World briefs

HONG KONG Authorities have rejected asylum requests from a group of refugees who sheltered Edward Snowden four years ago, in what their lawyer said is retaliation for helping the former NSA contractor. Immigration officials denied the applications by the four adults and three children from Sri Lanka and the Philippines.

PHILIPPINES Lawmakers yesterday killed an impeachment complaint accusing President Rodrigo Duterte of crimes against humanity for the thousands of people who have died in his anti-drug crackdown. The decision to stop the impeachment complaint, which also accused Duterte of murder, corruption and unexplained wealth, was expected. 

NORTH KOREA  yesterday boasted of a successful weekend launch of a new type of “medium long-range” ballistic rocket that can carry a heavy nuclear warhead. 

IRAN A conservative candidate dropped out of Iran’s presidential election yesterday to back a hard-liner, state television reported, narrowing the field of those hoping to unseat moderate President Hassan Rouhani.

SYRIA A Syrian official says that a northeastern neighborhood of the capital Damascus is now completely under government control after carrying out the second and last phase of a truce agreement in the area. Hundreds of rebels and their families have headed toward rebel-held areas, bringing all parts of the capital under the control of President Bashar Assad’s forces for the first time since 2012.

IVORY COAST Mutinous soldiers in Ivory Coast have killed one person and injured several others after using gunfire to disperse a march Sunday against their mutiny in Bouake, residents said.

ALBANIA Authorities say they have blocked 26 metric tons of poultry imported from Brazil because it was found to contain high levels of salmonella. A statement yesterday from the Food National Authority said the poultry had arrived at the Durres port some days ago.

FRANCE On his first full day in office, French President Emmanuel Macron moved quickly yesterday, naming 46-year-old lawmaker Edouard Philippe as his new prime minister before flying off to Berlin for talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel. 

MEXICO A secret tunnel has been discovered in a Mexican prison, alongside drugs, alcohol and sharp tools that were stored there, say local authorities in Tamaulipas state. Authorities added that the tunnel was unfinished and nobody had yet escaped.