Digest for international stories for week May 20 - May 26,

2017

Saturday

Iran's president trounces hard-liner to secure second term

Tehran: Iran's moderate President Hassan Rouhani trounced a hard-line challenger to secure re-election today, saying his country seeks peace and friendship as it pursues a "path of coexistence and interaction with the world." Pak lawyers give 7-day deadline to PM Sharif to quit From M Zulqernain

Lahore: Pakistani lawyers today gave a seven-day deadline to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to resign on the Panama Papers scandal otherwise they will launch a nationwide movement against him.

Embattled Trump starts foreign tour with Saudi arms deal Riyadh: The White House announced a huge arms deal with Saudi Arabia today as President Donald Trump took his first steps on the world stage, looking to leave mounting troubles behind at home.

ICJ has given no order on 'consular access' for Jadhav: Aziz

From Sajjad Hussain

Islamabad: Pakistan today said that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has not given any order regarding consular access for Kulbhushan Jadhav who has been sentenced to death according to the laws of the country.

Sunday

Indian Navy traces missing Maldivian landing craft Male/New Delhi: The Indian Navy has traced a Maldivian landing craft with six crew members, three days after it went missing while travelling between two islands in the Maldives.

Taliban raid kills 20 policemen in southern Afghanistan Kandahar: At least 20 Afghan policemen were killed early today when Taliban fighters stormed multiple security outposts in the volatile southern province of Zabul, officials said, as the insurgents escalate their annual spring offensive.

North Korea fires ballistic missile: Seoul Seoul: North Korea today test-fired a ballistic missile which travelled some 500 km, just a week after a previous launch sparked international condemnation and threats of tougher UN sanctions.

Monday

No change in stand on India's entry into NSG: China From K J M Varma

Beijing: China today said there is no change in its stance on admission of non-NPT states into the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), marring India s chances of entering the 48-member elite club at its crucial meeting next month.

Panamagate: JIT submits first fortnightly report to Pak SC

From Sajjad Hussain

Islamabad: A high-profile investigation team probing the graft allegations against Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his two sons today submitted its first fortnightly report to the Supreme Court.

UN calls on North Korea to stop missile tests United Nations: The United Nations today called on North Korea to put a stop to its ballistic missile tests following the latest launch at the weekend.

Tuesday

22 killed, 59 injured in blast at UK concert; attacker named

By Aditi Khanna

Manchester/London: A 22-year-old Libyan- origin suicide bomber set off a powerful homemade bomb at a concert of US pop star Ariana Grande in Manchester, killing at least 22 people and injuring 59 others, in the deadliest terror attack in Britain since the 2005 London bombings.

Corruption trial begins for ex-South Korean President Park

Seoul: Former President Park Geun-hye stared straight ahead in court today and denied that she engaged in bribery and leaking government secrets at the start of a criminal trial that could send South Korea's first female leader to prison for life if convicted.

Pakistan asks ICJ for early hearing in Jadhav case: report

By Sajjad Hussain

Islamabad: Pakistan has asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to hold an early hearing in the case of Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav, who has been sentenced to death by a military court, a media report said today.

Trump admin proposes massive 190 mln cut in aid to Pak By Lalit K Jha

Washington: The Trump administration has proposed USD 344 million in financial assistance to Pakistan including USD 100 million in foreign military funding, a massive USD 190 million reduction in grant as compared to the 2016 fiscal.

Wednesday

PAF jets fly near Siachen, 'Indian air space not violated'

Islamabad: Pakistani fighter jets flew near the Siachen Glacier today, according to a media report here, but Indian Air Force sources said there was no violation of India's air space.

Saeed detention case: Federal, Punjab govts get last chance to reply

From M Zulqernain

Lahore: A Pakistani court has given a "last chance" to the federal and Punjab governments to submit their replies by May 29 on a petition challenging detention of Mumbai attack mastermind and Jamaat-ud-Dawah chief Hafiz Saeed and his four aides.

Woman among 6 arrested in Manchester bombing case By Aditi Khanna

London: Five persons including a woman were arrested today in the UK in connection with investigations into the Manchester suicide bombing that killed 22 people as the government indicated that the Libyan-origin bomber may not have acted alone.

Thursday

UN rejects Pak claim that Indian troops targeted UN vehicle near LoC

From Yoshita Singh

United Nations: The United Nations has dismissed Pakistan Army's claim that its military observers came under attack from Indian troops near the Line of Control, saying there was "no evidence" of them being targeted.

Indian woman forced to marry Pak man returns home Islamabad/Wagah Border: An Indian woman, who said she was forced to marry a Pakistani man at gun point, today returned to India via the Wagah Broder, days after she took refuge at the Indian High Commisssion in Islamabad.

US sends Navy warship to South China Sea; Beijing protests

By Lalit K Jha and K J M Varma

Washington/Beijing: The US has sent a navy warship near an artificial island in the disputed South China Sea as part of the first "freedom of navigation" operation under President Donald Trump, prompting the Chinese government to say that the "provocative action" violated its sovereignty.

Nepal's President asks all political parties to elect new PM

From Shirish B Pradhan

Kathmandu: Nepalese President Bidya Devi Bhandari today called all political parties to elect a new Prime Minister within seven days through consensus, a day after Prachanda resigned from the post.

Friday

Senate confirms Amul Thapar to key judicial post By Lalit K Jha

Washington: Amul Thapar, an Indian-American legal luminary and US President Donald Trump's first nominee to a powerful appeals court, has been confirmed by the US Senate to the key judicial position.

Trump says N Korea problem 'will be solved' Taormina (Italy): US President Donald Trump today said the "problem" of an increasingly belligerent North Korea would be "solved", as he met his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe just before the start of the G7 summit.

Pak hikes defence budget by 7 pc amid tensed ties with India

By Sajjad Hussain

Islamabad: Pakistan today proposed to hike its defence budget by nearly seven per cent to Rs 920 billion amid growing tension with India along the Line of Control.

Rain-triggered floods, landslides kill over 90 in Sri Lanka

Colombo: Heavy floods and landslides triggered by the worst rainfall since 1970s have killed at least 92 people and left 110 missing in Sri Lanka, officials said today, warning the situation could get worse.

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(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)