News Headlines - 21 August 2017

▽Pyongyang calls U.S.-South Korean war games a step to nuclear war

The United States and South Korean began long-planned joint military exercises on Monday, heightening tensions with North Korea which called the drills a "reckless" step toward nuclear conflict.

▽Last American soldier who defected to North Korea is dead, sons say - CNN

James Joseph Dresnok, believed to be the last remaining US soldier in North Korea, died last year, two of his sons said in video posted on a North Korean state-run news site... Dresnok defected to North Korea in 1962 in a daring dash across the heavily fortified demilitarized zone that divides the totalitarian country from South Korea.

▽U.S. scales back Russian visa operations after Putin cuts embassy staff

The United States began to scale back its visa services in Russia on Monday, drawing an angry reaction from Moscow three weeks after President Vladimir Putin ordered Washington to more than halve its embassy and consular staff.

▽Barcelona attack suspect Younes Abouyaaqoub shot dead wearing suicide belt by Spanish police

Younes Abouyaaqoub was shot on Monday by armed police in the town of Sant Sadurni d’Anoia in the district of Subirats, around 30 miles west of Barcelona, bringing to an end a five-day international manhunt.

▽McDonald's India ends its franchise agreement with Vikram Bakshi's CPRL - India Today

McDonalds India on Monday announced it had terminated its franchise agreement with Vikram Bakshi's Connaught Plaza Restaurants. The 169 restaurants operated by the latter will have to stop using the McDonlad's brand name within 15 days.