World briefs

NORTH KOREA said that it will dismantle its nuclear test site in less than two weeks, in a dramatic event that would set up leader Kim Jong Un’s summit with President Donald Trump next month. 

PHILIPPINES-KUWAIT The Philippines and Kuwait have signed a new agreement regarding Filipino laborer rights after the Philippines earlier banned its citizens from working there amid a diplomatic dispute.

MALAYSIA’s new leader, Mahathir Mohamad, said he barred his scandal-tainted predecessor, Najib Razak (pictured), and his wife from leaving the country to prevent them from fleeing from possible prosecution over a massive corruption scandal. 

AUSTRALIA A family of seven including four children was found dead with gunshot wounds at a rural property in southwest Australia in what could be the country’s worst mass shooting in 22 years, police and news media said. 

PAKISTAN An old wooden bridge over a fast-moving river in Kashmir collapsed as dozens of students were taking pictures on it, leading to at least five deaths yesterday.

ISRAEL was celebrating yesterday the opening of the new U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem, a move that has ignited Palestinian protests and raised fears of a further outbreak of violence.

AFGHANISTAN Muslim scholars from three countries issued an edict saying that violent extremism and terrorism, including suicide attacks, are against Islamic principles, in an effort to convince the Taliban to end their violence.

TURKEY-UK Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan started a three-day visit to Britain by praising the country yesterday as “an ally and a strategic partner, but also a real friend.”

FRANCE A judicial official says a friend of the young man who rampaged through a central Paris neighborhood knifing passers-by has been detained in the eastern French city of Strasbourg.

SPAIN-PORTUGAL Spanish authorities say three people died when a small airplane that was flying from Portugal crashed in northeastern Spain. Authorities say they haven’t yet identified the three occupants or determined their nationalities.

MEXICO Gunmen have killed a mayoral candidate in central Guanajuato state, the third local candidate in Mexico’s July 1 elections murdered in the past week and one of more than a dozen during the entire campaign.