Briefly

CANADA

US urged not to put troops at border

Canada said on Thursday it told the administration of President Donald Trump that a proposal to put troops at the US-Canada border amid the coronavirus pandemic was entirely unnecessary and would damage relations between the two longtime allies. The Wall Street Journal, citing an unidentified US official, later reported that the Trump administration had dropped its consideration of the plan. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his government had been in discussions with the White House seeking to persuade the US not to do it.

SOUTH KOREA

Korean Air chief defeats sister's challenge

The "nut rage" heiress who forced a plane to turn back over her macadamias failed on Friday to wrest control of the family airline from her brother, in what analysts said illustrated the power of incumbents at South Korea's chaebols. Cho Hyunah, 45, whose family control the Hanjin group that includes flag-carrier Korean Air, made headlines worldwide with her furious reaction over an improperly served bag of nuts in first class. The airline is now in the throes of a corporate crisis because of the coronavirus pandemic, with hundreds of flights canceled, staff going on unpaid leave, and executives taking pay cuts.

IRAN

Missing former FBI agent 'left years ago'

Teheran said on Thursday that a former FBI agent who disappeared in Iran 13 years ago had left the country "years ago" for an unspecified destination, despite his family saying a day earlier that he had died in Iranian custody. Robert Levinson went missing on Iran's Kish Island in the Persian Gulf region in March 2007. The case is another irritant in the already hostile relationship between Washington and Teheran."In the past years Iran has tried to find out his state but could not find any signs of him being alive," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said.

UNITED KINGDOM

Meghan bags Disney gig narrating movie

A film narrated by Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, will be available to watch from April 3, Disney said on Thursday, marking her first job since she and her husband Prince Harry stepped back from royal duties. The film, titled Elephant, will be available on the Disney+ platform. It was described in a short trailer posted online as following the journey of a family of elephants across Africa. Harry and Meghan stopped their royal duties at the end of the month as they carve out "a progressive new role", mainly based in North America, which they aim to finance themselves.