Divisions between Donald Trump and the other leaders of the G7 nations have been laid bare at a summit in Canada.
The BBC reports that US leader made a surprise call for Russia to be readmitted to the group of top industrialised nations after its expulsion for annexing Crimea.
But German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the EU members attending the summit all agreed it should not happen.
Frictions over trade tariffs recently imposed by the Trump administration are overshadowing the summit, according to the report.
Canada called Mr. Trump’s trade tariffs “illegal” while European Council President Donald Tusk warned that Mr. Trump’s stance on trade, climate change and Iran constituted a real danger.
“What worries me most however is the fact that the rules-based international order is being challenged, quite surprisingly not by the usual suspects but by its main architect and guarantor: the US,” he said.
However, after meeting Mr. Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron said “things were moving forward” and it was still possible to make progress on trade.
He did not elaborate.
After rumours there would be no joint closing statement because of the divisions, President Trump told reporters he believed there would be one after all.
- Anthony Bourdain: Celebrity chef found dead at 61
US celebrity chef and television personality, Anthony Bourdain, has been found dead in his hotel room, aged 61, of an apparent suicide.
The culinary bad boy was near Strasbourg, France, working on a shoot for his series, Parts Unknown, on CNN.
“It is with extraordinary sadness we can confirm the death of our friend and colleague, Anthony Bourdain,” the cable network said in a statement on Friday.
Bourdain was a best-selling food, fiction and non-fiction author.
CNN’s statement continued: “His love of great adventure, new friends, fine food and drink and the remarkable stories of the world made him a unique storyteller.
“His talents never ceased to amaze us and we will miss him very much. Our thoughts and prayers are with his daughter and family at this incredibly difficult time.”
Authorities in France’s Alsace region confirmed his death at Le Chambard luxury hotel in Kaysersberg, AFP reported, adding that no foul play was suspected.
His death comes days after the suicide of another much-loved celebrity, 55-year-old fashion designer, Kate Spade, in New York.
US government health officials on Thursday said the nation’s suicides had risen by 30% since 1999, and that the crisis was a growing problem.
Nearly 45,000 Americans took their own lives in 2016.
- China hackers steal data from US Navy contractor – Reports
The FBI is investigating after the Chinese government hacked a US Navy contractor and stole highly sensitive security data, US media say.
Data stolen in the breach include plans for a supersonic missile project, US officials told the Washington Post.
The attacks, in January and February this year, were confirmed by CBS News.
Hackers targeted a contractor linked to a US military organisation that conducts research and development for submarines and underwater weaponry.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, US officials told the Washington Post the firm had been working for the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, a military organisation based in Newport, Rhode Island.
They added that among the material accessed were data relating to a project known as Sea Dragon, as well as information held within the navy submarine development unit’s electronic warfare library.
Plans included an anti-ship missile system to be installed on US submarines by 2020.
While the data was stored on an unclassified network belonging to the contractor, it is considered highly sensitive due to the nature of the technology under development and the links to military projects.
A commander of the US Navy, Bill Speaks, said that measures were in place requiring companies to notify the government when a “cyber incident” had occurred on networks that contained “controlled unclassified information.”
“It would be inappropriate to discuss further details at this time,” he added.
The investigation is being led by the Navy with the assistance of the FBI, officials said.
On Friday, US Secretary of Defense, Jim Mattis, ordered a review into possible cyber security issues relating to the contractor, CBS News reports, citing the Pentagon inspector general’s office.
- Florida alligator attack: Dog-walker feared dead
A dog-walker who was attacked by an alligator in the US state of Florida is believed to have been killed by the reptile, state wildlife officials say.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) says Shizuka Matsuki was bitten by a 12.5 ft (3.8m) alligator.
A necropsy was performed on the reptile after it was captured.
It dragged Ms. Matsuki, 47, into a lake in the town of Davie, 25 miles (40km) north of Miami, a witness said.
The incident occurred at about 09:45 (13:45 GMT) on Friday.
The FWC believes that the victim is deceased and we will continue recovery efforts on the lake with local authorities,” the agency said in a statement.
“This tragedy is heartbreaking for everyone involved,” the FWC added.
Local media earlier reported that officers found a dog on a leash but no signs of the woman at Silver Lakes Rotary Nature Park.
“Divers are searching,” Davie Police Maj Dale Engle was quoted as saying by the Sun Sentinel newspaper.
“Her dogs won’t leave the pond. One of her dogs got bit by the gator.”
FWC told local media they had seen children swimming in the lakes.
Edwin Gomez, a regular visitor to the park, told CBS News: “I saw the gator yesterday, it responds in a natural way.
“It’s sad to hear someone got hit by the gator.”
The reptiles are “opportunistic feeders” that live in all of the state’s 67 counties, according to the FWC.
It is not uncommon for alligators to be removed from householders’ swimming pools but attacks on people are rare.
Despite the reptiles’ widespread presence, only 22 people have died in alligator attacks in Florida since 1948.
- Jean-Pierre Bemba: Congo warlord’s conviction overturned
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has overturned the conviction for war crimes and crimes against humanity of former Democratic Republic of Congo Vice-President Jean-Pierre Bemba.
Bemba was found guilty in 2016 of crimes committed in the neighbouring Central African Republic (CAR) from 2002 to 2003.
He was accused of failing to prevent his rebels killing and raping.
But a judge has now said he cannot be held responsible for their actions.
Christine Van den Wijngaert also said the judges in the 2016 case had failed to take into account his attempts to stop the crimes once he was made aware they were taking place.
The decision to overturn the 18-year sentence was greeted with cheers from his supporters in the gallery.
But human rights group Amnesty International said it was a “huge blow” for the victims of a “horrifying campaign of rape and sexual violence,” as it called on the authorities to redouble their efforts to prosecute those who had carried it out.
ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda described the ruling as “regrettable and troubling”.
Before Friday’s decision, the ICC had issued verdicts in six cases, with nine people being convicted and one acquitted, according to its website.
More than 5,000 survivors took part in the proceedings against Bemba, said Amnesty’s head of international justice, Solomon Sacco.
“For these brave individuals, as well as thousands of other victims in CAR, the pursuit of truth, justice and reparations will continue,” he added.
