World briefs

BRAZIL Fighting to save his job, Brazilian President Michel Temer has received a huge boost from a decision by the country’s top electoral court to reject allegations of illegal campaign finance and keep him in office. The Superior Electoral Tribunal’s 4-3 vote gave Temer a lifeline amid widespread calls that he resign in the face of a corruption scandal. More on p14

CHINA-PAKISTAN The two countries say they are investigating the Islamic State group’s claim that two Chinese teachers abducted in Pakistan have been killed, after a video appearing to show the pair was sent to journalists.

JAPAN’s parliament on Friday passed a law allowing Emperor Akihito to become the country’s first monarch to abdicate in 200 years. 

PHILIPPINES American spy planes are helping Filipino troops quell a nearly three-week siege by Muslim militants in a southern city where 13 Philippine marines were killed in the biggest single-day loss for government forces, officials said Saturday. 

SYRIA The Russian military on Friday accused the U.S.-led coalition in Syria of providing safe corridors for the Islamic State group to leave the area around its stronghold of Raqqa.

QATAR State-run Qatar Petroleum sought to reassure the public on Saturday, saying its production of oil and gas has not been impacted by tensions in the Gulf that saw several Arab states block their airspace, ports and shipping lanes to Qatar.

LIBYA Seif al-Islam, the son and one-time heir apparent of late Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi, has been released after more than five years in detention, his captors said on Saturday. They said his release was decided as part of a recent pardon issued by the Libyan parliament based in the country’s eastern region.

ETHIOPIA’s government is warning it will run out of emergency food aid starting next month as the number of drought victims in the East African country has reached 7.8 million.

FRANCE One month after President Emmanuel Macron’s arrival in power, French voters must now choose lawmakers in parliamentary elections that began yesterday and may dramatically reshape the political landscape. More on p15

GERMANY-MEXICO German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said during a state visit to Mexico that countries should focus on improving life for people fleeing their homes rather than building walls.