Former Malaysian Prime Minister Arrested; US Targets China Mobile

After losing the May election, Mr. Najib and his wife Rosmah Mansor were banned from leaving Malaysia. The new government has reopened investigations into the 1MBD state investment fund scandal, the biggest scandal of Mr. Najib’s tenure as prime minister. Mr. Najib is suspected of embezzling state funds.

South and North Korea exchange lists of separated families before holding reunions

South Korean officials inspect the area where the reunion of separated families is scheduled to take place at the Mount Kumgang resort. Source: Yonhap/VNA

South Korea and North Korea have exchanged lists of people wishing to meet relatives separated by the 1950-53 Korean War, in an effort to determine whether their relatives are alive and can participate in reunions next month, a Red Cross official said on July 3.

According to the official, the South Korean Red Cross Society sent a list of 250 people who wanted to meet their relatives who may still be alive in the North to the North that morning. Later, North Korea also sent a list of 200 people who wanted to reunite with their separated families in South Korea.

South and North Korea plan to share verification results on July 25 and exchange final lists of 100 people who will participate in the reunions.

US puts telecom network China Mobile "in its sights"

Source: Wikipedia

The US government is moving to "ban" China Mobile from the US telecommunications market, claiming that this state-owned enterprise poses many potential threats to US national security.

In a statement posted on its website on July 2, the US National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) recommended that the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reject China Mobile's application to provide telecommunications services between the US and other countries that it filed in 2011.

The statement stressed that China Mobile's participation in the US market "fails to address" concerns surrounding risks to US law enforcement and national security interests.

German cabinet crisis resolved

German Chancellor Angela Merkel reached a deal on migration with Interior Minister Horst Seehofer on July 2, avoiding a major threat to her government.

Both sides have reached "a good agreement after a hard fight", Ms Merkel announced. This commitment, according to AFP, involves setting up processing and accommodation centres for asylum applicants at the German border.

Mr Seehofer added that he planned to remain in his cabinet post after previously threatening to resign.

The deal keeps Ms Merkel in charge after a bruising test when Mr Seehofer threatened to resign.

Russian space center bans social networks

Baikonur Space Center. Photo: Reuters

The board of directors of Russia's Baikonur Space Center has decided to ban employees from using social networks on any electronic devices during working hours to prevent the risk of confidential information being leaked.

According to Sputnik, employees at this facility are not allowed to use desktop computers, mobile phones and tablets to access social networking sites as well as messaging applications such as Telegram during working hours. Instead, they must use the center's private email to communicate with the outside.

Another ferry capsizes in Indonesia, at least 12 people dead

The ferry sank at 2:30 p.m. on July 3, in the waters off Selayar Island, South Sulawesi Province (Indonesia). Photo: Twitter

At least 12 people have died after a ferry carrying 139 people capsized off the coast of Indonesia's central Sulawesi island, officials said. Two children were among the dead. Rescuers have rescued more than 125 passengers.

The 48-meter ferry was 300 meters from shore when it crashed. At the time of the incident, the wind was very strong and the waves were high. Rescuers are continuing their search because they have not yet confirmed all 139 people on the passenger list. Bad weather is hindering the rescue work.

UK arrests 'female medical worker of death' suspected of murdering 8 newborn babies

17 children died unexpectedly between March 2015 and July 2016. Photo: bbc.com

On July 3, British police arrested a female medical worker suspected of murdering eight newborn babies and attempting to murder six others.

The arrests came after authorities launched an investigation dubbed "Operation Hummingbird" at The Countess of Chester Hospital in Chester, northwest England, last year following the unnatural deaths of 17 children between March 2015 and July 2016.

Police are still investigating the cases of newborn babies who fell into a coma but fortunately did not die at the same hospital during this period.

Midfielder John Mikel Obi. Source: bellanaija.com

About $28,000 is the amount of money that midfielder John Mikel Obi, captain of the Nigerian national team, paid to kidnappers to ransom his father.

Michael Obi, the father of footballer Mikel Obi, was freed after his son paid a ransom, said Ebere Amaraizu, a police spokesman in Enugu state, southeastern Nigeria. According to Amaraizu, the kidnappers did not injure him but forced him to walk barefoot for about 5km in heavy rain after abducting him on the evening of June 28.

This is the second time Mr. Michael Obi has been kidnapped. In 2011, he was also kidnapped in the city of Jos, central Nigeria.