Trump thanks Turkey for pastor’s release, denies cutting deal
President Donald Trump said on Saturday the release of U.S. pastor Andrew Brunson after two years in Turkish custody was a “tremendous step” toward improved relations with Turkey, but he denied cutting a deal with Ankara.
Bolsonaro adviser favors selling Eletrobras generation assets
The top economic adviser to Brazilian far-right presidential front-runner Jair Bolsonaro said he favors selling off some of the power generation assets of utility company Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A., raising new contradictions in the candidate’…
Venezuelan opposition activist released from jail, arrives in Spain
A Venezuelan opposition activist who was freed from jail after four years arrived in Madrid on Saturday where the Spanish government said it hoped his release would help end the political crisis in the South American country.
Swedish centre-right split scuppers plan for minority government
An attempt by the leader of Sweden’s Moderate party to break the political deadlock after September’s election looked set to fail on Saturday as two parties in his centre-right bloc said they would not support him in forming a minority government.
Suicide bombers kill at least three in southern Somali city
At least three people were killed when two suspected suicide bombers struck separately in the southern Somali city of Baidoa on Saturday, police said.
Chinese official says ‘sinicization’ of religion in Xinjiang must go on
The “sinicization” of religion must be upheld to promote ethnic solidarity and religious harmony, a senior Chinese official has said in the troubled western region of Xinjiang, which is home to a large Muslim population.
Philippines says U.N. rights council seat vindicates Duterte’s drug war
Granting the Philippines a fresh three-year term on the U.N. Human Rights Council has vindicated President Rodrigo Duterte’s crackdown on drugs and shown his detractors to be “morally corrupt”, senior officials said on Saturday.
Malaysia’s Anwar wins by-election, steps closer to premiership
Malaysia’s Anwar Ibrahim won a by-election engineered for his return to parliament by an overwhelming majority on Saturday, bringing him closer to the premiership that has been promised to him by former foe, Mahathir Mohamad.
At least three killed in twin blasts in southern Somali city
At least three people were killed when two suspected suicide bombers struck separately in the southern Somali city of Baidoa on Saturday, police said.
Czech opposition scores win in Senate elections
The strongest Czech opposition party, the Civic Democrats, won the most seats in a Senate election, results showed on Saturday, although the victory is unlikely to rattle Prime Minister Andrej Babis’s minority government.
