World briefs

China-US The government accused the United States of undermining global stability with unilateral policies and “power politics” as the Defense Ministry issued the first comprehensive outline of its policies since President Xi Jinping came to power more than six years ago. 

China At least 14 people have died in two landslides in southwestern China and rescuers are looking for 42 others who are missing.

Thailand Four people were killed in an attack on a military outpost in southern Thailand, where Muslim rebels are active, Thai police said.

Myanmar The mother of a toddler raped at her nursery school in Myanmar told a court yesterday that she believes the man charged with the crime is not the perpetrator.

South Korea Russia wants an investigation into South Korea’s allegation that a Russian military plane violated South Korean airspace, a senior lawmaker said yesterday, citing Moscow’s acting ambassador.

Japan The newly tapped directors to strengthen corporate governance at Nissan promised to turn the Japanese automaker’s ailing business around but said yesterday that extensive job cuts designed to drive a recovery are also coming.

India Dozens of Indian celebrities have asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene and stop rising incidents of attacks on minorities, misuse of religion by Hindu hard-liners and intolerance against dissent in the country.

Iran President Hassan Rouhani suggested yesterday that Iran might release a U.K.-flagged ship if Britain takes similar steps to release an Iranian oil tanker seized by the British Royal Navy off Gibraltar earlier this month.

Australia Three Sunni Muslim men were sentenced yesterday to prison terms of 16 and 22 years on convictions including engaging in a terror act by burning down a Shiite mosque in the Australian city of Melbourne three years ago.

France’s national railway is urging passengers to delay or cancel travel around Paris and 19 other regions facing heat wave warnings. The national weather service put 20 areas including the capital on the highest heat alert level today.

UK Buckingham Palace says that Theresa May has tendered her resignation to Queen Elizabeth II, clearing the way for Boris Johnson to become the new prime minister of the United Kingdom.

USA Federal regulators have fined Facebook USD5 billion for privacy violations and are instituting new oversight and restrictions on its business. But they are only holding CEO Mark Zuckerberg personally responsible in a limited fashion. 

USA Former special counsel Robert Mueller is disputing President Donald Trump’s claim that Mueller was rebuffed in a bid to fill the post of FBI director.