World News Roundup: Mongolia braces for political change; Australian govt seeks information stained N Korean man

Following is a summary of current world news briefs.

Democratic but deadlocked, Mongolia braces for 'inevitable' political change

An hour's drive from Mongolia's capital Ulaanbaatar, a lavish monument to national hero Genghis Khan could provide a salutary lesson to the man who built it a decade ago: champion wrestler, businessman and current president, Battulga Khaltmaa. Beneath a giant stainless steel statue, portraits of the 13th century warlord's successors line the corridors of a museum. Nearly all of them saw their lives cut short during vicious fights for supremacy in medieval Mongolia's royal courts.

Hong Kong activists urge G20 leaders to help 'liberate' city

Thousands of people in Hong Kong joined an evening protest and marched to major foreign consulates on Wednesday, urging leaders gathering for this week's G20 summit to back their demand to scrap a much criticized extradition bill. Holding placards with messages such as "Please liberate Hong Kong", the demonstrators, some wearing masks, marched to consulates of major economies represented at the Japan summit, including the host nation, Britain, Canada, Russia, the United States and the European Union.

U.S. economic plan decried by Palestinians but gets cautious nod in Gulf

Palestinians on Wednesday poured scorn on the Trump administration's $50 billion investment plan to help achieve Middle East peace, but U.S. Gulf Arab allies said the economic initiative had promise if a political settlement is reached. President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, the plan's main architect, sought to build support for his ambitious economic proposals for the Palestinian territories at an international meeting in Bahrain.

NATO weighs options to deter new Russian missile threat

NATO defense ministers considered on Wednesday how to deter Russia from launching a missile attack at short notice on Europe if a landmark treaty against land-based nuclear warheads collapses next month. Barring a last-minute reversal by Russia that NATO does not expect, the United States is set to pull out of the 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) on Aug. 2 citing Russia's development of a missile that breaks the accord.

Canadian businesses have a message ahead of the election: We need immigrant workers

Canadian unemployment is at an all-time low and businesses have a message for politicians ahead of October's national election: We need immigrant workers so do not make the campaign about keeping them out. Concern about immigration is on the rise in Canada, according to a recent survey, especially among Conservative voters whose party leads Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberals in polls ahead of October elections.

Photo of drowned migrants triggers fight over Trump asylum clampdown

A harrowing photo of a Salvadoran migrant and his young daughter who drowned in the Rio Grande at the U.S.-Mexico border became the focus on Wednesday of a U.S. political debate over President Donald Trump's asylum policies. The picture of Oscar Alberto Martinez, 25, and his 24-month-old daughter Angie Valeria put a renewed focus on the plight of refugees and migrants who are mostly from Central America. The pair had traveled from El Salvador and were seeking asylum in the United States.

Iran says saving nuclear deal not its problem, EU warns no alternative

Iran warned the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday that it would no longer be burdened with preserving a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers as European states pushed Tehran to stick with the agreement because there is "no credible, peaceful alternative." U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew from the deal last year, inflaming tensions between Tehran and Washington that led to Iran shooting down a U.S. drone last week. Trump ordered retaliatory air strikes but called them off at the last minute.

Venezuela's Maduro says authorities foiled opposition coup plot

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said on Wednesday security forces had foiled an opposition coup attempt that included plans to assassinate him and other top political figures and install a jailed former military officer as president. A catastrophic economic collapse in the South American nation has fueled malnutrition and disease, prompting an exodus of the population toward Mexico and the United States. The armed forces have continued to side with the ruling Socialist Party despite calls by opposition leader Juan Guaido to disavow Maduro.

Trump says 'not talking boots on the ground' if action taken against Iran

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he was "not talking boots on the ground" if military action were necessary against Iran, and said any conflict would not last long. Asked if a war was brewing, Trump told Fox Business Network: "I hope we don't but we're in a very strong position if something should happen."

Australian government seeks information about man detained in North Korea

Australia's foreign affairs department said on Thursday it was seeking urgent clarification of media reports that an Australian man had been detained in North Korea. "The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance ... to the family of an Australian man who has been reported as being detained in North Korea," a spokesman said in a statement.