry
Alleged Russian foreign agent Maria Butina, arrested and jailed in the United States in April, is expected to arrive in Moscow by Saturday morning, Russian Foreign Ministry said on its official Telegram messenger channel.
Australia’s Uluru opens to climbers for last time ahead of ban
Hundreds of tourists clambered up Australia’s Uluru on Friday, the day before a permanent ban on climbing the sacred rock takes effect following a decades-long fight by indigenous people to close the trek.
Solomon Islands govt says China’s island lease is ‘unlawful’
The Solomon Islands government said a deal signed by one of its provinces to lease the entire island of Tulagi to a Chinese company is unlawful and should be terminated.
North Korea tells South Korea it wants ‘shabby’ Mt Kumgang resort rebuilt
North Korea has notified Seoul that it wants to discuss the rebuilding of facilities constructed by South Korea at the North’s Mount Kumgang resort, an important symbol of cooperation between the Koreas, the government said on Friday.
China orienteering team disqualified from world military games
China’s orienteering team has been disqualified from this year’s Military World Games hosted by the mainland following accusations of cheating at an event, according to a statement by the sport’s international association.
Indonesia’s report on 737 MAX crash recommends redesign, better training
Indonesia has recommended closer scrutiny of automated control systems, better design of flight deck alerts and accounting for a more diverse pilot population in the wake of a Boeing 737 MAX crash, according to a copy of a final report seen by Reuters….
Judge asks Samsung heir to be humble at bribery trial
A South Korean judge overseeing Samsung Group heir Jay Y. Lee’s bribery trial told him on Friday to “humbly accept” whatever the outcome of the trial, which could result in a tougher sentence for the conglomerate’s de-facto leader.
Chinese paper says Britain must accept responsibility for truck deaths
Britain and other European countries must accept some responsibility for the deaths of 39 people, believed to be Chinese nationals, found dead in a refrigerated truck near London, the state-backed Global Times said on Friday.
Hong Kong set for more subdued weekend of protests
Hong Kong is gearing up for what is expected to be a relatively quiet weekend of protests, although there is no sign that anti-government activists are backing down on their calls for greater democracy and other demands.
Top Mexican broadcasters feel the pinch from fewer government ads
Revenue from government-sponsored publicity campaigns in Mexico has continued slide for the country’s top two television broadcasters, part of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s austerity push.
