World Briefs

CHINA Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei said that it doesn’t matter whether or not China has a change in leadership, the culture and the system will always remain the same. Ai’s comments came a day after the rubber-stamp lawmakers passed a historic constitutional amendment abolishing a presidential two-term limit. 

RUSSIA Vladimir Putin and his Russia look more invincible today than ever. Since Putin last faced an election in 2012, Russians have invaded Ukraine, annexed Crimea, blanket-bombed Syria, been accused of meddling in the U.S. presidential election and claimed to have a scary new nuclear arsenal.  

JAPAN The Finance Ministry admitted the existence of doctored documents in a widening scandal linked to PM Shinzo Abe’s wife that has rattled his government and caused its support ratings to slide. Abe quickly apologized yesterday on behalf of ministry officials but did not mention his wife.

INDIA A gunbattle between Indian troops and rebels killed three insurgents in disputed Kashmir and triggered more anti-India protests and clashes, officials said. As news of the killings spread, protests and clashes against Indian rule broke out in several parts of the region. There were no immediate reports of injuries.

AFGHANISTAN Security forces recaptured a district headquarters in western Farah province, just hours after the Taliban overrun the police and administrative offices, killing eight policemen, a spokesman said.

USA A pilot who survived when his helicopter went down in Manhattan’s East River, killing five passengers, said in an emergency radio transmission that he had engine failure.  

CHAD The United States came to central African nation of Chad seeking to strengthen a key counterterrorism partnership with a country that still can’t figure out why the Trump administration seems adamant about keeping its citizens out of the U.S.

FOOTBALL The first Final Four tournament in the UEFA Nations League will likely be played in Italy, Poland or Portugal. UEFA says the three group rivals expressed interest in hosting the four-team final tournament from June 5-9, 2019. The Nations League kicks off in September to replace most international friendlies.