Briefly

UNITED KINGDOM

Six killed in mass shooting in Plymouth

Six people were killed in a mass shooting in the city of Plymouth in southwest England on Thursday evening, in an incident described by the British Home Secretary as "shocking". Two females and three males, including the suspect, died from gunshot wounds at the scene, the Devon and Cornwall Police said in a statement. Another female died a short while later in hospital. Police had earlier described the shooting as a "serious firearms incident" and said the situation was contained. The police added that the incident was not related to terrorism. The United Kingdom has one of the lowest gun homicide rates in the world, and mass shootings are rare.

SOUTH KOREA

Jailed Samsung chief released on parole

The jailed de facto leader of the giant Samsung group walked free on parole on Friday. Lee Jae-yong－the 202nd richest person in the world according to Forbes, with a net worth of $11.4 billion－was serving a two-and-a-half year prison sentence imposed in January for bribery, embezzlement and other offenses in connection with the corruption scandal that brought down ex-president Park Geun-hye. The Justice Ministry said on Monday he had been paroled－among the 800 early releases－citing concerns over the coronavirus pandemic's impact on the economy. Lee, 53, bowed to reporters waiting outside a detention center south of Seoul and told them: "I have caused too much concern to the people. I'm really sorry."

VENEZUELA

Govt, opposition to start talks in Mexico

Venezuelan government and opposition members were expected to begin meetings in Mexico City on Friday to seek elusive consensus on how to overcome the economic and social crises gripping the country, Mexico's Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday. The official confirmation came after Reuters reported earlier in the day that the talks would open, citing Venezuelan government and opposition sources, as well as a Mexican official. The government of President Nicolas Maduro is pressing for the lifting of sanctions imposed by the United States and Europe. Maduro had earlier said his government would not give in to "blackmail or threats" from Washington.

Agencies - Xinhua