IN BRIEF

Venezuela

Helicopter fires on Supreme Court

President Nicolas Maduro said a stolen police helicopter fired on Venezuela's Supreme Court on Tuesday in what he called a "terrorist attack" aimed at ousting him from power. He later said the helicopter had fired on the court with grenades, one of which didn't go off, helping avoid any loss of life. The nation's air defense system was immediately activated. "It could've caused a tragedy with several dozen dead and injured," he said.

Qatar

Arab demands are 'unacceptable'

Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said on Tuesday that demands by Arab states that his country stop aiding terrorism were baseless and unacceptable. The United Arab Emirates ambassador to Russia said on Wednesday that Gulf Arab states are considering fresh sanctions on Qatar and could ask their trading partners to choose between working with them or Doha.

France

Govt kicks off labor reform

President Emmanuel Macron's government is launching an effort to redesign French labor rules, one of the most important and divisive promises of his presidency. Labor Minister Muriel Penicaud said on Wednesday the government is "moving the rules of the game" in hopes of tackling unemployment, hovering near 10 percent.

United States

Human error causes derailment

A subway train derailment in New York that injured nearly three dozen people and sparked major delays is being blamed on human error, not a track defect. The derailment tossed people to the floor and forced hundreds of passengers to evacuate through darkened tunnels.

Total solar eclipse to sweep country

This August, the country will experience its first coast-to-coast total solar eclipse in 99 years. Total solar eclipses occur every year or two or three, often in the middle of nowhere like the South Pacific or Antarctic. What makes this one so special is that it will cut diagonally across the entire United States.

Nepal

Millions vote in local elections

Millions of people were voting on Wednesday in the second phase of local elections to choose municipal and village councils despite threats from ethnic groups that oppose the polls. More than 162,000 security forces were patrolling the election areas.