Worldwide / 218

Saudi Arabia detains supporters of women activists, including two US citizens

April 07, 2019

Human rights group says all those arrested were writers and social media bloggers. News of the arrests came the morning after U.S. lawmakers voted to end military support for a Saudi-led war in neighbouring Yemen, which has triggered what the United Nations describes as the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

US to declare Iran's Revolutionary Guards as terrorist group

April 07, 2019

Earlier, he pledged that if the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) are blacklisted by the USA as a terrorist group, Tehran would respond in kind and "put that country's military on the terror blacklist besides Daesh*". Former Under-Secretary of State and lead Iran negotiator, Wendy Sherman, said she was anxious about implications for USA forces. The IRGC has already been sanctioned by Washington, as the Department of Treasury slapped sanctions on it in October 2017 under a 9/11-era ...

Germany calls on Haftar to end military operations

April 07, 2019

Haftar, who runs the self-styled Libya National Army that is based in the country's east, is now pushing westward, bringing his army closer to rival militias, which control Tripoli. Dozens of uniformed men and a least 15 trucks carrying anti-aircraft guns took up positions at the control point known as "Bridge 27", just 27 kilometres (17 miles) from Tripoli, the seat of the internationally-recognised unity government.

May admits she can’t pass Brexit deal without Labour

April 07, 2019

After weeks of Brexit deadlock, with Theresa May's withdrawal agreement failing to win a majority in the House of Commons twice and once more without its political declaration, with not one single motion managing to muster a majority in a series of indicative votes, the government and opposition engaged in talks to try to end this stalemate.

Mom pulls gun on man attempting to abduct child: West Virginia cops

April 07, 2019

The suspect's bond was set at $200,000. He was crying when he was greeted by family members. Detective Greg Lucas said Barboursville police will charge Santana Renee Adams with falsely reporting an emergency incident. "Even though there was an overreaction by the mother, it was not completely baseless". Barboursville Police arrested the 54-year-old engineer at the mall's food court.

Greek police clash with migrants near North Macedonia border

April 07, 2019

By Friday morning there were more than 100 tents pitched in the field, prompted by reports on social media of plans for an organised movement to cross Greece's northwest land border with Albania in early April. Services from the station were suspended. "We don't know if they are open". A senior migration ministry official said the events at the Larissis train station were intended as a "message" to the EU.

President Trump says has not read Mueller report

April 07, 2019

Read the entire report via Politico . The Department of Justice said in its response to a transparency group's Freedom of Information Act complaint that the court shouldn't "circumvent this orderly process" of Attorney General William Barr's plan to release a redacted version of the report in the coming weeks.

UK Issues Passports Without 'European Union' Title on Cover

April 07, 2019

It warned: "Do not book travel until you have a valid passport - doing so is at your own risk". Many were furious at the new passport. The Home Office confirmed that some passports introduced from March 30, the day after Britain was originally due to depart, no longer include references to the European Union following a 2017 decision.

Trump says he understands why Barbara Bush didn't like him

April 07, 2019

Mrs Bush, who was 92 when she died last April , gave Susan Page , author of 'The Matriarch: Barbara Bush and the Making of an American Dynasty, ' access to volumes of her diaries, which she began keeping in 1948. Page's book noted that Bush's scorn for Trump apparently went back decades. " The Washington Post characterized Trump's statement as a "biting retort" in the lead of "'Look what I did to her sons': "Trump says he understands why Barbara Bush didn't like him", by Colby ...

Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan to announce presidential campaign

April 07, 2019

He previously said the decision to go after the Democratic leadership position was "one of the best professional decisions" he had ever made. "The country is so divided right now that we can't get a plan together", Ryan said on ABC. Jim Traficant. "As a congressman from Youngstown, Ohio for nearly 20 years, I've watched the American Dream slip through the fingers of many Americans", Ryan says on the website.

Florida man arrested for burglary minutes after his release from jail

April 07, 2019

Lucie County Jail for grand theft when officers saw him "acting suspicious" and pulling car-door handles, according to an arrest affidavit by the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office. Finally, Lewis was approached by St. Lucie Officer Neill Lettman who told him he was seen walking around the jail's lot, checking on vehicles. When they approached him, he initially said he was waiting for his girlfriend to pick him up.

Israel's Netanyahu says he plans to annex settlements in West Bank

April 07, 2019

The latest polls place Netanyahu and ex-military chief Gantz neck and neck, but give the former the advantage. "Two good people", he said, referring to incumbent Benjamin Netanyahu and rival Benny Gantz. According to one news report , Netanyahu didn't even consider asserting sovereignty over the West Bank settlements until after Trump's Golan Heights decision, and he was certain Trump "would give him backing and legitimization" for the subsequent move once the long-expected US peace proposal ...

Brexit: Ireland’s Leo Varadkar says EU27 ‘unlikely’ to veto delay

April 07, 2019

Theresa May has written to European Council President Donald Tusk to request an extension to the Brexit process until 30 June but says if MPs agree a deal, the United Kingdom should be able to leave before European parliamentary elections are held on 23 May.

Republican Senator calls Trump's windmill comments 'idiotic'

April 07, 2019

Trump, at the National Republican Congressional Committee's annual spring dinner Tuesday night, said some people say noise from wind turbines causes cancer . "And they say the noise causes cancer, you tell me that one, OK?", Trump claimed, citing no proof for the assertion that windmills cause cancer. However, according to CNN, his comment is not supported by any evidence whatsoever.

Search continues for US tourist and her driver kidnapped in Uganda

April 07, 2019

According to Ugandan police, Endecott's phone was used to make a ransom demand of $500,000. The driver is a 48-year-old safari guide with years of experience. A day later, soldiers have fanned out along the porous border with DR Congo, but as night fell, police said they believe the pair remain in the country.

New Zealand massacre suspect charged with 49 more mosque murders

April 06, 2019

The judge explained that from his end, Tarrant could see the judge and lawyers but not those in the public gallery. Nabi said he felt helpless watching. The 28-year-old, a self-confessed white supremacist, sat still with an impassive face during the preliminary hearing, in contrast to his first court appearance when he smirked at the media and appeared to flash a white nationalist hand signal.

NY man threatened to kill Minnesota Congresswoman

April 06, 2019

The FBI said in a criminal complaint Carlineo called Omar a "terrorist" and threatened to shoot her. Carlineo sounded angry during the call but provided the spelling of his name and contact information, the affidavit said. He further stated that he did make the threatening call to Omar's office. Carlineo appeared in court on Friday and is being held pending a detention hearing on April 10, according to a statement from the Justice Department .

U.S. Revokes ICC Prosecutor's Entry Visa Over Afghanistan War Crimes Probe

April 06, 2019

Bensouda's office on April 5 confirmed US authorities revoked her visa but said the ICC prosecutor would continue her duties "without fear or favor". The U.S., together with Russian Federation and China, are not members of ICC. The Human Rights Watch stated that any attempts by the U.S.to interfere with the investigation "would demonstrate that the administration was more concerned with coddling serial rights abusers - and deflecting scrutiny of United States conduct in Afghanistan - than ...

Afghanistan: Taliban encircles government compound, kills dozens

April 06, 2019

He said only the district police headquarters and a base of the Afghan National Army remained in the control of the government. The attack put the lives of some 600 members of the security forces deployed there at risk, he added. This comes as the conflicts have intensified in different parts of the country with the arrival of the spring season - which is deemed as a usual fighting season for insurgents fighting the Afghan government forces.

‘No-deal Brexit might mean recession in Britain, EU’

April 06, 2019

Referring to talks between May and opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn which are expected to resume on Friday, Baba said the prime minister is expected to release a letter to the Labour party in the coming hours outlining her position. "This is, I think, the worst example of ill-discipline in Cabinet in British political history" - Chief whip Julian Smith to BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg in her Brexit Storm documentary on Monday.

Worst wildfire South Korea has seen, East Asia News & Top Stories

April 06, 2019

The state of emergency affects the following Gangwon province regions: Goseong, Sokcho, Gangreung, Donghae, and Injae. "There was nothing people could do as the fire broke out at night". The fire also caused the temporary shutdown of a highway and delays in train services from Ganeung to Seoul. "We may have failed to prevent the fire from spreading in the early stage because of strong winds, but I still believe we were able to stop the fire from spreading further because of the joint ...

US 'not looking' to extend sanction waivers for Iran crude importers

April 06, 2019

The United States is considering additional sanctions against Iran that would hit areas not previously targeted, a senior Trump administration official told reporters on Monday. India is expected to increase import of oil from countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates if the U.S. does not extend the six-month-long waiver it granted to New Delhi and several other countries to buy oil from Iran.

Brexit: Downing Street 'ready to meet Labour this weekend'

April 06, 2019

But her plea has generated criticism, anger and mixed opinions across the political divide in Britain. But after an exchange of letters between the two sides on Friday morning, the shadow Brexit secretary, Keir Starmer , said the government was refusing to countenance changes to the political declaration, which sets out Britain's future relationship with the EU.

MIT ends relationship with Hauwei, ZTE over security concerns

April 06, 2019

Zuber also said the institute's collaborations with China , Russia and Saudi Arabia will face additional administrative review procedures, Reuters reported. Huawei is facing mounting pressure from the global community over concerns its equipment could be used for spying by Chinese authorities. A Huawei spokesperson said that the company is disappointed by MIT's decision to cut ties.

Australia will imprison social media executives

April 06, 2019

These laws are unique in the fact that they target the social networks and their owners rather than the individuals that upload the violent material. He said the government should "not demand of social media companies what they can not reasonably be expected to do".

Christchurch shooting accused faces victims' relatives in court on 50 murder charges

April 06, 2019

An accused gunman will face 50 murder charges, and 39 attempted murder charges, in court. "He looks insane and it was very upsetting", he said after the hearing. German police said the accused shooter used his credit card last November to pay for a ticket to Neuschwanstein Castle - a popular tourist destination near the Austrian border commissioned by Ludwig II of Bavaria in the 19th century.

US Senate Drafts Plan to Help Restore Democracy to Venezuela

April 06, 2019

Russian officials have scoffed at US demands to withdraw military personnel, saying their presence in Venezuela is fully legitimate. European Union governments have condemned Venezuelan Constituent Assembly's measure that permits the trial of opposition leader Juan Guaido.

Libyan militias capture Hifter's forces marching on Tripoli

April 06, 2019

Currently, there are two governments in Libya: Tripoli's Government of National Accord led by Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj and recognized by the global community and the interim Cabinet of Abdullah Al-Thani who is acting in the country's east together with the elected parliament and supported by the Libyan National Army of Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar .

Komodo Island Is Temporarily Closing Because People Keep Smuggling Its Dragons

April 06, 2019

Ongoing discussions that started at the beginning of the year about barring tourists from visiting Komodo Island have now culminated in a decision by the provincial administration and the Ministry of Environment and Forestry. "These animals are sold for traditional medicine", he said. Komodo Island is home to some 2,300 dragons, which can grow to around three meters (10 feet) in length.

Theresa May seeks another extension from European Union until June 30

April 06, 2019

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said in Brussels that Britain would not get any further short delays unless its parliament ratified a deal by April 12 - the date set by EU leaders as the effective cut-off for avoiding the European Parliament elections.

Mexico Facing Potential 25% Tariff on Car Imports to US

April 05, 2019

It was not immediately clear if Trump's demand for Mexico to crack down on the flow of migrants also faces a one year deadline or has to be satisfied in the near future. American importers pay the tariffs at the border and then must decide how much of the higher cost they can pass along to US customers. Trump warned last Friday that he would close the USA border with Mexico this week unless Mexico took action to help stop the flow of illegal migrants across the frontier.

Third person dies at Grand Canyon in 10-day span

April 05, 2019

The National Park Service, along with the Coconino County Medical Examiner, are investigating the circumstances surrounding the fall. Last Thursday a man from Hong Kong man fell to his death while taking photos, according to a park spokesperson.

Brexit: How Would the Plastics Industry Have Voted 'Indicatively'?

April 05, 2019

Under Parliament's rules, the speaker of the House has tie-breaking power. Kurz said: "There is, from the current point of view, absolutely no reason for an extension since the chaos in Britain has not changed". The announcement of the result was delayed as the Speaker, John Bercow, consulted clerks and copies of Erskine May, the bible on parliamentary process, were thumbed through.

Navy sailor killed in Virginia after shooting, wounding another sailor

April 05, 2019

My office has been in communication with Navy officials regarding this morning's incident at Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach. Weapons are not allowed on the base and authorities are investigating how the shooter got the gun onto the property, WRIC said.

Donald Trump: Joe Biden 'Only a Threat to Himself' in 2020

April 05, 2019

Biden's pledge took place in a video in which he said he understood that his touchy, affectionate behavior upset some women and pledged to change his ways. When asked by co-host Sandra Smith if the accusations should disqualify Biden from running Trump left that up to Democratic voters. Biden's remarks were his first public comments since more than a half-dozen women aired their complaints that he had touched them inappropriately at political events.

Man’s claim gives false hope in years-long missing boy case

April 05, 2019

Rini is on a holder for the Federal Bureau of Investigation and expected to be picked up Friday morning, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported . Rini isn't facing any local charges, sheriff's office spokesman Dave Daugherty said, but it's possible he may face federal charges.

Michael Cohen wants House Democrats to keep him out of prison

April 05, 2019

Cohen's lawyers contend that time is running out before his three-year prison sentence begins in May to go through the recently accessed 14 million files from his computers and phones, including all emails and voice recordings. The lawyers said if Cohen, Trump's former lawyer and fixer, has been going through the documents alone, without any help, and if he reports to prison May 6 as scheduled, he won't be able to finish reviewing the material.

Foreign Policy magazine rejects Indian claims of shooting Pakistan F-16

April 05, 2019

The Magazine further added that India has once again misled the world through baseless and false claims. It was during the aftermath of the Pakistani air raids on February 27 that the aerial dogfight that saw Wing Commander Varthaman shot down, and the accompanying Indian claim of shooting down an F-16, took place.

Congress Ends US Support For Yemen War, Donald Trump Veto Likely

April 05, 2019

It would be only the second veto of his presidency. "Congress has the responsibility to declare war". But the passage through Congress marked a historic milestone, as it was the first time in history that a measure invoking the 1973 War Powers Resolution will reach the president's desk.

Mormon Church Reverses Policies On LGBT Apostasy And Child Baptism

April 05, 2019

In the church's news release, President Henry Eyring said that "we need the Lord's direction to meet the changing circumstances, and He has guided changes in practice and policy through the history of the Church". Nelson (C), 1st Councilor Dallin H. Oaks, (L) and 2nd Councilor Henry B. Eyring (R), wait for the start of the first session of the 188th Annual General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on March 31, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Netanyahu thanks Putin for helping return of Israeli soldier’s remains

April 05, 2019

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to Moscow was motivated primarily by a desire to show tired voters ahead of Israel's upcoming election that he is a respected leader on the world stage, an analyst told RT. The Russian army chief of staff demanded Thursday to be given more warning time before any Israeli attacks on military targets in Syria. "I want to thank you, in my name and that of the people of Israel, for what you did, and for the courageous friendship.it is important to us and ...

May holds 'constructive' Brexit crisis talks with United Kingdom opposition

April 05, 2019

The video shows a number of soldiers taking aim down the range and firing their weapons - the camera then focuses on the target and zooms in on an image of Mr Corbyn. Labour defense spokeswoman Nia Griffith tweeted that the video was "shocking and completely unacceptable". "The sensible way forward - and I think the one PM would take if this was a serious attempt to build consensus - is agree to fight (an) election, seek longer delay and allow option of public vote on what Commons agrees".

Assange to Be Expelled From Ecuadorian Embassy Within 'Hours or Days'

April 05, 2019

That has previously been reported by The New York Times. Later, a top official said while Ecuadorian President Lenín Moreno was angered by the apparent hacking of his personal communications, he denied WikiLeaks' claim and said no decision had been taken to expel Assange from the Embassy.

Twitter Toxic as Trump Recalls Dubbing Xi Jinping China's 'King'

April 05, 2019

Trump said the sticking points included tariffs and intellectual property theft. President Donald trump touted prospects for an "epic" trade deal with China Thursday, but acknowledged that a settlement of a year-long commercial conflict remained at least a month away.

Do Cats Know Their Names? Yes, Say Scientists

April 05, 2019

Cats often move their heads or ears when hearing words spoken, but that response diminished after four words. Researchers conducted several versions of the experiment, all held at the cat's home, with the owner out of view. The study found one minor exception to cats recognizing their name: cats who lived with others in a cat cafe. The new findings could improve our relationships with our pets, the researchers say; cooing your cat's name during a stressful vet visit, for example, might ...

Wilson-Raybould, Philpott removed from Liberal caucus

April 05, 2019

As questions grew, Trudeau's best friend and closest aide resigned. Liberals, who had once predicted the party could win an extra 20 seats in Quebec, now say that 15 is the most likely maximum gain. "Apparently, this equates to being "untrustworthy" in the shifty eyes of Justin Trudeau , who is clearly committed to propping up cronyism and the old boys' network", Philip said in a statement.

EU's Barnier: Britain won't get transition without #Brexit deal

April 05, 2019

May hopes to bring an approved deal with her to Brussels so that Britain can leave the bloc the day before the first nations hold their European Parliament votes on May 23. I profoundly disagree with Jeremy Corbyn on the economy. Her cross-party talks - after nearly three years of seeking to push through her own version of a Brexit divorce deal - came amid European Union warnings that a damaging withdrawal without a plan was growing more likely by the day.

Last-ditch cross-party effort launched to stop no-deal Brexit

April 05, 2019

Some people say that the Prime Minister must act according to the warnings made in recent weeks. The group behind the bill, which also includes former Tory chair Dame Caroline Spelman, Commons Brexit Committee chair Hilary Benn, former attorney general Dominic Grieve and Liberal Democrat Norman Lamb, aims to push it through all of its Commons stages on Thursday, and hopes the House of Lords would then grant its approval ahead of the emergency European Union summit on April 10.

New Zealand Primary School In Lock down After Reports Of Shots Fired

April 05, 2019

Te Ao contacted Police who said schools were initially in lockdown but are no longer. View in full here. Police are responding to reports of a shot possibly being fired in the Glen Eden area after 10am. At least one local school in the Glen Eden area, and several preschools, were in lockdown for close to an hour. "We will keep you updated when the lock-down is over".

Ethiopia inquiry shows Boeing MAX hurtling uncontrolled to disaster

April 05, 2019

A preliminary report released Thursday states that the pilots in the Ethiopian Airlines 737 Max 8 plane performed all procedures recommended by Boeing before they made their fatal crash. Boeing says in the statement that it will issue a software update to its 737 MAX fleet worldwide to eliminate the possibility of an unintended MCAS evacuation in the future.