World Briefs

CHINA More than 80 percent of China’s underground water drawn from relatively shallow wells used by farms, factories and mostly rural households is unsafe for drinking because of pollution, a government report says.

USA-TAIWAN The U.S. military charges a Taiwan-born Navy officer with espionage for allegedly passing military secrets to China or Taiwan.

NORTH KOREA Four North Koreans who were sent to work abroad confirm many of the brutal conditions rights groups have decried, but also say their lives were better than they had been back home. Their stories add a twist to the plight of tens of thousands of workers North Korea has sent to other countries with a mission to bring in foreign currency.

CAMBODIA Cambodian police have charged an opposition lawmaker who has been a strong critic of the government’s handling of demarcating the border with neighboring Vietnam, reviving a campaign of pressure Prime Minister Hun Sen launched last year against his foes and critics.

INDIA Five people who fled after a weekend fire killed at least 110 people at the southern Indian temple where they are board members have surrendered to police to face prosecution, police said yesterday.

SYRIA Islamic State militants recapture a vital border crossing in northern Syria and shoot down a government warplane in the country’s west as the U.N.’s special envoy urges the warring parties to respect a fragile cease-fire ahead of peace talks set to resume in Geneva this week.

USA Tensions frayed in both the Democratic and Republican presidential races as Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump tried to stave off the prospect of a lengthy battle for the nomination with big victories in New York. Bernie Sanders is still behind when it comes to delegates and votes, but he has one clear advantage over his Democratic and Republican presidential rivals — a lot of people actually like him.

USA The Justice Department announces a USD5 billion settlement with Goldman Sachs over the sale of mortgage-backed securities leading up to the 2008 financial crisis.

ISRAEL A 12-year-old Palestinian girl who was imprisoned after she confessed to planning a stabbing attack in a West Bank settlement will be released early, Israel’s prison service says, capping a saga that drew attention to the dual legal system in the West Bank.