World Category Archive

India’s Modi breaks protocol to welcome Saudi’s crown prince

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi broke with government protocol to personally welcome Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to New Delhi on Tuesday.

Teenager who joined IS group in Syria to lose UK citizenship

Shamima Begum, a teenager who left London when she was aged 15 to join Islamic State in Syria, has had her British citizenship revoked, according to a letter sent to her family published by ITV News on Tuesday.

UK’s Hammond says EU won’t consider alternatives to backstop for now

A no-deal Brexit would be a “mutual calamity” for Britain and the European Union that would deliver a sharp blow to the British economy, Finance Minister Philip Hammond said on Tuesday.

Cuba denies military in Venezuela, charges U.S. readies intervention

Cuba denied on Tuesday it has security forces in Venezuela and charged the statements were part of an orchestrated campaign of lies paving the way for military intervention in the South American country.

Eighth lawmaker quits Britain’s Labour Party

Joan Ryan, a Labour member of parliament, has become the eighth lawmaker to resign from Britain’s main opposition party.

Chilean nuns find ‘relief’ in Pope’s recognition of Church abuse

Three former Chilean nuns who claim to have been sexually abused over two decades ago by priests in their religious order have hailed comments by Pope Francis earlier this month in which he recognized the abuse of nuns in the Catholic Church.

U.S. envoy for North Korea heads to Vietnam for pre-summit talks

The U.S. special representative for North Korea is traveling to Hanoi on Tuesday to continue preparations for a second summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to be held next week in Vietnam, the State Department said.

Venezuela shuts border with Caribbean islands ahead of aid efforts

Venezuelan troops will remain stationed along the country’s borders to prevent territorial violations, the defense minister said on Tuesday, ahead of the opposition’s plan to bring in humanitarian aid to alleviate an economic crisis.

Ex-Canada minister at center of ethics allegations set to testify

Canada’s two main opposition parties on Tuesday demanded Prime Minister Justin Trudeau launch a public inquiry into allegations of wrongdoing by his officials that have prompted the biggest crisis of his career.

Danish Populists Propose Hardening Border With Crime-Ridden Sweden

The Danish People’s Party (DPP), a faction of right-wing populists, is proposing Denmark harden its border with Sweden, where crime has become a major issue, according to local media.

Pakistani PM warns India against attack, urges talks on Kashmir blast

Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Tuesday Pakistan was ready to cooperate with India in its investigation of a deadly bombing in the disputed Kashmir region last week, which India blamed on Pakistan, but warned of retaliation if attacked.

Death toll from northwest Nigeria attack doubles to 130

The death toll from an attack last week by gunmen in northwestern Nigeria’s Kaduna State has doubled to more than 130 people, the state governor said on Tuesday, adding that the motive appeared to be ethnic.

Departures from Rome’s Ciampino to remain blocked by fire

Rome’s Ciampino airport, used by budget airline Ryanair, partially reopened on Tuesday following a fire alert in the terminal, the company managing the site said.

Trump wants North Korea to denuclearize, but is in no hurry

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he is looking forward to a good meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Feb. 27 and 28 in Vietnam and wants Pyongyang to ultimately denuclearize but is in no particular hurry.

Injured pulled from Swiss avalanche, rescue work continues: police

Several skiers were buried by an avalanche on the slopes of the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana, police said on Tuesday.

Haiti’s serious crime unit to investigate foreigners arrested with guns

The serious crime unit of Haiti’s national police is investigating several foreign nationals, including Americans, who were arrested in possession of semi-automatic weapons, Prime Minister Jean-Henry Ceant said.

‘Malthouse Compromise’ on Brexit not dead: UK lawmaker after PM May talks

A eurosceptic British lawmaker said the “Malthouse Compromise” – an attempt to redraft the contentious Irish backstop in the Brexit deal – was “alive and kicking” after a meeting with Prime Minister Theresa May on Tuesday.

Enough! Thousands decry anti-Semitism in France after spike in attacks

Vandals have daubed swastikas and anti-Semitic slogans on around 90 graves in a Jewish cemetery in eastern France, local officials said on Tuesday, shortly before planned marches nationwide against a rise in anti-Semitic attacks.

Hungary’s ruling party doesn’t belong in Europe’s center-right: Juncker

The party of right-wing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban does not belong in the European People’s Party (EPP), the main center-right grouping in the European Parliament, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said on Tuesday.

Assad adviser rejects idea of granting Syrian Kurds autonomy

A senior adviser to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Tuesday flatly rejected the idea of giving Syrian Kurds a measure of autonomy, saying such a move would open the door to the partition of the country.

U.S. Palestinian mission to merge with Israel embassy in March

The United States Consulate General in Jerusalem, which serves Palestinians, will be absorbed into the new U.S. Embassy to Israel in March, a U.S. official said on Tuesday, giving a date for a merger that has been condemned by Palestinians.

Nobody will block Brexit extension, Juncker says

If Britain asks for a delay to its departure from the European Union, none of the existing members will stand in its way, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said on Tuesday.

EU to take action against Poland if judges harassed for consulting ECJ

The European Commission will take action against Poland if its government is harassing judges for consulting the European Court of Justice on the legality of Polish reforms, Commission First Vice President Frans Timmermans said on Tuesday.

Trump administration launches global effort to end criminalization of homosexuality

The administration is responding in part to a reported hanging of a young gay man in Iran, Trump’s top geopolitical foe.

German halt in Saudi arms sales hurting UK industry: Hunt

Britain has urged Germany to exempt big defense projects from its efforts to halt arms sales to Saudi Arabia or face damage to its commercial credibility, the German magazine Der Spiegel reported on Tuesday.

French police shoot man after knife attack in central Marseille

French police shot dead a man in central Marseille on Tuesday after he stabbed four people in the southern port city, in an attack that did not appear to be terrorism-related, police sources said.

Palestinians’ lawsuit in U.S. vs. Adelson, others is revived

A U.S. appeals court has revived a $1 billion lawsuit by Palestinians seeking to hold billionaire Sheldon Adelson and more than 30 other pro-Israel defendants liable for alleged war crimes and support of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.

France shaken by outbreak of anti-Semitic violence and abuse

A series of attacks across France in recent days has alarmed politicians and prompted calls for action against what some commentators describe as a new form of anti-Semitism among the far-left and Islamist preachers.

Troop withdrawal in Yemen’s Hodeidah could start Tuesday, Wednesday: U.N.

A redeployment of forces in Yemen’s Hodeidah by the warring parties could start “possibly even today or tomorrow,” United Nations Yemen envoy Martin Griffiths told the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday.

Chinese ‘Ivory Queen’ smuggler sentenced to 15 years jail in Tanzania

A Tanzanian court sentenced a prominent Chinese businesswoman dubbed the “Ivory Queen” to 15 years in prison on Tuesday for smuggling the tusks of more than 350 elephants to Asia – a big victory in the battle to stamp out poaching in Africa.

The five candidates running in Senegal’s presidential election

Senegal, the most stable democracy in West Africa, is preparing for an election on Sunday with President Macky Sall facing off against four other candidates.

Russian oil giant could take over ruined tsarist palace under new law

Russia’s largest oil company could take over and renovate a ruined palace once used by the tsars, under draft legislation provisionally backed on Tuesday by lawmakers.

U.S. lawmakers say Trump-era transatlantic rift mere family ‘squabbles’

A delegation of U.S. lawmakers sought to reassure European allies in Brussels on Tuesday that differences over President Donald Trump’s policies were mere “family squabbles” and transatlantic ties remain strong.

May heads to EU on Wednesday to push for Brexit breakthrough

British Prime Minister Theresa May will travel to Brussels on Wednesday to “take stock of the latest state of play on Brexit” with the head of the EU’s executive European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, spokespeople of the latter said.

Italy Senate blocks investigation into Salvini for holding migrants on ship

An Italian Senate committee voted on Tuesday to block an investigation into accusations of kidnapping against Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini over his decision to hold 150 migrants on board a ship for five days last August.

BAE Systems wins funding from U.S. Army to start production of new armored vehicles

Britain’s defense company BAE Systems on Tuesday said it had won additional funding up to $575 million from the U.S. Army to begin production of its new armored vehicles that would replace the Vietnam War-era M113 fleet of personnel carriers.

Less than 5 percent of refugees needing new homes resettled in 2018: U.N.

Less than five per cent of refugees in need of resettlement in Western countries found new homes last year, the United Nations said, as the United States scaled back its acceptance of displaced people under President Donald Trump.

U.S. concerned over Hezbollah’s growing role in Lebanon

Hezbollah’s growing role in the Lebanese government worries the United States, the U.S. ambassador to Lebanon said during a meeting with Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri on Tuesday, according to the U.S. embassy.

British lawmakers call on government to put an end to throwaway fashion

A cross-party group of British lawmakers recommended on Tuesday that brands and retailers in the fashion industry should pay a penny per garment to fund better clothing waste collection following an eight-month inquiry into the sector.

Swiss would prefer Islamic State fighters tried on site: minister

Switzerland would prefer to have citizens who fought for Islamic State tried on the spot rather than be brought home to face criminal charges, its justice minister said on Tuesday.

South Korea’s Moon offers to resume cooperation with North Korea to help denuclearization

South Korean President Moon Jae-in told U.S. President Donald Trump in a call on Tuesday that his country is willing to open economic engagement with North Korea as a “concession” if it will hasten Pyongyang’s denuclearization, Moon’s office said.

China Unveils Plan Uniting Hong Kong, Macau, and Mainland to Rival Silicon Valley

The Chinese government on Monday unveiled its “Greater Bay Area” project to unite the semi-autonomous cities of Hong Kong and Macau with nine mainland cities

Senegal’s modernizing president leads field in upcoming election

President Macky Sall is the strong favorite to win Senegal’s election on Sunday, boosted by a modernizing first term that propelled economic growth although critics accuse him of jailing his rivals for political gain.

For Yazidi survivors of Islamic State killings, the nightmares go on

Ever since Islamic State visited death and destruction on their villages in northern Iraq nearly five years ago, Yazidis Daoud Ibrahim and Kocher Hassan have had trouble sleeping.

Indian air force planes collide in air show rehearsal, one pilot dead

Two Indian Air Force planes collided in mid-air in the southern state of Karnataka on Tuesday while rehearsing an aerobatic show, killing one pilot and injuring two others, a senior police official said.

Orban urges end to Israeli-Polish rift over Poland’s WW2 role

Hungarian leader Viktor Orban urged Poland and Israel on Tuesday to resolve their dispute over accusations of Polish complicity in the Holocaust, making the appeal in Jerusalem after Warsaw pulled out of a planned Israeli-hosted summit.

EU agrees to cut greenhouse gas emissions from trucks

The European Union agreed on Tuesday to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) from new trucks and buses by 30 percent by a 2030 deadline as part of its commitment to cut its output of greenhouse gases.

Two hundred families trapped by Islamic State in Syria, U.N. says

Some 200 families are trapped in a shrinking area of Syria still controlled by Islamic State, whose forces are stopping some from fleeing, U.N. human rights chief Michelle Bachelet said on Tuesday.

U.N. says fighting, instability have displaced 100,000 in Burkina Faso

More than 100,000 people have been displaced by factional fighting and lawlessness in Burkina Faso, most within the past two months, according to a U.N. report published on Tuesday.

Poland pulls out of Israel summit in row over WW2 role

Poland pulled out of a planned summit in Israel on Monday, its prime minister said, after Israel’s acting foreign minister said “many Poles” had collaborated with the Nazis in World War Two and shared responsibility for the Holocaust.

Pakistan urges U.N. to intervene over Kashmir tension with India

Pakistan’s foreign minister appealed to the U.N. Secretary General on Tuesday to help ease tension with India that has escalated sharply following a suicide bomb attack in the Indian part of disputed Kashmir, that India blamed on Pakistan.

Britain likely to delay Brexit, former EU chief Barroso says

Britain is likely to delay Brexit and not leave the European Union in March, former EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said on Tuesday, adding the bloc would likely accept a request to extension to sort out the details of departure.