Russia may deploy missiles on allies’ territory: lawmaker

MOSCOW — Russia could deploy missiles on the territory of its allies if the U.S. stations similar weapons in Europe, a senior Russian lawmaker warned Thursday.

Konstantin Kosachev, head of the foreign affairs committee in the upper house of the Russian parliament, said the U.S. intention to withdraw from the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty could herald the way for deployment of missiles banned by the pact to Europe. He warned that if such deployment happens, Russia will target U.S. missiles with its weapons.

Kosachev added that Russia may also respond to such a move by deploying similar missiles closer to its neighbours and, “if necessary, on the territories of our allies.”

Trump says CIA has not found Saudi prince culpable in murder

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Thursday disputed that U.S. intelligence officials had concluded that the de facto leader of American ally Saudi Arabia ordered the killing of a U.S.-based journalist critical of the kingdom’s royal family. Citing vehement denials by the crown prince and king that they were involved, Trump said “maybe the world should be held accountable because the world is a vicious place. The world is a very, very vicious place.”

Critics in Congress and highranking officials in other countries are accusing Trump of ignoring human rights and giving Saudi Arabia a pass for economic reasons, including its influence on the world oil market.

Indian island police struggle to get body of American

NEW DELHI — Indian authorities were struggling Thursday to figure out how to recover the body of an American killed after wading ashore on an isolated island cut off from the modern world.

John Allen Chau was killed last week by North Sentinel islanders who apparently shot him with arrows and then buried his body on the beach, police say. Police are consulting anthropologists, tribal welfare experts and scholars to figure out a way to recover the body.

Head of Russia’s GRU spy agency, dies at 62

MOSCOW — Igor Korobov, head of the Russian military intelligence agency GRU, which has been accused of meddling in U.S. elections, has died in Moscow. He was 62.

The Defence Ministry said Thursday in a statement that Korobov, who led the GRU since 2016, died Wednesday of “a lengthy and grave illness,” a usual Russian euphemism for cancer. His predecessor had died two years earlier, at 58.

Comey resists closed-door Congress interview on FBI actions

WASHINGTON — Former FBI chief James Comey said Thursday he will resist a subpoena to appear before a congressional committee Dec. 3 unless that happens publicly because House Republicans will distort anything he says behind closed doors.

“I’m still happy to sit in the light and answer all questions,” he tweeted.