AFP, Rome
Some 235,000 migrants in Libya are ready to make the dangerous Mediterranean crossing to Italy as soon as the opportunity arises, UN envoy Martin Kobler said in an interview published today. According to Italy’s interior ministry, nearly 128,400 migrants have arrived via the Mediterranean since the start of the year – which is a five per cent jump over the same period in 2015.
China releases alleged Canadian spy
AFP, Montreal
A Canadian man arrested in China two years ago on charges of spying and stealing state secrets has been freed and is back home in Canada, his family said on Thursday. Kevin Garratt was detained in 2014 along with his wife, Julia Dawn, who was later released on bail, in the northeastern Chinese city of Dandong, on the border with North Korea.
Myanmar soldiers jailed for killings
Reuters, Yangon
A Myanmar military court has jailed seven soldiers for five years each with hard labor for murdering five ethnic minority villagers in June, state media said on Friday, in a rare prosecution of military personnel.
The seven, including four officers, will serve their time in civilian prisons, said a report from a court martial in northeastern Myanmar.
Rouhani heads for Venezuela, Cuba
AFP, Tehran
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani set off Friday for a tour of Venezuela and Cuba before heading to New York for next week’s UN General Assembly, official media reported. Rouhani will take part in a summit of Non-Aligned Movement countries and hold separate talks with Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro, the IRNA news agency said.
