International

North Korea launches ‘extremely regrettable’: Japan defense minister

TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — North Korea fired “projectiles” that landed outside Japanese waters, Japan’s defense minister said Thursday, calling the latest launches by Pyongyang “extremely regrettable”. “We have confirmed so far that they did not reach our country’s territory or exclusive economic zone,” Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya told reporters after South Korea reported two “projectile” launches. “If they were ballistic missiles, it violates UN resolutions… These recent cases of them firing projectiles are extremely regrettable,” […]

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Records tumble in Europe as heatwave bites

by Adam PLOWRIGHT PARIS, France (AFP) — Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands recorded their highest ever temperatures as a European heatwave soared towards its peak on Wednesday, impacting rail transport and prompting a number of drownings with people taking to the water. Cyclists in the Tour de France in southern France had to puff their way over the course in well over 30 degrees Celsius while in the Netherlands, farmers have been leaving their cows […]

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N. Korea fires ‘short range’ projectile: US official

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The US said Wednesday that Pyongyang had fired a short-range projectile, while South Korean media reported that two had been launched. The firing comes ahead of US-South Korean military exercises next month that North Korea has warned could affect the planned resumption of denuclearization talks between Washington and Pyongyang. “I can confirm that it was… short-range” a US official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity. He did not say […]

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JUST IN: British PM May tenders her resignation to Queen Elizabeth II

  Outgoing British Prime Minister Theresa May formally tendered her resignation to Queen Elizabeth II on Wednesday as her successor Boris Johnson prepares to take over. May arrived at the palace after earlier urging Johnson to deliver Brexit “in a way that works for the whole United Kingdom” — an allusion to the deep divisions that the issue has caused in the country. Agence France-Presse

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On a Brexit mission, Britain’s Johnson takes office

  by Alice RITCHIE and Robin MILLARD Agence France Presse LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Boris Johnson began putting together his top team as he prepared to take over as Britain’s prime minister on Wednesday, on a mission to deliver Brexit by October 31 by any means necessary. The former London mayor, a divisive figure best known for his gaffes and rhetorical flourishes, was elected on Tuesday by members of the governing Conservative party to […]

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Russia says North Korea holding ship with 17 crew

  MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — North Korea is holding a Russian fishing ship with a crew of 15 Russians and two South Koreans since detaining it last week, the Russian embassy in Pyongyang said Wednesday. North Korean border guards took control of the ship belonging to the Russian North-Eastern Fishing Company on July 17. “According to the North Korean foreign ministry, the ship was detained for ‘violating rules of entry and stay’” in North Korea, […]

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Trains slowed down as temperatures in Europe hit new record high

  by Adam PLOWRIGHT Agence France Presse PARIS, France (AFP) — Trains were slowed down and holidaymakers flocked to swimming pools, beaches and lakes in western Europe on Wednesday as another heatwave set new temperature records. A host of French cities saw their highest levels since records began on Tuesday, with wine capital Bordeaux recording 41.2 degrees Celsius (106.16 Fahrenheit), beating the previous high of 40.7C registered in August 2003, weather service Meteo-France said. Forecasters […]

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Four Chinese indicted for evading US weapons sanctions on N.Korea

  WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Four Chinese nationals have been indicted for financial dealings with North Korean companies sanctioned for involvement in the production of weapons of mass destruction, the US Justice Department said Tuesday. Ma Xiaohong, the head of Dandong Hongxiang Industrial Development Co. Ltd (DHID) and three top executives of the Chinese company were indicted by a federal grand jury in New Jersey, the department said in a statement. The other three […]

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Search warrant issued against Puerto Rico’s embattled governor

MIAMI, FLA. (AFP) — Authorities in Puerto Rico have issued a search warrant against the US territory’s governor and 11 other men who exchanged derogatory chat messages about gays, hurricane victims and others, officials said Tuesday — the latest twist in a scandal engulfing the island’s leadership. The release of those chats two weeks ago helped trigger huge street demonstrations demanding the resignation of Governor Ricardo Rossello, who has refused to step down as leader […]

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FBI chief: Russians still trying to meddle in US elections

  WASHINGTON, DC (AFP) — FBI Director Christopher Wray warned Tuesday that Russia continues to threaten US elections, 16 months before the next presidential polls. “The Russians are absolutely intent on trying to interfere with our elections,” Wray told the Senate Judiciary Committee. “My view is until they stop they haven’t been deterred enough.” US intelligence and special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation have documented a broad effort by Russian intelligence and a Russian social media […]

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Boris Johnson wins race to become Britain’s next PM

  by Alice RITCHIE and James PHEBY Agence France Presse LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Boris Johnson won the race to become Britain’s next prime minister on Tuesday, heading straight into a confrontation over Brexit with Brussels and parliament, as well as a tense diplomatic standoff with Iran. The former London mayor easily beat his rival, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, in a vote of members of the governing Conservative Party. He is expected to be […]

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Moscow denies Russian aircraft violated South Korean airspace: ministry

MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — Moscow denied on Tuesday that its aircraft had violated South Korean airspace, saying its jets had carried out planned drills over international waters. “Two Tu-95 strategic bombers of Russia’s aerospace forces carried out a planned flight in the airspace above the neutral waters of the Sea of Japan,” the defence ministry said in a statement. It also denied that the South Korean planes fired warning shots. Moscow said two South Korean […]

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