Prisoner, Nobel laureate Liu dies

SHENYANG, China Imprisoned for all the seven years since he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, Liu Xiaobo never renounced the pursuit of human rights in China, insisting on living a life of “honesty, responsibility and dignity.” China’s most prominent political prisoner died Thursday of liver cancer at 61.

His death — at a hospital in the country’s northeast, where he’d been transferred after being diagnosed — triggered an outpouring of dismay among his friends and supporters, who lauded his courage and determination.

Trump Jr. meeting defended: President Donald Trump on Thursday defended his son’s meeting with a Russian lawyer, characterizing it as standard campaign practice and maintaining that “nothing happened” as a result of the sit-down. The remarks came in Paris during a joint news conference with French President Emmanuel Macron. “I think from a practical standpoint most people would’ve taken that meeting. It’s called opposition research, or even research into your opponent,” Trump said, defending his son, Donald Trump Jr. Trump’s son released emails this week from 2016 in which he appeared eager to accept information from the Russian government that could have damaged Hillary Clinton’s campaign. The emails were sent ahead of a Trump Tower meeting with a Russian lawyer that Trump’s former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, and Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, also attended.

Carter treated for dehydration: Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, 92, was treated at a hospital Thursday after becoming dehydrated while helping to build houses in Winnipeg, Canada, for Habitat for Humanity. Habitat for Humanity CEO Jonathan Reckford said the Carter did not appear to be in serious medical danger. The Carters are prominent backers of the Atlanta-based building charity.