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Xinhua world news summary at 1600 GMT, Aug. 20

Xinhua, August 20, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) said Saturday that Deputy Ambassador to Britain Thae Yong Ho has reportedly defected to the South to escape punishment for committing crimes.

Thae was accused of embezzling state funds, selling state secrets and raping a minor, said a commentary released by the official news agency KCNA. (DPRK-Diplomat-Defection)

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RIO DE JANEIRO -- After months of investigations, Brazilian Federal Police concluded that former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is not the owner of a luxury apartment in Guaruja, Sao Paulo state.

The Brazilian authorities have investigated whether the owners of the apartments in this particular building were using frontmen to hide assets, and former President Lula was suspected of taking part in the operation. Lula's defense said he thought about buying the apartment, but backed off from the deal later. (Brazil-Lulua-Probe)

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LUSAKA -- Zambia's main opposition party on Friday successfully filed a petition challenging the results of the presidential election held last Thursday.

The United Party for National Development (UPND) legal team filed the petition on Friday afternoon at the Supreme Court.

The petition stated that there is need for a recount of the total votes cast across the country due to "numerous irregularities" that were gathered before, during and after the elections. (Zambia-Election)

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MADRID -- A number of 40 sub-Saharan immigrants were able to storm their way over the frontier fence separating the Spanish North-African enclave of Melilla from Morocco on Saturday morning.

The assault on the frontier took place at 6:45 a.m. local time as 150 people attempted to cross into what is Spanish, and therefore also European Union, territory, the government delegate in Melilla informed. (Spain-Immigrants-Assault)

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DUBAI -- United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan ordered on Saturday the government-controlled Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan Foundation to send urgent relief aid to floods-hit Sudan, state news agency WAM reported.

The relief aid, which comprises food, tents and pesticides, was dispatched to help Sudan address the floods that caused serious damage in the country. (UAE-Flood-Aid) Endi