Pope names moderate Gregory as Washington, DC, archbishop
AP, Vatican City
Pope Francis has named Atlanta Archbishop Wilton Gregory as the new archbishop of Washington D.C., choosing a moderate, and the first African-American, to lead the archdiocese that has become the epicenter of the clergy sex abuse crisis in the U.S.
The 71-year-old Gregory replaces Cardinal Donald Wuerl, who resigned last year after being implicated in covering up abuse by a Pennsylvania grand jury report.
Israel readies for
election as experts warn of cyber threats
AP, Jerusalem
As Israel prepares to hold a national election next week, experts say it is vulnerable to the kind of foreign hacks and cyber campaigns that have disrupted the political process in other countries.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says there is “no country better prepared” to combat election interference. But despite Israel’s thriving tech sector and vaunted security capabilities, experts say its laws are outdated and that Netanyahu’s government hasn’t made cyber threats a priority.
South Korea sending special envoy to North Korea
AP, Seoul
South Korea says it is considering dispatching a special envoy to North Korea in an apparent effort to revive stalled nuclear talks.
Negotiations over North Korea’s nuclear program have remained stalemated since a summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Vietnam last month ended without any agreement. South Korean President Moon Jae-in is to travel to Washington next week to discuss the nuclear diplomacy with Trump.
EU condemns Venezuelan efforts to prosecute Guaido
Reuters, Brussels
European Union governments condemned on Thursday a measure by Venezuela’s Constituent Assembly that allows for the trial of opposition leader Juan Guaido, considered by many Western nations as the de facto head of state.
“The EU rejects the decision taken by the non-recognized National Constituent Assembly to lift Juan Guaido’s parliamentary immunity. This decision constitutes a serious violation of the Venezuelan constitution, as well as of the rule of law and separation of power,” the EU said in a statement.
Syrian govt forces’ shelling kills 17
Reuters, Beirut
Shelling by Syrian government forces of rebel-held areas in the northwest of the country has killed 17 civilians in the past 24 hours, a war monitoring group said on Thursday.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights group said the shelling was in different locations and that more than half the dead were under the age of 18. Violence has escalated in northwestern Syria this year along the frontline between pro-government forces and the largest remaining territory held by Syrian rebel groups.
