AFP, Seoul
US aggression and an obsession with disarmament mean another summit between Washington and Pyongyang is looking doubtful, North Korea said on Friday, even as it praised US President Donald Trump as “bold” and “wise”.
Washington has “done nothing for the implementing the joint statement” from the first US-North Korea summit held in Singapore last year, Kim Kye Gwan, advisor to North Korea’s foreign ministry, wrote in a statement carried in Pyongyang’s official news wire KCNA.
Nearly 2,000 detained in Egypt since protests
AP, Cairo
An Egyptian rights group said Thursday the number of people arrested in the wake of last weekend’s protests has risen to nearly 2,000 amid fresh calls for new rallies demanding President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi step down.
Rare protests erupted in Cairo and several other provinces last Friday with hundreds of Egyptians taking to the streets. The demonstrations followed corruption allegations leveled by a self-exiled businessman against el-Sissi and the military.
Iran releases seized UK-flagged tanker
AP, Tehran
A British-flagged oil tanker held by Iran since July was released Friday and was heading toward the United Arab Emirates, the company that owns the vessel said. Iran’s marine and port authority said the Stena Impero left Iran Friday morning. Hours earlier, the tanker had begun transmitting its location for the first time in weeks just outside the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas, where it had been held since its seizure.
UN suspends Lankan peacekeepers over new army chief appointment
AFP, Colombo
The United Nations has suspended Sri Lankan troops from peacekeeping duties after Colombo ignored repeated warnings and appointed a general accused of war crimes to head its army.
The UN and several Western nations expressed concern over the promotion of Major General Shavendra Silva last month despite the allegations against him.
