A U.N. investigator said he has heard of reports North Korea may have freed as many as 7,000 prisoners, after a report suggested the regime let go of captives suffering from malnutrition. ( read original story ...)
Former gymnast vaults 10-foot border fence to defect from North Korea, reports say | Raleigh News & Observer
Authorities are investigating how he evaded sensors and land mines on the heavily fortified border between North and South Korea. ( read original story ...)
Yemen’s Houthis grant UN inspectors access to aging oil tanker
Experts say the FSO Safer, a dilapidated vessel that contains more than a million barrels of light crude oil, is at risk of rupturing and spilling more oil than the Exxon Valdez. ( read original story ...)
Malaysia’s PM Muhyiddin faces bellwether vote on 2021 budget
Malaysia's parliament will on Thursday decide whether to approve the government's 2021 budget, in a vote that could decide Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's political future as the country grapples ... ( read original story ...)
Mine explodes, damaging oil tanker off Saudi Arabia
A mine in the Red Sea off Saudi Arabia's coast near Yemen exploded and damaged an oil tanker Wednesday, authorities said, the latest incident targeting the kingdom amid its long war against Yemen's ... ( read original story ...)
There can be no ‘going back to normal’ in Iraq
The protests in Iraq may have subsided, but it is only a matter of time before people are back in the streets. ( read original story ...)
The Netherlands to send new troops to Iraq as coalition shifts to advisory role
The Netherlands is preparing to bolster its mission in Iraq by sending up to 150 additional troops to Iraqi Kurdistan, according to a vote by the Dutch Council of Ministers on Friday. The troops will ... ( read original story ...)
Iraq Voices Frustration With OPEC Days Before Crunch Meeting
Iraq’s deputy leader has criticized OPEC just days before the oil cartel makes a crucial decision on whether to raise output. ( read original story ...)
South Korea vows to invest $1B for artificial intelligence
South Korea pledged to invest about $1 billion for artificial intelligence in semiconductor manufacturing to build on the nation's success developing computer chips to power economic growth. ( read original story ...)
A Biden administration wants the Iran nuclear deal back. That could be much harder and riskier now
While a Biden administration will likely try to restart talks with Iran, the main obstacle may be whether Iran is willing to negotiate — and at what price. ( read original story ...)