Brazil

Temer cancels trip to G20 summit

President Michel Temer has decided to cancel a previously planned trip to Hamburg, Germany, for the upcoming G20 summit, the presidential office said on Wednesday. It is widely believed that the cancellation has something to do with the fact that Temer was formally accused of corruption by the country's prosecutor general earlier this week. He was accused of taking bribes from Joesley Batista, head of meatpacking giant JBS.

Israel

Ex-PM granted early release

The parole board of Israel's Prison Service on Thursday granted former prime minister Ehud Olmert early release from his 27-month corruption sentence, in perhaps the final chapter of a stunning fall from grace that forced him from office amid the last serious round of peace talks with the Palestinians. Barring any unforeseen developments, Olmert will walk free on Sunday, said Prison Service spokesman Assaf Librati.

Saudi Arabia

Official denies report about prince

An official on Thursday denied a New York Times report that Prince Mohammed bin Nayef has been confined to his palace and barred from traveling abroad after he was replaced by the king's son as next in line to the throne. "It's not true, 100 percent," the official said, without giving any further details. Mohammed bin Nayef, a veteran interior minister, was relieved of all his duties a week ago.

Japan

Abe ally under fire ahead of key poll

An ally of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe denied on Thursday receiving secret political donations from an educational institution at the core of a scandal over suspected favoritism that has sliced Abe's support ratings ahead of a key local poll. Former education minister Hakubun Shimomura, who heads the Tokyo chapter of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, made the comments at a hastily called news conference just days before Sunday's election for the Tokyo Metropolitan assembly.

United States

Woman blames stunt for death

A woman charged in the fatal shooting of her boyfriend told authorities it was a video stunt gone wrong. Monalisa Perez, 19, was charged on Wednesday with second-degree manslaughter in the death of Pedro Ruiz III. Perez said Ruiz wanted to make a YouTube video of her shooting a bullet into a book he was holding against his chest. She said she fired from about 30 centimeters away.