AP, Washington
US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday it is “not fair” to either Turkey or the United States that Washington cannot sell Ankara billions of dollars worth of F-35 fighter jets after it bought a Russian air defence system.
Turkey started taking delivery of Russia’s S-400 air defence system last week in defiance of U.S. warnings that doing so would mean the Pentagon would kick it out of the F-35 stealth fighter programme and that it could be subject to sanctions.
Head of UN nuclear watchdog reported to be stepping down
AP, Vienna
The United Nations’ nuclear watchdog says it can’t confirm rumors that its director general is stepping down for health reasons.
The International Atomic Energy Agency’s press office told The Associated Press late Tuesday that Director General Yukiya Amano was “in contact with members of the board of governors regarding his future plans.”
Pakistan arrests alleged Mumbai attacks
mastermind again
AFP, Lahore
Pakistani authorities Wednesday detained the alleged mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, a security official said, as the country faces increased pressure to crack down on militants operating on its soil.
Firebrand cleric Hafiz Saeed – declared a global terrorist by the US and UN, and who has a $10 million US bounty on his head – was taken into custody following a raid by counter-terrorism forces in the eastern city of Gujranwala.
Pompeo to take up immigration, Iran on Latin America tour
AFP, Washington
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will press US efforts to curb immigration and counter Iran during a four-nation tour of Latin America, the State Department said Tuesday.
Pompeo on Sunday will stop in both Mexico and El Salvador as President Donald Trump takes controversial measures to deter and remove mostly Central American migrants who are seeking safety in the United States.
Under a new policy, the Trump administration is declaring ineligible for asylum most migrants who cross the US southern border through Mexico.
Saudi Arabia intercepts drone launched by Yemeni rebels
AP, Riyadh
The Saudi military says it has intercepted a drone launched at the kingdom’s southern border by Iranian-backed rebels in Yemen.
Col. Turki al-Maliki, a military spokesman, was quoted in the state-run Saudi Press Agency on Wednesday as saying the drone was launched by the Houthi rebels from Yemen’s governorate of Sanaa toward the Saudi city of Jizan.
