GLOBAL SNAPSHOT

Cancer hits McCain

Former US presidential hopeful John McCain has been diagnosed with a brain tumour after doctors removed a blood clot above his left eye last week. The 80-year-old Republican has glioblastoma, an aggressive cancer, according to doctors at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix.

Lula’s assets frozen

BRASILIA: A Brazilian judge leading an anti-corruption probe has ordered assets belonging to former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva frozen after last week convicting and sentencing him to nine-and-a-half-years prison for graft.

Lula, as he is widely known, remains free pending an appeal of the verdict.

Eucalypts get chop

LISBON: Portugal is to reduce the number of eucalyptus groves after the highly flammable plant was blamed for last month’s deadly forest fires. Parliament voted for the measure as part of forest law reforms that started before the blaze in the Pedrogao Grande region that killed 64 people and injured more than 250.

Top brass resigns

PARIS: France’s top military chief resigned yesterday after a war of words with new President Emmanuel Macron over budget cuts. The row between Mr Macron and General Pierre de Villiers erupted last week. Mr De Villiers said he had no choice but to stand down.

General jailed

BANGKOK: A Thai army general was one of dozens convicted in a major human trafficking trial that included 103 defendants. Lt Gen Manas Kongpaen was convicted of several offences involving trafficking and taking bribes in the case involving migrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh. He was sentenced to 27 years in prison.