Brazil's president says he has possible skin cancer

15:54, December 12, 2019

• 

  US deports murder parolee to Germany; he says he’s innocent

  German Jens Soering, center, is embraced by man after his arrival at the Frankfurt Airport in Frankfurt, Germany, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2019. (Photo: AP)A German diplomat’s son who served more than 33 years in prison for a double murder in Virginia that he has steadfastly maintained he didn’t commit arrived in his homeland Tuesday after being released on parole.Jens Soering, his brown hair now graying, was met by a crush of supporters and reporters after he landed in Frankfurt following his deportation, saying “I would never have managed it without these people who supported me for years.”“After 33 years, 6 months and 25 days, to finally, finally be back in Germany, it’s so great,” he said. “I am so happy. This is really the best day of my life.”Soering, 53, was convicted of murdering his then-girlfriend Elizabeth Haysom’s parents in 1985 and was serving a life sentence in Virginia when he was granted parole last month. Haysom, who was serving a 90-year sentence as an accessory, was also granted parole at the same time.The slayings of Nancy and Derek Haysom on the outskirts of Lynchburg, Virginia, attracted national attention in the US both for their brutal ferocity — the victims had their throats slashed and were collectively stabbed nearly 50 times — and due to the suspects.Soering, a self-described nerd, was the teenage son of West Germany’s vice consul at the consulate in Detroit and Haysom, the daughter of a retired Canadian steel executive, was portrayed at the time as a worldly femme fatale.The two met as University of Virginia students. They fled before they had emerged as the main suspects and were eventually arrested in London.Haysom did not fight her extradition but Soering did, and he was only sent back to the United States after a four-year legal battle. His 1990 trial was a sensation, one of the first to be televised live. Haysom testified against him, telling the court she manipulated Soering into committing the killings because her parents wanted to end ...

• 

  Chile's president says not to resign

  SANTIAGO, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- Chilean President Sebastian Pinera on Monday dismissed the possibility of stepping down despite low approval ratings following nearly two months of anti-government protests.File photo: VCG"I have not thought of resigning. I was elected president by a majority of Chileans and I have the duty to fulfill that mandate," Pinera said in an interview with a national radio station.Pinera said he was "pained" by the low approval ratings of his administration and was "working hard to improve the quality of life of the Chilean people."The president also asked for "forgiveness" for mistakes made in handling the massive demonstrations in the South American country.Chiles angry protesters sometimes set fire to businesses and buildings, and the measures in response taken by the government have been increasingly tough.The nationwide anti-government protests especially over high living costs were triggered by a subway fare hike in the capital Santiago in October. According to the authorities, the protests have left 26 people dead.

• 

  China says it has no interest in joining the nuclear treaty between Russia and the US

  US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (2nd L) meets Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (2nd R) at the US State Department on December 10, 2019. (Photo: AP)Beijing on Wednesday dismissed an invitation from Washington, calling China to join a major nuclear arms control treaty between the US and Russia.The US President Mike Pompeo said in a recent press conference alongside visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that Washington hopes to bring in China for a wider arms control discussion as delivery systems have evolved beyond the missiles, bombers, and submarines.The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) treaty, a former US President Barack Obama era nuclear reduction deal, is set to expire in February 2021. Both the United States and Russia have delivered a willingness to extend its enforcement.China made its position clear, urging the US to fulfill its special duties on nuclear disarmament and further cut its large nuclear arsenal."As the country with the worlds largest and most advanced nuclear arsenal, the United States should earnestly fulfill its special duties on nuclear disarmament, respond to Russias call for extending the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, and further cut its large nuclear arsenal, so as to create conditions for other nuclear countries to join the multilateral nuclear disarmament negotiations," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a press briefing.Hua said that China firmly opposes the United States using China as an excuse to evade and shift its nuclear disarmament responsibilities."China has always been committed to safeguarding international arms control and the non-proliferation system, advancing the process of international arms control and disarmament, and safeguarding global strategic balance and stability," she said.China is willing to work with all parties to continue to strengthen communication and coordination and carry out discussions on issues concerning global strat...