World briefs

Trump-Xi The top US and Chinese trade envoys have spoken by phone in their first known contact since Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping agreed to resume stalled talks on ending a tariff war.

Cambodia Seven people have been detained in connection with activities marking the third anniversary of the killing of a prominent government critic, police said yesterday.

Thailand Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha yesterday officially named his new Cabinet, a mix of members of the military government he headed after leading a 2014 coup and key politicians who helped him assemble a majority in the House of Representatives after March elections.

India An airline technician was killed when the flaps covering an aircraft’s main landing gear accidentally closed on him during maintenance work, the airline said yesterday.

Japan Johnny Kitagawa, a kingpin of Japan’s entertainment industry for more than half a century who produced famous boybands including Arashi, Tokio and SMAP, has died. He was 87. More on p13

Iran President Hassan Rouhani said yesterday that Britain will face “repercussions” over the seizure of an Iranian supertanker last week that authorities in Gibraltar suspect was breaching European sanctions on oil shipments to Syria.

UAE A press freedom group says it has taken an unprecedented mission to Saudi Arabia to advocate for the release of 30 jailed journalists in the aftermath of the killing of Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi.

Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel’s body shook visibly at a public event for the third time in less than a month yesterday, but the longtime leader insisted that there’s nothing to worry about.

UK Britain’s ambassador to the United States resigned yesterday, just days after diplomatic cables criticizing President Donald Trump caused embarrassment to two countries that often celebrate having a “special relationship.”

Romania President Klaus Iohannis says the country’s government is ignoring the will of its own citizens by not adopting anti-corruption recommendations made by a European anti-graft body.

France Police and customs officials have carried out the most widespread anti-wildlife-trafficking operation ever in a joint global operation that’s led to the seizure of tens of thousands of endangered animals and the arrest of nearly 600 suspects.

USA Hundreds of people including a presidential candidate spoke out on Twitter this week after a 17-year-old black youth was killed at suburban convenience store, allegedly by a white man charged yesterday [local time] with first-degree murder who has said he felt threatened by the boy’s rap music.