China grants prisoner amnesty ahead of 70th anniversary of state founding
Chinese President Xi Jinping signed an order for a prisoner amnesty on Saturday, to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, though many exceptions will apply.
North Macedonia hosts its first Gay Pride march
North Macedonia held its first Gay Pride march on Saturday, in a test of the conservative Balkan country’s record on respecting minority rights as it seeks to join the European Union.
Still-life painting looted by Nazis to return to Florence
A still-life painting by the Dutch master Jan van Huysum which was looted by retreating Nazi troops in World War Two will be returned to Florence, the Italian government said on Saturday.
Trump offers North Korea’s Kim weekend meeting in demilitarized zone
U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday proposed a weekend meeting with Kim Jong Un at the demilitarized zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea, an encounter North Korea said would be meaningful if it goes ahead.
Iran to resist U.S. sanctions, just as it withstood Iraqi chemical attack: Zarif
The Iranian foreign minister said on Saturday that Iran would resist any U.S. sanctions, just as it persevered during the 1980s Iran-Iraq war when the forces of the then Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein launched a chemical attack on an Iranian town.
Romania’s president eyes new term, not EU’s top job
Romania’s centrist President Klaus Iohannis said on Saturday he would decline any offer to get the European Union’s top job, seeking instead to win a fresh term as the country’s president.
Ethiopia airs voice of alleged coup leader killed in crackdown
Ethiopia has released a recording of the state militia commander it says led a failed coup attempt last week in which dozens of people, including five top officials, were killed.
Turkey’s Erdogan says U.S. will not impose sanctions over Russian missile deal
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday the United States did not plan to impose sanctions on Ankara for buying Russian defense systems, after the U.S. president said Turkey had not been treated fairly over the contract.
Kremlin says S-400 deal with Turkey envisages partial technologies handover: Ifax
Moscow’s deal with Ankara, under which Russia would supply S-400 missile defense systems to Turkey, envisages a partial handover of technologies, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Saturday, the Interfax news agency reported.
Putin says ‘genius musician’ Elton John mistaken on Russia LGBT rights
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday that Elton John was “mistaken” about LGBT rights in Russia, while praising the British singer as a musical genius.
