Briefly

SOUTH KOREA

Ex-president Yoon's wife, ally indicted

The wife of South Korea's jailed ex-president Yoon Suk-yeol and his former prime minister were indicted on Friday as part of investigations into his administration and his attempt to overcome opposition by declaring martial law. Yoon's wife, Kim Keon-hee, is charged with violating financial market and political funding laws and receiving bribes. Former prime minister Han Duck-soo was charged with abetting Yoon's imposition of martial law, which investigators say amounted to a rebellion, as well as falsifying and destroying official documents, and lying under oath.

VENEZUELA

Tensions rise as US warships arrive

Tensions between the United States and Venezuela are rising amid a large US naval buildup in the Southern Caribbean and nearby waters. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said on Thursday that there was "no way" US troops could invade Venezuela after Washington deployed five warships and 4,000 troops to the Caribbean to pressure the leader. The Pentagon has not indicated publicly what exactly the US mission will be, but the government has said it can now use the military to go after drug cartels and criminal groups and has directed the Pentagon to prepare options.

MAURITANIA

69 dead as migrant boat capsized

The death toll from a capsized boat carrying migrants earlier this week off the coast of Mauritania has climbed to 69, an official told AFP on Friday. Authorities said the boat came from Gambia and capsized on Tuesday morning off the coast of Mheijrat. Migrants said there had been about 160 people on board the boat, including Senegalese and Gambian nationals. In recent years, Mauritania's waters have become a highway for migrants across sub-Saharan Africa seeking to reach Europe.

Agencies - Xinhua