AFP, Japan
US President Donald Trump said Sunday he expected to meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin during an Asian tour likely to be dominated by international tensions over North Korea.
“I think it’s expected we’ll meet with Putin, yeah. We want Putin’s help on North Korea, and we’ll be meeting with a lot of different leaders,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One.
Vietnam typhoon death toll reaches 27
Reuters, Vietnam
Floods inundated swathes of central and southern Vietnam on Sunday in the wake of a typhoon that left at least 27 dead just days before the region is due to host the APEC summit of Asia-Pacific leaders.
Typhoon Damrey, the 12th major storm to hit Vietnam this year, made landfall on Saturday with winds of up to 90 km/h (56 mph) that damaged more than 40,000 homes, knocked down electricity poles and uprooted trees.
Red Cross admits $6m fraud during Ebola crisis
AFP, Geneva
The Red Cross has uncovered several cases of fraud by officials during efforts to combat the Ebola outbreak that struck West Africa in 2014-2016, estimating losses of $6 million (5.2 million euros). In a statement, the Geneva-based International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said it was “outraged”, and said it would “ensure any staff involved are held to account.”
Scottish minister quits over ‘inappropriate behaviour’
AFP, London
A junior minister in Scotland’s government resigned on Saturday after admitting “inappropriate behaviour”, as a sleaze scandal in British politics showed no sign of abating.
Childcare minister Mark McDonald said in a statement that he apologised “unreservedly to anyone I have upset or who might have found my behaviour inappropriate”.
Sicilians vote for new governor
AP, Milan
More than 4.6 million voters in Sicily are heading to the polls Sunday to pick a new regional governor in the last important vote before a national election early next year. While five candidates are running, political polling heading into the vote indicated that the race has narrowed down to a contest between center-right candidate Nello Musumeci and the 5-Star Movement’s Giancarlo Cancelleri.
Missile from Yemen intercepted near Riyadh airport
AFP, Riyadh
Saudi Arabia on Saturday intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile near Riyadh’s international airport after it was launched from conflict-torn Yemen, in an escalation of the kingdom’s war against Iran-backed Huthi rebels. The missile attack was the first aimed by the Shiite rebels at the heart of the Saudi capital, underscoring the growing threat posed by the raging conflict in Yemen.
A loud explosion was heard and smouldering debris landed inside the King Khalid International Airport, just north of Riyadh, after the missile was shot down but authorities reported no major damage or loss of life.
