Washington / AFP Republicans rejected reports of a secret CIA assessment finding that Russia sought to tip the US presidential election in Donald Trump’s favor, as a Democratic Senate leader called for an investigation. “The intelligence is wrong,” Republican National Committee spokesman Sean Spicer told CNN. “It didn’t happen.” He was referring to a New York Times report saying …

  Tokyo / AFP Russia has turned down Tokyo’s latest attempt at dog diplomacy ahead of a summit between President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe later this month, an aide said, as the two leaders look to end a decades-old territorial row. Japan had planned to give the Russian president—who is known for being a canine lover—a male Akita …

  Rome / AFP Italian President Sergio Mattarella summoned Paolo Gentiloni to see him on Sunday in what was seen as a signal the current foreign minister will become the country’s new prime minister. Gentiloni is the favourite to replace outgoing premier Matteo Renzi, who resigned last week after suffering a crushing defeat in a referendum on constitutional reform. “The President …