International

Samsung heir arrested in corruption probe

by Park Chan-Kyong Agence France Presse SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — The heir of South Korean giant Samsung was arrested Friday as part of a probe into corruption and influence-peddling that caused President Park Geun-Hye to be impeached. “It is acknowledged that it is necessary to arrest (Lee Jae-Yong) in light of a newly added criminal charge and new evidence,” a court spokesman said in a statement. Lee Jae-Yong, Samsung Electronics vice chairman, is accused […]

Islamic State-claimed bomb kills 70 at Pakistan shrine

SEHWAN, Pakistan (AFP) — At least 70 people were killed and hundreds wounded Thursday when a bomb ripped through a revered Sufi shrine in southern Pakistan, officials said, after a series of attacks which have shaken optimism over recent improvements in security. The Islamic State group (IS) claimed the attack, the deadliest to hit Pakistan so far in 2017, in the town of Sehwan in Sindh province, some 200 kilometres (124 miles) northeast of the […]

US and Russia agree to boost military communications: Pentagon

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The US and Russian militaries agreed to “enhance communications” after a meeting between their top commanders in Azerbaijan on Thursday, the Pentagon said. Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Joe Dunford and his Russian counterpart Valery Gerasimov discussed military relations between the two countries as well as security in Europe, the Middle East and elsewhere during their meeting in the capital Baku. The two sides “have undertaken efforts […]

Malaysia will return body of North Korean leader’s half-brother: deputy PM

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AFP) — Malaysia will return the body of the half-brother of North Korea’s leader at Pyongyang’s request, although there are “procedures to be followed”, the deputy prime minister told reporters on Thursday. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi confirmed Pyongyang had made the request when questioned by journalists following a meeting with regional business leaders, footage from the event showed. “We will facilitate the request by any foreign government although there are procedures to be […]

Featured video: Trump hails “unbreakable” bond between US and Israel

https://youtu.be/FMvwqJvkmCs   United States President Donald Trump warmly welcomed Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House and hailed the “unbreakable” bond between their countries. And while he urged Netanyahu to “hold back” from building Jewish settlements for a “little bit,” Trump broke with international consensus insisting on a future that included a Palestinian state alongside Israel. “So I’m looking at two-state and one-state, and I like the one that both parties like. I’m very […]

Kim killing won’t affect ties with N. Korea: Malaysia deputy PM

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AFP) — The assassination of the half brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, in a Kuala Lumpur airport will not affect ties between the two countries, the Malaysia deputy prime minister said Thursday. When asked by a reporter whether the killing would effect their diplomatic relationship, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said: “No. We maintain and we would like to strengthen our relationship with any foreign country that has established their embassy here.” […]

Malaysia police arrest second woman over N. Korea killing

  by Theo Merz Agence France Presse KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AFP) — Malaysian police probing the killing of the half-brother of North Korea’s leader on Thursday arrested a second woman over the spy novel-style assassination Seoul said was carried out by Pyongyang agents. A woman with an Indonesian passport was taken into custody overnight, a police statement said, and was being quizzed along with a 28-year-old Vietnamese woman detained on Wednesday. The two women were […]

US, Venezuela tensions soar as Trump, Maduro spar

by Ramon SAHMKOW Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Tensions flared once again Wednesday between the United States and Venezuela as Donald Trump called for the release of a jailed foe of President Nicolas Maduro, who warned the new US leader not to provoke him. Diplomatic rows have become somewhat commonplace over the past 20 years between Venezuela’s leftist leaders and Washington, the “imperialist” power they love to hate. They have not traded ambassadors […]

Trump drops US commitment to ‘two-state’ Mideast deal

by Dave Clark Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US President Donald Trump shelved Washington’s years-long quest for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict Wednesday, saying he would back a single state if it led to peace. The new president warmly welcomed Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House and hailed the “unbreakable” bond between their countries. And while he urged Netanyahu to “hold back” from building Jewish settlements for a […]

Kremlin dismisses report of Trump campaign contacts with Russian spies

(Reuters) — The Kremlin said on Wednesday (February 15) an American media report, which said members of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign had contacts with Russian intelligence officials, was not based on any facts. The New York Times, citing four current and former U.S. officials, reported on Tuesday (February 14) that phone records and intercepted calls show that members of Trump’s campaign and other Trump associates had repeated contacts with senior Russian intelligence officials in the […]

Colombia’s Santos, Ecuador’s Correa underscore commitment to peace

  GUAYAQUIL, Ecuador (Reuters) — Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos met with Ecuador’s outgoing President Rafael Correa in the port city of Guayaquil on Wednesday, hailing the peace process with Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels that culminated in an end to more than five decades of violence. The official meeting comes as Ecuador hosts official peace talks between Colombia’s Marxist National Liberation Army (ELN) rebels and Bogota in a bid to end another […]

Triple Olympic swimming champion arrested

  GOLD COAST, Australia (Reuters) —  Australian long-distance swimming great Grant Hackett was arrested and detained by police in the Gold Coast on Wednesday after a “breakdown” at his parents’ home, local media reported. The troubled triple Olympic champion’s father Neville Hackett told local newspaper, the Gold Coast Bulletin, that he had called the police so his 36-year-old son could be given help. “He just became abusive and aggressive. When I say aggressive, verbally, and […]