Reuters, Phnom Penh
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen called on the United States on Friday to withdraw Peace Corps volunteers in an escalating row over accusations that U.S. agents conspired with an opposition leader to plot treason. Hun Sen was responding after the U.S. embassy in Phnom Penh issued a travel warning that urged citizens to show caution amid “anti-American rhetoric by officials”.
Pak court rejects Sharif’s petition against removal
AP, Islamabad
A defense lawyer says Pakistan’s Supreme Court has rejected former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s request for a review of a ruling disqualifying him from holding office for concealing his assets. Salman Akram Raja said a five-judge panel of the court Friday also rejected review petitions from Sharif’s two sons, a daughter and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar.
Indian soldier killed in Pakistan firing
AP, Srinagar
An Indian border guard was killed Friday after Pakistani soldiers fired at several positions along the volatile border in disputed Kashmir, an Indian paramilitary officer said. Pakistani soldiers early Friday fired mortar shells and automatic rifles at border posts in five places in Arnia sector, said D. Parekh, a senior officer with India’s Border Security Force.
US ‘seeking excuses’ to destroy N-deal: Iran
AFP, Tehran
The United States is “seeking excuses” to tear up the nuclear deal with Iran by demanding military site inspections, one of the Islamic republic’s top security officials said on Friday. “Iran has no undisclosed nuclear activity in any geographical location in the country,” the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani, said on state television.
Swedish PM survives vote of no-confidence
Reuters, Stockholm
Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven easily survived a parliamentary vote of no confidence brought on Friday by the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats over a botched IT outsourcing project that may have led to the leak of sensitive information.
