Reuters World News Summary

Following is a summary of current world news briefs.

U.S. arrests former Marine connected to North Korea embassy raid in Spain

U.S. authorities have arrested a former U.S. Marine who is a member of a group that allegedly raided the North Korean embassy in Madrid in February and stole electronics, two sources familiar with the arrest said on Friday. Christopher Ahn was arrested on Thursday and appeared on Friday in federal court in Los Angeles, according to a law enforcement official and a source close to the group.

North Korea slams Bolton's 'dim-sighted' call for sign of denuclearization

North Korea has criticized U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton's "nonsense" call for Pyongyang to show that it’s serious about giving up its nuclear weapons, the second time it has criticized a leading U.S. official in less than a week. U.S. President Donald Trump has said he is open to a third summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, but Bolton told Bloomberg News on Wednesday there first needed to be "a real indication from North Korea that they've made the strategic decision to give up nuclear weapons."

Northern Ireland leaders urge calm as police arrest two over journalist's killing

Two men have been arrested in Northern Ireland over the killing of a journalist during a riot, police said, with politicians calling for calm after the shooting added to concerns about the stability of the region's 21-year-old peace deal. Lyra McKee, 29, an award-winning journalist who was writing a book on the disappearance of young people during decades of violence in Northern Ireland, was shot dead on Thursday as she watched Irish nationalist youths attack police following a raid.

U.S. service member dies in non-combat incident in Iraq: statement

An American service member died in a "non-combat incident" on Saturday in Ninawa Province, Iraq, the U.S.-led coalition fighting Islamic State said in a statement. The statement did not identify the service member, nor give details of the incident, and said further information would be released "as appropriate."

German plane arrives in Madeira to take home bus crash survivors

An air force medical plane from Germany landed on the Portuguese island of Madeira on Saturday to take home the injured survivors of a bus crash that killed 29 German tourists earlier this week. The bus veered off a steep road in the coastal town of Canico on Wednesday. The Portuguese driver and tour guide were among the 27 people hurt in the accident, which prosecutors are investigating.

Sudan investigating Bashir after large sums of cash found at home: source

Sudan's public prosecutor has begun investigating ousted President Omar al-Bashir on charges of money laundering and possession of large sums of foreign currency without legal grounds, a judicial source said on Saturday. The source said that military intelligence had searched Bashir's home and found suitcases loaded with more than $351,000 and six million euros, as well as five million Sudanese pounds.

Nine in critical condition after fire at Russia's NKNK petrochemical complex

Nine people were hospitalized in critical condition after a fire engulfed Russia's Nizhnekamskneftekhim (NKNK) petrochemical complex in the Republic of Tatarstan on Friday, TASS news agency reported citing the local health ministry. A spokesman for the emergencies ministry confirmed that in total 17 people had incurred burns "of different degrees" in the fire in the city's industrial zone, but he was not able to say if the incident occurred at the plant.

Thai navy boards cabin of fugitive 'seasteaders' facing death penalty

The Thai navy on Saturday boarded the floating cabin of a fugitive U.S. bitcoin trader and his Thai girlfriend, both prominent members of the "seasteading" movement who possibly face the death sentence for setting up their offshore home. Thai authorities have revoked the visa of American citizen Chad Elwartowski and have charged him and his partner, Supranee Thepdet, with violating Thai sovereignty by raising a small cabin on top of a weighted spar 14 nautical miles off the west-coast of Thai island of Phuket.

Gunmen attack Afghan communications ministry in Kabul

Gunmen attacked the communications ministry in the center of Kabul on Saturday, interrupting months of relative calm in the Afghan capital and underlining security threats that have continued despite efforts to open peace talks with the Taliban. Saturday's attack began shortly before midday with an explosion at the entrance to the multi-story building housing the ministry in a busy commercial area of the city, followed up by gunfire which could be heard over a mile away.

Egypt holds referendum that could keep Sisi in power until 2030

Egyptians began voting on Saturday in a three-day referendum on constitutional changes that could allow President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to stay in office until 2030 and bolster the role of the powerful military. Sisi's supporters say the changes are necessary to give him more time to complete major development projects and economic reforms. Critics say they concentrate more power in Sisi's hands and return Egypt to an authoritarian model.