US soldier facing disciplinary action flees into North Korea

By Hyonhee Shin, Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali SEOUL/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -An American soldier facing disciplinary action fled across the inter-Korean border into North Korea on Tuesday and was believed to be in North Korean custody, U.S. officials said, creating a fresh crisis for Washington in its dealings with the nuclear-armed state. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin…

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Ricardo Martinelli: Panama ex-president sentenced to decade behind bars

By Elida Moreno PANAMA CITY (Reuters) -A Panamanian court sentenced former President Ricardo Martinelli to more than 10 years in prison for money laundering, the attorney general’s office said on Tuesday, threatening the front-runner’s bid for a new term next year. Martinelli stated his innocence following the decision in the case, known as “New Business,”…

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White House partners with Amazon, Google, Best Buy to secure devices from cyberattacks

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The White House on Tuesday along with companies such as Amazon.com Inc, Alphabet’s Google and Best Buy will announce an initiative that allows Americans to identify devices that are less vulnerable to cyberattacks. A new certification and labeling program would raise the bar for cybersecurity across smart devices such as refrigerators, microwaves,…

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Canada defends digital taxes but sees path for global deal

By Ismail Shakil and Steve Scherer OTTAWA (Reuters) -Canada on Tuesday defended its decision to push ahead with its implementation of digital services taxes starting next year, citing national interest even as Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland expressed hope in reaching an international consensus. More than 140 countries were planning to implement a 2021 deal that…

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Dramatic fossil shows pugnacious mammal attacking a dinosaur

By Will Dunham WASHINGTON (Reuters) – While there is little doubt that many a Mesozoic mammal became a meal for a dinosaur, it may come as a surprise to learn that some mammals also dined on dinos. A dramatic fossil unearthed in northeastern China shows a pugnacious badger-like mammal in the act of attacking a…

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Can Thailand’s Pita succeed in a second PM vote?

By Martin Petty BANGKOK (Reuters) -Thailand’s parliament will hold a second vote on a new prime minister on Wednesday, more than two months since the liberal Move Forward Party’s surprise election triumph over rivals allied with the military. An eight-party alliance has pledged its backing for Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat, despite his defeat in…

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Trump’s lawyers ask judge in documents case to consider campaign timing

By Andrew Goudsward FORT PIERCE, Florida (Reuters) -Donald Trump’s lawyers asked a U.S. federal judge on Tuesday not to treat the former president the same as any other criminal defendant in setting the timing for his trial on charges of mishandling classified documents, citing his presidential campaign. Trump, the front-runner for the Republican nomination to…

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