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27 June, 2013
Fighter jet crashes in Arizona suburb, pliots survive
An F-16 fighter jet crashed in suburban Phoenix, Arizona Wednesday not far from Luke Air Force Base. Both pilots survived after ejecting safely and are reported to be in stable condition at a local hospital. There has been no official confirmation on the cause of the crash, although a bird strike on the jet engine may have brought the aircraft down, according to KPNX-TV in Phoenix. Eyewitnesses told reporters they saw two explosions and the engine fall from the Fighting Falcon. Luke Air Force Base is the largest F-16 training base in the world, located in Glendale, about 15 miles away from Phoenix.
03:29
Queen Elizabeth II’s income set to rise for second consecutive year
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II is set to receive a 5% increase in her income as the Sovereign Grant, which funds the Head of State’s income, increases in value in 2014 to some £37.89 million (about $58 million) from the current £36.1 million ($55 million). That grant is calculated as a percentage of profits accrued by the Crown Estate, a real estate holding that includes properties such as Windsor Park, as well as most of the UK’s coastline. The total value of the Crown Estate’s profits have risen by 5% to over £252.6 million (about $387 million), with the remaining revenue going into the country’s treasury and contributing to the UK’s finances. As the Crown Estate also includes seabed surrounding the island nation, it also profits from offshore windfarms, which are currently expanding, in addition to a collection of large swaths of urban property in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Oxford and Cambridge. The value of the Crown Estate's energy and infrastructure portfolio alone rose by 8.2% in 2012 to 2013.
02:24
Conviction overturned for soldier accused of executing Iraqi policeman
The highest court in the US military threw out the case against Sgt. Lawrence Hutchins III Thursday. The Court of Appeals overturned a murder conviction against Hutchins after he served about half of an 11-year sentence for leading a group of eight men into the home of a retired Iraqi police officer who he then killed execution-style in a ditch in April 2006. Hutchins claimed his Constitutional rights were violated when he was held in solitary confinement for the duration of his seven-day interrogation in Iraq without access to a lawyer. He was scheduled to be released in July 2015 at the earliest but Hutchins’ lawyer said he could be released within days. The Navy may now appeal to the Supreme Court or let the ruling stand.
00:01
26 June, 2013
Moscow police detain over 40 Khodorkovsky supporters
Over 40 people have been detained in central Moscow for holding an unsanctioned meeting, reports Itar-Tass, citing the Russian capital’s Interior Ministry. The protesters ignored the police warning, refused to leave the area and may now face charges of administrative offence. Earlier on Wednesday, a gathering approved by Moscow authorities was held on Tverskaya Street to mark the 50th birthday of jailed former oil tycoon, Mikhail Khodorkovsky. After the meeting, part of supporters of the former Yukos CEO sentenced for embezzlement and money laundering moved for a “stroll” to the Arbat Street and held a rally there. Since the event was not agreed with the city administration, it violates the law on mass rallies.
19:52
Clashes, Molotov cocktails ahead of Chile mass protests
Hooded protestors hurled Molotov cocktails at a police station, stoned cars, looted a restaurant and burned tires, blocking rush hour traffic in the capital Santiago, ahead of nationwide demonstration planned for Wednesday. Interior minister, Andres Chadwick said at a press conference that they were “not students” but “criminals and extremists”.Wednesday action to protest educational reform is being led by students, who will be joined by copper miners, teachers and dock workers. The march is just before Sunday’s presidential primaries and is aimed at securing the wider distribution of Chile’s vast copper wealth and reform of the education system to put the state back in control of Chile’s mainly privatized public universities.
18:51
Spain denies shooting at British jet skier off Gibraltar
Spain has flatly denied allegations that its police patrol boat fired shots at a British jet skier off Gibraltar and slammed Britain for giving credence to “unverified” rumors, reports AFP.Yesterday, London voiced its protest over the alleged incident off the disputed rock and demanded an explanation. Madrid admitted that there was an incident involving a jet skier, but there was no shooting. The man reportedly at the center of the incident that sparked the diplomatic row, 32-year-old David Villa, told an online news site that he had been testing his new jet ski with family and friends on Sunday, and Spanish police chased him as he returned to the beach and, he claimed, fired four shots. Gibraltar, a tiny piece of land bordering northern Spain, is British overseas territory which has belonged to the UK since 1713. Spain wants it back and refuses to recognize UK sovereignty over the waters off the land.
17:46
Qatar appoints new PM
Qatar’s long-serving Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani was replaced in a cabinet reshuffle on Wednesday, a day after new Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani took over from his father Sheikh Hamad. Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser al-Thani was named the head of the government and Khalid al-Atiyah became the Gulf state’s foreign minister, reports Reuters. Qatar’s finance minister was also replaced while the Energy and Industry Minister kept his post. On Wednesday, the 33-year-old Sheikh Tamim also delivered his first address to the nation, saying that he would continue the “path” of his father – who abdicated after 18 years in power. The new emir also stated that Qatar is not going to “take direction” in foreign affairs, adding that “this independent behavior is one of the established facts.”
17:45
20 bodies found in helicopter crash in north India
20 bodies have been recovered after a rescue helicopter crashed on Tuesday on a mission to help people stranded by monsoon floods in northern India, said the country's air force chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne. The team was returning with survivors from the flooding when its rotor blades hit the hillside. Troops on Wednesday were trying to rescue about 5,000 people who remained stranded in the towns of Badrinath and Harsil. The monsoon rains hit the province of Uttarakhand in mid-June triggering flooding and landslides that flattened entire towns, roads were washed away and communication links severed, cutting off many people.
17:18
Israel approves 69 E. Jerusalem homes ahead of Kerry peace talks visit
An Israeli planning committee on Wednesday granted final approval for the construction of 69 settler homes in east Jerusalem, councilor Meir Margalit of Israel’s leftwing Meretz party told AFP. The decision came hours before the US Secretary of State John Kerry’s visit to Jordan as part of his efforts to restart direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. “It proves just how much the government of Bibi [Benjamin Netanyahu] wants peace,” Margalit said, arguing that the move is “a blind provocation against Kerry.” Settlement construction in East Jerusalem and the West Bank areas led to the breakdown of direct peace talks in 2010, as the Palestinians demanded to halt the works and accept the 1967 lines as the basis for negotiations. Having failed to renew a freeze on all new West Bank construction, Israel has since defied such demands, saying it would only negotiate without pre-conditions.
16:54
US, UK say 10 incidents of chemical weapons use in Syria
Britain and the US have provided the United Nations with details of 10 alleged cases of chemical weapons use by the Syrian government forces, an unnamed UN diplomat said on Wednesday, reports AFP. This comes as western nations are looking for ways to press for access to Syria for the UN team that has been waiting more than three months for Damascus to let it in. Along with the US and the UK, France also sent evidence of alleged attacks to the UN team of experts led by Swedish Ake Sellstrom. So far, few details have emerged regarding France’s report. However, all Western countries state they have no proof of Syrian opposition forces using chemical weapons. The UN investigative committee said last week said it was still unable to determine which of the sides in the conflict side used chemical arms.
16:24
Plane crashes on road near Chicago
A private aircraft has crashed as it tried to land at a small airport outside Chicago, narrowly missing a real estate complex, said the Federal Aviation Administration. The pilot suffered minor injuries with no other injuries reported. The plane was not carrying any passengers. The crash happened as the Beech Super King Air 200 turbo-prop aircraft approached Chicago Executive Airport in Wheeling, about 30 miles north of downtown Chicago. The cause of the crash under investigation.
15:53
Gay couple sues French mayor over refusal to wed them
A gay couple in France has taken a mayor to court after he refused to wed them under the recently-adopted same-sex marriage law, reports AFP. Jean-Michel Colo, the mayor of Arcangues in southwestern France, became the first official in the country to officially refuse to marry a gay couple - Jean-Michel Martin and Guy Martineau-Espel. The couple’s lawyer said the mayor could face up to five year in jail and a fine of 75,000-euro ($98,000) for discrimination and refusal to fulfill his official duties. Colo, defending his position, noted earlier that in his views “marriage is for a woman and man to have children,” while a same-sex couple is sterile. In April, following months of bitter debate and protests, France became the 14th state to legalize same-sex marriage.
15:43
Russia suspends NGO Golos over refusal to register as foreign agent
Russia’s Justice Ministry has suspended the activities of independent election monitor Golos (Voice) for six months after the non-government organization failed to register as a ‘foreign agent’. That means that up until late December the watchdog will be banned from holding public events and funding media outlets. Golos will also be allowed to use its bank deposits only to pay debts, taxes and fines. Under the law, all politically-active NGOs that receive funding from abroad must register as foreign agents. Golos, however, insists its foreign financing stopped last year. Last week, the association announced its plans to dissolve over repeated demands to register as a foreign agent.
15:18
Pope names inquiry commission to look into Vatican bank
Pope Francis has set up a special commission to review the activities of the Vatican bank in order to ensure that it operated corresponding with the mission of the Catholic Church, the Vatican said on Wednesday. The commission would have full powers to obtain all documentation and data, although the powers of existing regulators would not be affected. Pope Francis has laid great emphasis on removing an image of privilege from Church operations and the Institute for Religious Works’ new president Ernst von Freyberg has begun a review of all its activities. Italian magistrates are investigating the bank on money laundering, a charge the bank denies.
12:00
Syria conflict death toll exceeds 100,000 – monitoring group
More than 100,000 people have been killed since the Syrian conflict erupted in March 2011, Reuters cites the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights as saying on Wednesday. The monitoring group, which is opposed to the government of President Bashar Assad, said the figure included 18,000 rebel fighters and 40,000 government troops and pro-Assad militiamen. However, the group estimates the true number of combatants killed in the ongoing civil war was likely double that figure, as both sides have attempted to conceal the true number of causalities.
09:20
Taliban bomb targeting Pakistan judge kills seven
A bomb targeting a senior judge in the Pakistani city of Karachi killed six police officers and a paramilitary Ranger, a senior government official said. The judge, along with 15 other people, were wounded in the blast. The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack. The militant group said they targeted the Sindh High Court judge, Maqbool Baqir, for being “harmful for mujahedeen” and “taking decisions against Shariah.” Baqir is convalescing at a private hospital and is in stable condition, the official said.
08:11
Riots in northwest China kill 27
Riots in China’s restive, autonomous region of Xinjiang have resulted in 27 deaths. Seventeen people were killed before a “knife-wielding mob” descended on a police station, prompting officers to open fire, Xinhua news agency cites local officials as saying. The police reportedly shot dead 10 rioters, while others injured in the melee were rushed to a local hospital. The violence erupted some 60 miles from the desert city of Turpan. Xinjiang, a predominately Muslim region in northwestern China where nearly half the population is ethnically Uighur, is regularly hit by violence. Uighurs complain of cultural and religious oppression at the hands of the government, while Chinese authorities have blamed recent clashes on “terrorists.”
07:52
Libya key terrorism transit hub African Union warns
Libya has become a major transit hub for “the main terrorist groups” traveling from one country to the other, Jose Madeira, the African Union’s (AU) special representative in charge of counter-terrorism, warned. Speaking on the sidelines of a regional security meeting in Algeria, Madeira continued that terrorists groups active in Mali had come to consider Libya as a refuge to reorganize. After the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in October 2011, the post revolution government has struggled to impose security in the porous, North African state. The European Union has offered assistance in tightening border security, but the weak central government makes such a project “very difficult,” AFP cites Western sources as saying.
07:32
Berlin corners London over GCHQ surveillance
The German government has officially demanded that the UK offer an explanation on the legality of spacious GCHQ surveillance of German dataflow via fiber optics cables. German Justice Minister Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger sent two letters on Tuesday. One letter was sent to the British Justice Secretary Chris Grayling, the other to Britain’s Home Secretary Theresa May, demanding details on how exactly far eavesdropping on German citizens by British GCHQ intelligence agency has gone. In particular, the German minister expressed interest in legal basis for British Project Tempora and what kind of information initially triggered UK’s massive data collection from German communication lines.
05:04
Mexico rescues 52 hostages near US border
Mexican authorities have rescued 52 people kidnapped near еру US border by who were being held in a house in the violent state of Tamaulipas. Most of the hostages were Guatemalans. They were found by a group of federal and state police in the house where they were held for a few days. The group was made up of 48 men from Guatemala, two from El Salvador and two more from Mexico, Reuters reported.
04:56
China's Shenzhou-10 spacecraft delivers crew back to Earth
China’s Shenzhou-10 spacecraft safely returned its three member crew following a 15-day mission, landing on grasslands of north China's Inner Mongolia region on Wednesday morning. The craft had been sent on a mission to further refine docking techniques with the Tiangong-1 space module, an experimental testbed launched in September of 2011 and China’s first space station. The mission’s crew included the country’s second woman to go into orbit, Wang Yaping. China first launched a human into space in 2003, and the country’s short-term goals include a permanent space station by 2020 and manned missions to the moon. The Tiangong-1 module is scheduled to be deorbited later this year and replaced by the larger Tiangong-2 and Tiangong-3 modules.
02:33
Obama and Karzai reaffirm support for Taliban talks
Despite a recent attack in central Kabul, US President Barack Obama and Afghan president Hamid Karzai have committed to engage the Taliban in future talks. During a video conference on Tuesday, both Obama and Karzai "reaffirmed that an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process is the surest way to end violence and ensure lasting stability in Afghanistan and the region," the White House said in a statement. Efforts failed to produce an initial meeting in Qatar over the weekend when Karzai’s government objected to the opening of a de facto embassy for the Taliban in Doha. Meanwhile, an assault by Taliban militants on the presidential palace in Kabul and the adjacent US CIA headquarters early Tuesday cast further doubts on the potential for Afghan-led reconciliation efforts. The Taliban was in control of Afghanistan until the 2001 US-led invasion, which subsequently saw the creation of president Karzai’s government. Three civilians were killed in a blast in western Kabul last Tuesday - the same day that NATO officially transferred responsibility for security to Afghan forces.
01:57
25 June, 2013
Iceland cancels EU membership bid
Iceland’s foreign minister Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson has announced the country has withdrawn its bid to join the European Union, in part unsatisfied with a deal on fishing rights within its territorial waters. Three weeks after assuming the post, Sveinsson had indicated that Iceland’s newly elected coalition government was not keen on incorporation into the EU, a process that began in July of 2009 with the country’s official application and formal negotiations the following year. Iceland’s suspension of the bid began in earnest when its coalition government, which saw the defeat of left-wing parties in favor of the centrist Progressive Party and the Independence Party, indicated that it would call a public referendum on the matter. Stefan Fule, the Czech commissioner overseeing EU membership bids, has stated that he expects Iceland’s government to notify him whether it plans to reopen membership talks in the future. Regardless of whether it pursues full membership within the bloc, Iceland is currently a member of the European Free Trade Association, the European Economic Area as well as the Schengen Area agreement on visa policy.
22:06
Russia, US, UN set Geneva-2 format, fail to agree on time and Iran’s part
Russia, the US, and the UN have agreed on format related issues regarding a new Geneva conference on Syria, but failed to reach an agreement on its dates and participants, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said in a Tuesday statement. “Agreement was reached on many issues, namely on the format of the conference. Some questions require additional coordination,” Gatilov said, adding that “the time of the conference has not been set.” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State John Kerry will meet next week to discuss “further steps” leading to Geneva-2. Gatilov noted that the US is still negotiating the participation of the Syrian opposition, and that Iran’s role in the conference is still being disputed. Russia believes that it is “important that Iran takes part” and that it “might make a serious contribution to the settlement of the Syrian conflict,” he said.
18:11
French union strike shuts down Eiffel Tower
France’s CGT union on Tuesday called some 300 workers of the Eiffel Tower on strike in protest of work conditions, low wages and “unacceptable safety level” at the monument. The union and the company that manages the tower held seven-hour-long negotiations this Monday, but could not reach a compromise. As a result, the workers decided to walk out, making roughly 25,000 daily visitors unable to ascend to the tower’s upper floors. The CGT pointed out that renovation of one of the Eiffel Tower elevators, which requires a mounting sum of 40 million euro, has been delayed for more than five years. The absence of the elevator has “serious consequences” for the tower’s maintenance, the union stressed. A new round of talks on the 124-year-old monument management is due to start on Tuesday evening.
14:46
Czech President appoints caretaker prime minister
Czech President Milos Zeman appointed economist and former finance minister Jiri Rusnok as prime minister on Tuesday. The move will likely set up a confrontation with the outgoing center-right coalition, which had pushed for their own candidate. Meanwhile, left-wing parties said they would only accept an interim cabinet if early elections were held as soon as possible. The move has sparked speculation that deputies might vote to dissolve parliament, which would have to happen within 60 days, forcing an early parliamentary poll. Rusnok will replace Petr Necas, who had to resign last week amidst a bribery and spying scandal involving a close aide.
13:45
EU postpones Turkish membership talks over crackdown on protests
EU governments on Tuesday backed a German-inspired proposal to postpone a new round of talks on Turkish membership in the EU until after a report by the European Commission on reforms and human rights in Turkey. The report is due to be released on October 9, and will apparently include accounts of Turkish police crackdown on anti-government protesters in late May and June. While the EU decided that re-launching Turkish bid talks following the protests would send a “wrong signal,” it formally agreed to open a new chapter in talks, prompting satisfied response from Turkey. “What is important is the confirmation of the opening of the chapter with an irrevocable decision. An obstacle in Turkey's relations with the EU has been overcome,” Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Tuesday.
11:57
Syrian peace talks delayed – UN envoy
Peace talks between the Syrian opposition and the government of President Bashar Assad will not take place in July, as had previously been planned, UN Syria envoy Lakhdar Brahimi has said at a conference in Geneva. He appealed to both Russia and the US to help “contain” the conflict ahead of talks with officials from both countries. Brahimi expressed doubts that the opposition will be ready for negotiations in July given that their next meeting will be on July 4-5.
11:31
Turkish police detain 20 in Ankara over anti-government protests
Turkish police have detained 20 people in a series of raids throughout the capital Ankara for their alleged involvement in weeks of anti-government protests. Some 30 addresses in total were targeted, with those detained allegedly being members of an unspecified “terrorist” organization, CNNTurk reports. Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan had previously charged that protesters in the nationwide demonstration were being manipulated by “terrorists.” The operations were reportedly conducted against individuals who had attacked police officers, business and public property. A police spokesperson in the capital was unable to provide any further information on the raids. At least four people have been killed and around 7,500 wounded since a police crackdown on a small sit-in demonstration in Istanbul’s Gezi Park sparked nationwide protests late last month.
11:24
Avoiding more austerity top of agenda – Greek PM
Averting more austerity measures to fulfill international bailout targets should be Greece’s top priority, the country’s Prime Minister Antonis Samaras has said. Addressing ministers at the first meeting of his reshuffled cabinet, Samaras said unemployment, investment and job creation were also of paramount importance.
11:03
Radical Islamist cell busted in France
French police arrested six people near the Paris region on Monday on suspicion of belonging to a radical Islamist cell preparing attacks in France. The suspects are aged between 22 and 38. One of them has already appeared in an anti-terrorism investigation while the others are well known to police for various criminal offences. Legally they can be questioned for 96 hours before prosecution takes a decision whether to launch formal investigation into their activities.
09:24
Italian finance police audit football clubs on suspicion of tax evasion
An unprecedented tax probe has been launched against Italian football clubs. Law enforcement has conducted search and seizures on Tuesday in headquarters of 41 football clubs, including 18 top league teams, on suspicion of invoice falsification, money laundering, tax evasion and criminal conspiracy while buying and selling players, a police spokesperson said. A Naples court also ordered searches of 12 player agents. The names of the Serie A teams, B league teams and teams from the lower brackets involved have not been revealed.
09:14
Iran condemns Egypt’s sectarian killings as ‘contradicting Islam’
The Iranian Foreign Ministry has accused Egypt of ‘contradicting Islam’ following the killing of four Shiite Egyptians near Cairo. On Sunday, the four worshippers gathered at the home of a Shiite on the outskirts of Cairo to mark a religious festival when the house was attacked by a hostile crowd. The mob accused the four of heresy and beat them to death. Around 90 percent of Iranians are Shiites, while in Egypt the figure is estimated at around 2 per cent.
07:39
Qatar announces power transfer to crown prince
Qatar’s 61-year-old emir, Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani is relinquishing the throne to 33-year-old crown prince, Sheik Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. There was no explanation for the power shift, although there are rumors that Sheik Hamad is suffering from health problems. Sheik Tamim will be charged with forming a new government, but is not expected to make any radical changes to the country’s political system.
07:18
S. Korea issues cyber-attack alert after hacking of official websites
South Korea has issued a cyber-attack alert following a hacker assault on a number of official websites, including the presidential Blue House. The attacks happened on the anniversary of the start of the Korean War. The coordinated attack began at 01:45 GMT (10:45am local), with a few posts claiming to be the work of the hacktivist group Anonymous. The organization denied any involvement on its official Twitter account, but said it had succeeded in hacking a number of North Korean media websites on Tuesday, including the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) and the ruling party newspaper, Rodong Sinmun.
07:13
24 June, 2013
Musharraf could face execution under treason charge
Newly elected Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif announced on Monday that his government intends to prosecute General Pervez Musharraf, the country’s military leader in power from 1999 until 2008, with treason. Musharraf had returned from exile in March in an apparent bid to enter the May general elections that carried the Muslim League-Nawaz party to power. The country’s supreme court had sought to prosecute Musharraf since his return, despite protests lodged by the army’s chief, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, who indicated in April that the former leader’s prosecution would be bad for morale. Historically, Pakistan’s military dictators, who have exercised control over a weak judiciary, have not been held responsible for actions while in office. Musharraf led an October 1999 coup that saw Sharif’s administration ousted. If convicted, the former general would face execution likely only to be avoided by a presidential pardon. "He suspended the constitution and is punishable for that act," Sharif said.
23:47
Sweeping immigration reform survives Senate vote
Legislation representing the most important reform to US immigration since 1986 survived a procedural vote in the Senate by surpassing the needed 60 votes. The bill, which would grant legal status to some 11 million undocumented immigrants in the US and place them on a 13-year track to citizenship, now appears to face dwindling opposition. Republican Senators Hoeven and Corker brokered an agreement on Friday with the bill’s supporters, known as the Gang of Eight, with an amendment to include 20,000 additional Border Patrol agents to the Southwestern border and additional changes to attract additional Republican votes. That amendment's passage will now allow Congress to move to a vote to include it in the larger immigration bill, paving the way for a final vote. The additional 119 pages comprising the new amendment include construction of a security fence stretching "no less than" 700 miles along the US border with Mexico, and also provides funding for aerial surveillance.
22:52
FAA to end unpopular electronics ban
The Federal Aviation Administration is expected to relax the ban on electronic devices during flight takeoffs and landings, meaning US travelers will no longer be forced to turn off their cell phone when flying. The power-down policy has long been questioned by the public, especially as pilots and flight attendants frequently use their devices in full view of passengers. An internal review from the FAA admitted the change, which will not come until September at the earliest, is happening because of the “sheer number of passengers flouting today’s rules.”
19:42
Lebanese troops take rebel cleric's mosque after clashes
The Lebanese army has taken over the complex that was controlled by gunmen loyal to Sheikh Ahmad Assir in the southern city of Sidon, local media reports. The preacher reportedly fled the complex after the army started a military operation in the morning. The fighting started on Sunday after security forces detained a follower of the hardline Sunni Muslim cleric Assir which was accused of trying to plunge the country into a repeat of its civil war. His followers retaliated by opening fire on an army check point.
17:35
39 killed in ten bomb explosions in Baghdad
At least 39 people were killed in bomb attacks targeting mainly Shiite Muslim areas of the Iraqi capital, police and medical officials said according to Reuters. Al-Jazeera reports, 79 others were wounded. No group has immediately taken the responsibility for the attacks, though security forces and Shiite residents are frequently targeted by Al-Qaeda militants. This comes as tens of thousands of Shiites are heading to the holy city of Karbala, 80 kilometers south of Baghdad, for the annual festival of Shabaniyah, marking the anniversary of the birth of the ninth-century Shiite leader known as the Hidden Imam.
16:34
4 killed, 6 wounded in a militant attack in Kashmir
Four soldiers have been killed and six wounded on the outskirts of Srinagar, the main city in Indian-controlled Kashmir, army spokesman Colonel Brijesh Pandey, AFP reports. "We have received 10 casualties from the attack site at the military hospital, four of them were fatal," he said, adding that one of the wounded is in serious condition. The attack came a day before a visit by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the territory, his first since June 2010. Police forces were being deployed across the region while the territory has imposed a state of high alert. Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan by a UN monitored de facto border, but the territory is claimed by both states. Rebel groups have been fighting for its independence or merger with Pakistan since 1989.
14:59
Emir of Qatar decides to step down in favor of his son – state media
The Emir of Qatar has told the ruling family he is handing over power to his 33 year-old son Sheikh Tamim, sources told Al-Jazeera news channel. Qatar's Interior Ministry on its Twitter account said "Spreading rumors that lack credibility will hurt the community. Be supportive of the country," while it is not clear whether it was related to the issue. According to Reuters diplomats said earlier this month the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, was considering a transfer of power. It would supposedly begin with the departure of the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani. Qatar is an absolute monarchy that has been ruled by one family for more than 130 years.
14:00
Peaceful settlement of Syria depends on US, Russia – Syrian Foreign Minister
The outcome of the Geneva-2 conference on a peaceful outcome to the Syrian conflict depends on the United States and Russia, Syrian Foreign Minister Wallid Muallem said on Monday. Muallem also rejected the West’s argument that supplying weapons to the Syrian opposition would help restore the balance of power in the country and force the Syrian regime to take part in the Geneva negotiations. He said that the West’s decision to supply weapons to the so-called Free Syrian Army “extends bloodshed in which Israel, first of all, is interested”.
12:43
Legendary arms designer Kalashnikov feeling better in hospital
The creator of the famous AK-47 assault rifle, Mikhail Kalashnikov who is undergoing medical treatment in a Moscow hospital, is feeling better and is talking with his relatives, reports RIA Novosti. On Sunday, the 93-year-old gun designer was flown to Moscow on Emergencies Ministry plane after being taken ill in his home city of Izhevsk in the Urals. Kalashnikov suffered pulmonary thrombosis. Doctors say his current condition is serious, but stable and for now, no surgical treatment is required.
11:27
Man arrested in UK over French Alps slayings
British police have arrested a 54-year-old man outside of London in connection with the murder of three members of an Iraqi-British family and a French cyclist in the French Alps last year. The man was detained on suspicion to commit murder in a “pre-planned arrest” in Surrey, where the victims resided. A French source told AFP the suspect is Zaid al-Hilli, the brother of Saad al-Hilli, who was shot dead along with his wife and mother. Al-Hilli has previously been questioned by police in the course of the investigation.
10:28
More arms to Syrian rebels would lead to military solution – Russian FM
The decision to supply weapons to the Syrian opposition flies in the face of a political settlement in the country, commented the Russian Foreign Ministry on the ‘Friends of Syria’ group meeting on June 21 in Qatar. “Such reports raise serious concerns,” the Ministry said, specifying that “evidently, the additional arms supplies might ultimately end up in terrorists’ hands, whipping up opposition to transfer to a destructive military solution for Syria”. The gathering in Doha was attended by 11 members of the group, including the US, UK, France and the Arab states of the Persian Gulf.
09:01
At least 17 Lebanese soldiers killed in clashes with Islamist gunmen as Syria crisis spreads
For a second day the Lebanese army has been fighting Sunni Islamist gunmen holed up in a mosque in one of the deadliest outbreaks of violence fuelled by sectarian rifts from the civil war in neighboring Syria. A Lebanese security source said a ceasefire had been agreed on Monday afternoon and soldiers remained in their positions outside the mosque complex. The clashes broke out on Sunday after security forces detained a follower of the hardline Sunni Muslim cleric Sheikh Ahmed al-Assir; his followers retaliated by opening fire on an army check point. Security forces have put the army death toll at 17, with 65 wounded. They estimate that 20 militants were also killed. The army has accused Assir of trying to plunge Lebanon into a repeat of its 1975-1990 civil war. Spillover from the Syrian conflict has resulted in rocket attacks in Beirut and the Bekaa Valley and street fighting in Tripoli.
09:01
Tourist climbers killed in Pakistan identified
A group of climbers shot dead by Taliban-linked gunmen in Pakistan’s Himalayas have been officially identified. Authorities in Islamabad say there were three Ukrainians, three Chinese, one with dual American citizenship, two tourists from Slovakia, a Lithuanian, and the group’s sherpa from Nepal. The bodies of the victims will soon be repatriated. Until the Saturday killing on the slopes of Nanga Parbat, the second tallest mountain in the country, Northern Pakistan has been considered free from Islamists violence seen elsewhere Pakistan. Militants from Junood ul-Hifsa, a new faction of the Taliban, have taken responsibility for the attack, claiming they did it to reciprocate for US drone attacks on Taliban and Al-Qaeda operatives.
08:22
Israel hits Gaza in response to rocket fire
The Israeli Air Force have struck two arms depots at the center of the Gaza Strip, reportedly in response to rocket fire into the south of Israel. Six rockets were fired late Sunday night, according to the Jerusalem Post. Four rockets were launched towards the Bnei Shimon council area and Netivot. The 'Iron Dome' system intercepted two missiles aimed at the Ashkelon Regional Council. No casualties or damage were reported.
05:55
Daredevil wire walks across the Grand Canyon
World famous aerialist Nik Wallenda has set a record by walking unharnessed a quarter mile over the Grand Canyon. The 22 minute walk was completed on a 2-inch-thick steel cable, 1,500 feet above the abyss. The event was broadcast live on the Discovery Channel. Last Year, Wallenda set a record by walking across Niagara Falls.
02:49
Israel strikes at Gaza after rocket attacks
Israel has attacked several targets in Gaza early Monday morning in response to a number of rockets fired from Gaza at Israel, the IDF said in a statement. The targets included two weapons warehouses and a rocket launching site in Gaza. At least six rockets were fired from northern Gaza toward Southern Israel on Sunday, but no damage or injury was reported.
02:45
23 June, 2013
At least 6 rockets fired on Israel from Gaza
At least six rockets fired from the Gaza Strip have hit uninhabited areas of southern Israel. The sirens sound in various regions of Israel. No casualties or damage was reported. At least two targeted the Bnei Shimon council area and another three the Ashkelon Regional Council. Another rocket was fired toward the Lachish Regional Council. Israel’s Iron Dome air defense system managed to intercept two rockets.
21:36
Mandela in critical condition – President’s office
Nelson Mandela’s condition is “critical” as he remains in intensive care after more than two weeks, South African presidency office announced on its website. During President Jacob Zuma’s visit to the 94-year-old anti-apartheid icon on Sunday the medical team informed him that Mandela's condition had worsen in the past 24 hours. Doctors are doing everything possible for South Africa's first black president. Mandela was hospitalized on June 8 for a recurring lung infection.
21:02
Saudi Arabia gets new weekend schedule
Saudi Arabia has switched its weekend to Friday and Saturday rather that Thursday and Friday in order to align itself with the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council. The decree by King Abdullah, will take effect this weekend, "for the sake of putting an end to the negative effects and the lost economic opportunities consistently associated with variation based on work days between local departments, ministries and institutions and the regional and international counterparts." The decision to switch followed a recommendation in April by the Kingdom's Shura Council.
20:39
Three taikonauts manually dock at China’s orbiting space station
Three Chinese taikonauts, including a woman have manually docked in the Chinese orbiting experimental space station, Beijing Aerospace Control Centre announced. 'Shenzhou-10' successfully docked on Tiangong-1 space module in the country's fifth and longest manned space mission. This mission is part of Chinese training to master both the automatic and manual docking techniques as part of an effort to build a China's first space station by 2020.
19:53
Palestinian President accepts resignation of Prime Minister
President Mahmoud Abbas has officially accepted the resignation of his new prime minister Rami Hamdallah. "The president accepted the resignation of the prime minister and designated him to head an interim government," Abbas spokesman Nabil Abu Rdaineh said. Though Hamdallah became prime minister two weeks ago, he decided to step down last Thursday supposedly after a dispute over authority with his deputy, who is an Abbas loyalist and is close to the ruling Fatah party.
18:21
Thousands rally in Vienna in support of Turkish PM
About 8,000 people have taken to the streets in a demonstration in Vienna in support of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, police said. The people were waving red-and-white Turkish flags and some carrying banners with pictures of the Turkish PM. About 600 people took part in a separate protest against a crackdown on anti-government demonstrations in Turkey. The ongoing protests started three weeks ago after the Turkish riot police ‘used excessive force’ to disperse protesters opposing government plans to refurbish Istanbul's Gezi Park. The demonstrations turned into anti-regime rallies, as the people expressed their discontent with the Prime Minister and his ruling party and its increasingly authoritarian policies.
18:01
One killed, 2 wounded in shooting at Albania polling station
A man was killed and two were wounded, including a candidate for parliament during Albania's national elections in the city of Lac, about 50 kilometers northwest of the capital, Tirana. In the exchange of gunfire near a polling station Gjon Gjoni, 49, a supporter of the opposition was shot dead. Mhill Fufi, 49, a candidate for Prime Minister Sali Berisha's governing Democratic Party and his relative were wounded, police said. A spokeswoman for the ruling Democratic Party, Laura Vorpsi, said Fufi was trying to move away some opposition supporters who were trying to bribe voters and alleged that the opposition supporters "responded with shooting rounds." The country’s elections have been marred by violence and vote-rigging.
18:01
Egyptian army warns it will step in to prevent conflict at next weekend’s rallies
The head of the Egyptian armed forces, defense Minister Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, said in a statement Sunday that he would not stand back if rallies planned by the opposition against Islamist President Mohamed Mursi for 30 June descend into conflict. He said he would not allow an “attack on the will of the people” and urged politicians to use the coming week to seek a settlement to their disputes. His warning is the strongest intervention by the military since it handed over power to Mursi’s civilian administration a year ago, after former president Hosni Mubarak was overthrown in 2011.
15:56
Two men shot dead in Egypt clashes ahead of anti-Islamist protests
The Muslim Brotherhood said on its Facebook page on Sunday that Karim Abdel Ghani, a member of the Islamist Nour party, was shot dead in Mahalla, a city north of Cairo, by the Tamarud militia. The "Tamarud – Rebel!" campaign is made up of liberals and secular activists who accuse Islamists of intimidation ahead of a huge rally planned for later this month. Secular opposition groups hope to put millions on the streets on June 30 and say they have gathered 15 million signatures on a petition demanding that President Mursi resigns. Mohammed Mursi, the leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, became president last year after a series of election victories. In a separate announcement, the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), the Brotherhood’s political wing, said on Sunday that it was planning a funeral for another man who it said was killed by Tamarud “thugs” a few days ago in Fayoum, an Islamist bastion south of Cairo. The deaths have highlighted the mutual mistrust between Egypt’s political factions as the country tries to establish democratic institutions after the 2011 revolution.
14:45
At least 5 killed, 9 injured in Damascus blasts – Syrian state media
At least five people have been killed and nine wounded in a series of explosions in the Syrian capital Damascus, Syrian state news agency SANA reports. Three suicide bombers detonated an explosive device in a police building in the Rukn al-Din area. Another three men were killed while trying to enter a building of the Security Department according to the agency. "The terrorists were killed and the explosive devices detonated before they were able to enter the building," said the Ministry of Internal Affairs in a statement, adding that the organizers of the terrorist attacks are allegedly members of the Al-Nusra Front movement.
13:50
Malaysia declares state of emergency as air pollution reaches hazardous levels
A state of emergency has been declared in two parts of the southern Malaysian state of Johur on Sunday. Smoke from land clearing fires in neighboring Indonesia pushed up air pollution to dangerous levels. The illegal burning of forests on Indonesia’s Sumatra Island to the west of Malaysia and Singapore were to blame for the smoke. The burning of land for palm oil plantation during the June to September dry season is a regular problem in the area. The smoke haze caused by the fires in the Sumatran Riau province has also caused air pollution in Singapore, but air quality there began to improve over the weekend.
12:04
Controversial governor of Luxor in Egypt quits
Recently appointed governor of Luxor Adel al-Khayat has submitted his resignation to Egyptian Prime Minister Hisham Qandil. Al-Khayat is a member of an Islamist party, which has been linked to a massacre of 58 tourists at an ancient temple near Luxor in 1997. Al-Khayat’s appointment as governor caused an outcry and the resignation of the minister for tourism.
12:03
38 injured in bus crash in Spain
A bus crash in Alicante, Spain has injured at least 38 people, 6 of them seriously, local officials report. The critically injured were taken to a hospital, the rest treated at the scene of the accident. Local media says the bus was overturned but that no other vehicles appear to have been involved in the accident. An investigation is underway. The accident occurred about 20:15 pm at Alicante ring road, which connects to the A-31 and A-7.
03:33
Falling sightseeing cabin injures 13 during school festival in Germany
Thirteen people, including five children were injured when a sightseeing cabin on a crane fell on top of a house in Neuenstadt am Kocher, Germany. The incident happened during a school festival. Firefighters and emergency personal rushed to the scene. Two adults were severely injured and were taken to hospital by helicopter. The cause of the accident is under investigation.
00:34
22 June, 2013
12 killed, 25 injured in a suicide attack at a Shi'ite mosque in Iraq
At least 12 people have been killed and another 25 injured in a suicide attack at a Shi'ite mosque in northern Baghdad. “A suicide bomber blew himself up among the worshippers in the middle of evening prayer,” a police spokesman said. The number of sectarian attacks on targets like mosques, restaurants and local markets has increased in recent months. May has become the deadliest month since the sectarian bloodletting of 2006-07 with more than 1,000 people killed. There are fears that Iraq is moving towards a wider conflict between the Shia majority and the Sunni minority.
19:17
2 killed as plane with wing walker crashes during air show in western Ohio, US
Two people have died as a wing walker’s plane crashed and burst into flames at the 39th Vectren Dayton Air Show in Vandalia, Ohio. More details were not immediately available. Organizers cancelled the show for the day at 1:30 pm local time. The show was initially scheduled to run Saturday and Sunday until to 6 pm at the Dayton International Airport.
18:02
NATO serviceman and 20 others dead in Afghan suicide attacks
A NATO serviceman, two Afghan policemen, and 18 militants are dead after attacks on local security checkpoints in Afghanistan. The first spate of Taliban-attributed attacks in the country’s north, killed a policemen and insurgents, and was followed by a lengthy gun battle which killed the other police official and wounded a further 11 militants. A separate incident in the country’s south led to the death of a coalition service member, NATO confirmed to AP. The surge in violence follows an official handover of responsibility for security in the country from NATO to Kabul's forces.
17:06
The game played on Brazil recently was the same game that was played on Turkey- PM Erdogan
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said Gezi Park demonstrations were carried out with "malicious intentions from the very beginning" as he addressed thousands of people in the Black Sea port city of Samsun. He also said "the game played on Brazil recently was the same game that was played on Turkey" referring to the Gezi Park protests. Erdogan was in Samsun as a part of the fourth in the series of Erdogan's “Respect the National Will” rallies ahead of local elections scheduled for March 30, 2014. The fifth rally will be held in the eastern province of Erzurum on Sunday.
16:57
Jordan denies CIA, US military training rebels on its soil
Jordan has denied a report that the CIA and US special forces were training Free Syrian Army rebels on its territory. "There is no training in our country,” AFP quoted Prime Minister Abdullah Nsur as saying. "The only Syrians we are dealing with in our country are refugees,” he told the media. The statement was in response to a Los Angeles Times report that the US is training for rebels at bases in Jordan and Turkey.
16:09
Opposition needs more support to end Syria ‘imbalance’ – Kerry
US Secretary of State John Kerry said the backers of the Syrian opposition will step up military and other aid to the rebels to restore parity in the country’s civil war as forces loyal to President Bashar Assad advance. During a conference of foreign ministers in Qatar, he confirmed that the Obama administration is committed to a peace plan, which includes a conference in Geneva and a transitional government picked both by Assad and the opposition, AFP reports. Kerry stressed that the rebels need more support "for the purpose of being able to get to Geneva and to be able to address the imbalance on the ground." He also accused Assad of an "internationalization" of the conflict, which has claimed nearly 100,000 lives by involving support from Iran and the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah.
14:41
Seven die, 30 injured in Brazil bus crash
Seven people have died and 30 sustained injuries after a bus crashed in the city of Ceara in northeastern Brazil. The investigation has indicated that the driver fell asleep during the overnight trip.
13:44
Texas-based airline cancels 57 flights
A computer system failure led Southwest Airlines to ground its entire fleet of planes late on Friday due to a computer glitch, with a further 57 services cancelled on Saturday even after the problem had been resolved. 14 had been scheduled for Saturday morning, but crews had been unable to reach to their respective airports in time. 250 flights in total were grounded temporarily as a result of the glitch; those already in the air were not impacted by the system failure. The problems prevented the airline from checking passengers in, printing boarding passes, and monitoring aircraft weight.
13:37
Over 20 injured in train car crash in Germany
More than 20 were injured in a car incident in the German city of Bad Laasphe on Saturday. According to police, a train crashed into a truck as it was crossing the line. Police said that there is a traffic light but no barrier at the crossing. The train and truck drivers were seriously injured.
12:19
Arming rebels only way to peace in Syria – Qatar
The only way to achieve peace in Syria is to provide more weapons to the rebel forces fighting the government of President Bashar Assad, said Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani. "Force is necessary to achieve justice. And the provision of weapons is the only way to achieve peace in Syria's case," he told visitors of the “Friends of Syria” conference in Doha. Qatar is among the most vocal supporters of the Syrian rebels, and has been arming them since the early months of the conflict.
12:07
Nine killed in Iraq attacks
Separate attacks killed nine Iraqis on Saturday, sparking fears of a return to full-scale sectarian war in the country, which has seen months of protests by its Sunni minority. The deadliest attack took place in al-Athba village near the northern city of Mosul. A suicide bomber rammed his car into a police patrol, killing three civilian bystanders and one police officer and wounding six other people, AP reports, citing local police. In the in the ethnically-diverse town of Tuz Khurmatu, gunmen on motorcycles opened fire on a civilian vehicle carrying four off-duty policemen, killing three and wounding the fourth. Another group of militants attacked a police checkpoint in the city of Samarra, killing two police officers and wounding four.
11:47
5 dead in latest Mumbai building collapse
A four-story building collapsed on Saturday in Mumbai, India’s financial capital, killing five people. The tragedy, the second such incident in as many days, highlights poor construction practices widespread in the country, AFP reported. The dilapidated building, located in a market area in suburban Dahisar, was vacated two years ago but local vendors continued to use it as a night shelter, officials said. Rescue workers continue to clear the debris and search for survivors.
10:46
UNESCO grants World Heritage status to Mount Fuji
Japan's Mount Fuji, known for its cone-shaped volcano, has been granted World Heritage status, UNESCO said on Saturday. It is the highest mountain in Japan at 3,776 meters, and is one of the most recognizable sights in the country. Located 100 kilometers southwest of the capital Tokyo, it last erupted around 300 years ago. It is the seventeenth site in Japan to be inscribed by UNESCO.
10:01
More than 200 injured in huge Samara region explosion
More than 200 people sought medical help after explosions ripped through a munitions depot – where up to 13 million shells were stored – in Russia’s Samara region. Previous reports said that 50 people were injured. RUB43 million (approximately US$1.3 million) has been allocated as assistance to those affected by the blasts. The first explosion was heard on Tuesday, and they continued until Friday, prompting more than 6,000 residents to be evacuated from the town of Chapayevsk.
09:52
Hamas executes two Palestinians for spying for Israel
Hamas says that it has hanged two Palestinians who were found guilty of spying for Israel. The movement said that the convicts had been giving Intel to Tel Aviv for over a decade. Hamas has executed 16 Palestinians on espionage charges since taking control of the Gaza Strip in 2007. The latest executions were the first since April, when Hamas announced a month-long amnesty for informants.09:37
No decision yet on UK arming Syrian rebels – Hague
The British government has not yet taken a decision on providing weapons to Syrian rebels, said Foreign Secretary William Hague. "In the end, there is only a political solution for the conflict. We want to see a successful conference in Geneva," he added, speaking about the US-Russian proposal for a peace conference. Hague was speaking ahead of a "Friends of Syria" meeting in Qatar.
09:18
Further nuclear reduction possible with all possessing countries involved – Russia
Russia would discuss further strategic nuclear arms reduction if all countries possessing nuclear weapons were involved, said Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. He added that this includes not only the five members of the “nuclear club”, but all nations with the nuclear capability. The comment came after US President Barack Obama suggested that Russia and the US scrap one third of their strategic nuclear arsenals and possibly dismantle tactical nuclear weapons. The US, Russia, the UK, France, China, India, Pakistan, and North Korea officially have atomic weapons at the moment, and Israel is widely believed to have a secret nuclear arsenal.
09:02
US envoy arrives in Qatar for Taliban talks
US special representative on Afghanistan and Pakistan James Dobbins has arrived in Qatar’s capital Doha, where the Taliban opened a political office earlier this week, sparking outrage from the Afghan government. US Secretary of State John Kerry is also in Qatar, where he is to meet local officials and members of the “Friends of Syria” international conference. The State Department gave no timeline for Dobbins’s meeting with the Taliban representatives, and insists that Kerry will not meet with them.
08:14
At least 560 killed, thousands missing after India monsoon
Monsoon rains have triggered flash floods and landslides in northern India, killing at least 560 people and leaving tens of thousands missing, officials have said. The death toll is expected to rise. Many of the missing are pilgrims who were at the Ganges river, which is considered sacred by Hindus, when the disaster struck. Thousands of troops have been deployed to assist the rescue operations, and the air force has dispatched helicopters to pick up survivors. Officials say about 33,000 people have been rescued from the area.
06:48
More than 200 treated after Russia arsenal explosions
Russian doctors have treated more than 200 people following explosions at an arsenal in Russia’s Samara Region on Tuesday, where up to 13 million shells were stored, the Emergency Situations Ministry has reported. New statistics were released by the ministry on Saturday after it compiled new data from mobile emergency clinics set up in the wake of the disaster. “The victims of the blast have received a total of US$1.3 million”, Interfax quotes the ministry as saying. More than 1,500 firefighters were deployed to combat the blaze, which killed one person and forced thousands to flee. A total of 1,100 tons of water was used to fight the blaze, the ministry said.
06:32
Woman killed as storms hit South Dakota
Multiple tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, and hail moved across South Dakota, US, killing one woman and leaving thousands of residents without power. The 63-year-old woman was killed in her trailer parked by a lake, with the storm lifting the vehicle then dropping it to the ground. The woman was sheltering in the trailer’s bath at the time, AP reports. Two people have been injured in the storms, while a total of about 6,000 residents remained without power as of Friday evening, said Hamlin County Sheriff Chad Schlotterbeck.
06:01
Computer glitch grounds all Southwest Airlines flights
Southwest Airlines grounded all of it flights on Friday night due to a failure of computer system that dispatches flights. “A system outage has caused us to hold departing flights. Flights in the air are not affected by this. All hands on deck to resolve,” airline officials Tweeted. The system went down at around 04:00 GMT. The glitch has mainly affected the west coast due to the time when it occurred. Some passengers on aircraft that had departed from their gates were forced to sit for an hour before they were allowed to deplane, NBC quotes witnesses as saying. Southwest Airlines is one of the largest operators worldwide, with 550 aircraft in service as of August 2012.05:40
FBI monitored 'Mexico's most celebrated novelist' for decades
Newly unveiled documents reveal that the FBI spent two decades monitoring Mexican author Carlos Fuentes, fearing he was a Communist sympathetic to Cuban leader Fidel Castro. Dubbed “Mexico’s most celebrated novelist” by The Guardian, the documents reveal Fuentes was denied an entry visa to the US at least twice in the 1960s. The FBI’s stance softened over time, though, as an internal memo from 1985 mentions his authorial status. Fuentes would eventually go on to teach at Harvard University before passing away in 2012 at age 83.
03:02
Microsoft 'Project Mountain' to expand Iowa data center
Microsoft has proposed the construction of a $700 million data center in Des Moines, Iowa. Dubbed “Project Mountain,” the building will expand Microsoft’s existing Iowa presence from 50 jobs to roughly 74. The Iowa Development Authority board also approved a $20 million tax credit for for the tech corporation, which will now have invested more than $1 billion in the region. Des Moines is quickly becoming a hot spot for tech companies, offering cheap real estate and low energy costs. Facebook and Google currently have their own data centers in the area.
01:21
21 June, 2013
Facebook error exposed contact info for 6 million users
Facebook has admitted that a software bug has likely sent the email addresses and phone numbers of as many as 6 million users to other users without their authorization. The bug was evidently triggered by using the “Download Your Information” tool, which was designed to export a user’s data from Facebook. When downloading that data, it could have included contact information that would not normally have been available. The error was discovered and fixed last week, though it had existed since last year. "It's ... something we're upset and embarrassed by," Facebook said in a note published to its security blog. "We'll work doubly hard to make sure nothing like this happens again."
23:31
4 people shot in North Carolina shooting
Four people have been shot outside a Wal-Mart and local law firm in Greenville, North Carolina. Victims of the incident, which began around noon on Friday, were from both businesses. The first was an insurance adjustor, with three further victims at Wal-Mart. The suspect is in custody after being shot himself by police. The assailant was gunned down after he turned his weapon (confirmed to be a shotgun) on them, a local police chief told local station WNCT. His condition is currently unknown.
19:45
Syria complains to UN over five countries’ ‘support for terror’
Syria has lodged an official complaint with the United Nations that Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt and France are “supporting terrorists” and “destabilizing” the region, by financing, training and arming the opposition forces. Lebanon, concerned about the fighting in country spilling over to its territory, fired off a similar complaint to the UN Security Council earlier this week.
19:08
Thousands turn out in Cairo to support beleaguered President Morsi
Several thousand supporters of Egypt’s President Mohammed Morsi gathered in Cairo’s Nasr City, to show loyalty ahead of a massive anti-presidential rally planned for June 30, the first anniversary of Morsi’s election. Morsi’s supporters held banners accusing his opponents of “a coup against democracy” and saying “Yes - to the voice of the people”. His opponents, who claim to have gathered 13 million signatures demanding Morsi’s resignation, say the Islamist president has broken pre-election promises and attempted to take over all of Egypt’s institutions at the expense of other parties and social groups.
17:20
Syrian rebels claim to have ‘game-changing’ weapons
Syrian rebels have announced that they received new weapons that could change the ‘course of the battle’ against the regime of Bashar Assad, a spokesman for the Free Syrian Army told AFP Friday. The Friends of Syria group, which supports the Syrian rebels, is expected to announce in Doha that it will arm the opposition. FSA media and political coordinator spokesman Louay Muqdad hasn’t specified which weapons were received, but added that the new shipment of ‘deterrent weapons’ might come in days. That means anti-aircraft weapons, anti-tank weapons, as well as ammunition. The influx of arms comes after the US announced that it would provide ‘military support’ for the rebels.
16:43
India flooding death toll climbs to nearly 600
Heavy monsoon rains hit northern India, causing widespread flooding and killing nearly 600 people, rescue crews reported on Friday. Many are still trapped in their homes in at least 100 towns and villages. The air force has dropped paratroopers, food and medicine in a bid to aid survivors. Rescuers have already found 40 bodies in the Ganges River, and 556 bodies were found buried in mud in the northern state of Uttrakhand, the state’s Chief Minister reported. He also warned that the eventual death toll would like be hundreds higher after a search of the region is complete. The monsoon rains began on June 15, triggering floods and landslides in Uttarakhand and the neighboring state of Himachal Pradesh.
15:40
Greek coalition govt in disarray as leftist party withdraws over TV station's suspension
The Democratic Left party pulled out of Greece's ruling coalition on Friday after a collapse of talks to restore a state TV channel’s broadcasting rights, plunging the nation into fresh chaos. Legislators from the leftist party, angered by the shutdown of broadcaster ERT last week, chose to stop supporting Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, Reuters reported. Samaras' conservative New Democracy party and its Socialist PASOK ally together have 153 deputies, which gives them a majority in the country's 300-member parliament. Though the coalition could survive without the Democratic Left, the pullout will likely lead to further political turmoil. ERT workers have been operating a 24-hour ‘bootleg’ version of the channel on the Internet from their main offices, where workers and unions have been protesting the shutdown since last Tuesday.
13:08
Turkish military helicopter damaged in terrorist shooting
Four shots were fired at a Turkish armed forces helicopter late Thursday night, striking the windshield and partially damaging the aircraft. The shots were fired from the southeastern İkiyaka Mountains in an attack instigated by “terrorist groups,” according to the Turkish Armed Forces. The Gendarmerie Corps Commander of Public Security and the Third Division Commander were among those inside when the assault happened, but no casualties were reported. Although it remains unclear which terrorist group is responsible for the attack, a ceasefire with the Kurdistan Workers’ Pary (PKK) was declared on March 21, and the PKK’s armed militants withdrew from Turkish soil.
12:14
Italy’s Mount Etna becomes UNESCO World Heritage site
Italy's Mount Etna, one of the world's most "active and iconic" volcanoes, has become a UNESCO World Heritage site. Located in the east of Sicily, Etna is one of the most-studied volcano in the world and "continues to influence volcanology, geophysics and other earth science disciplines," UNESCO said. There are still periodic eruptions at the central crater. UNESCO is currently holding its 10-day annual meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
11:41
Magnitude-5.2 earthquake hits Italy, centered near Parma
A magnitude-5.2 earthquake has struck parts of northern and central Italy near Parma in the Emilia Romagna region. The earthquake’s epicenter was recorded at a depth of around 5 kilometers. No serious injuries or damage were immediately reported, though the tremors could be felt from Milano to Venice and the quake itself lasted a few seconds, according to local media. Fear of earthquakes in the region is high after two powerful quakes destroyed homes and businesses in the neighboring Emilia Romagna region in May 2012, killing 25 people.
11:41
Turkey to host 1 million Syrian asylum seekers by 2014: UN
Carol Batchelor, he representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Turkey, said they are anticipating the number of Syrian refugees to hit a new high of 3.5 million people; of that number, up to 1 million were likely to seek asylum in Turkey by the end of this year. “But if things keep going the way they have been going, indeed we have said that it may reach up to 3.5 million Syrian refugees in the region, of which there may be up to 1 million who would come to Turkey,” Batchelor told the Hürriyet Daily News. According to Navi Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, there were 92,901 killings through to the end of April documented in Syria since the fighting began over two years ago. The violence has produced an estimated 1.6 million refugees.
11:07
At least 14 killed, 30 injured in Peshawar seminary suicide blast
At least 14 people have been killed and over 30 injured in a suspected suicide attack in the Gulshan colony of Peshawar's Chamkini region. A suicide bomber blew himself up during prayers inside a madrassa on the outskirts of the city. Nearly 200 people were inside when the blast struck, Radio Pakistan reported. A loud blast was heard while the Friday sermon was underway, preceded by gunshots, Pakistan's Dawn.com reported. The 30 injured were reportedly rushed to Lady Reading Hospital. The number of casualties may grow, as several of the wounded were reportedly in critical condition.
09:56
Greek ruling coalition likely to lose Democratic Left party
Greece's Democratic Left party may withdraw from the country’s ruling coalition after negotiations to reopen a state TV channel have failed. Fourteen lawmakers from the leftist party expressed outrage at the recent shutdown of Greek broadcaster ERT, and are expected to decide whether to continue backing Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, who said he would press ahead without their support. His conservative New Democracy party and its Socialist PASOK ally jointly have 153 deputies, a majority of three in the country's 300-member parliament. Though their coalition could continue without the Democratic Left, losing the party could prove to be a major blow.
07:53
Military helicopter with at least 9 on board crashes in Nicaragua
A Nicaraguan military helicopter carrying at least nine soldiers has crashed into a lake northwest of the capital Managua, Reuters quoted army officials as saying. The Russian-made MI-17 helicopter was returning from a military mission. A rescue operation is underway and one body has been recovered so far, but all of the passengers are feared dead. Chief of staff Colonel Manuel Lopez, head of counterintelligence Colonel Chester Vargas and air defense chief Lieutenant Aldo Herrera are thought to have been on board, Itar-Tass reported. The cause of the crash was not immediately known.
05:18
100,000 evacuated in western Canada flooding
Flooding in western Canada has led authorities to issue evacuation notices to at least 100,000 people in Calgary, local media reported. With the city in a state of emergency, officials said that more communities might be affected by the floods and be forced to evacuate. Emergency centers are being set up to shelter evacuees. The last severe flood in Calgary happened in 2005, when about 40,000 homes and 1,500 residents were evacuated.
04:44
Ancestor to President Bush found to be major-league slave trader
The great-great-great grandfather to former US president George W. Bush was deeply entrenched in the slave trade, either personally leading or investing heavily in missions to kidnap Africans and bring them to America to work for no pay on plantations. The finding was discovered by retired journalist and genealogist Roger Hughes and historian Josepeh Opala, who compared the signature of ruthless slave trader Thomas Walker and the known Bush ancestor of the same name. The signatures, according to Slate, were nearly identical and often found at the bottom of letters where Walker would complain about the cost of his prisoners.
03:11
California judges order release of 10,000 prisoners
Three federal judges have demanded California Governor Jerry Brown prepare to release approximately 10,000 state prison inmates by the end of 2013. The 51-page order comes as state officials have “directly defied this Court’s” 2009 order to lower the prison population closer to 109,000 convicts. The overcrowding in California prisons is to the point where it violates the Constitutional right against cruel and unusual punishment, judges admitted. The court mandate suggests the state base its decision on which inmates to release on good behavior credits and, from there, determine the men and women who are least likely to commit more serious crimes.
01:22
20 June, 2013
Several injured by heavy storm in Switzerland
A heavy storm with winds of up to 130 kilometres an hour, with hail and heavy rain ravaged the western part Switzerland uprooting trees, disrupting transport, sparking flash floods and injuring at least 6 people, local media reported. Police fear more people have been injured. The storm hit the cities of Vaud, Bern, Neuchâtel, Jura and Basel. Traffic at Geneva’s airport was disrupted and streets were flooded from the heavy rain, the ATS news agency reported. Vehicle and building windows were broken and hail also caused damage to vineyards.
23:56
Obama picks Republican to head FBI
President Obama has announced James Comey, who will officially be nominated on Friday, as the next director of the FBI. Comey will be succeeding Robert Mueller, a Republican who served as deputy attorney general in the George W. Bush administration, and who has been FBI director since just prior to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Civil liberties groups took news of the appointment cautiously, with the ACLU releasing a statement emphasizing Comey’s connection to the torture and indefinite detention policies that began during the Bush administration. News of Comey’s nomination is likely to be well received by Democrats in Congress, however, as he was lauded for urging former attorney general John Ashcroft not to authorize a classified domestic wiretapping program.
20:45
All-female jury chosen for Zimmerman trial
A jury of six women will decide the fate of George Zimmerman accused of second-degree murder in the death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Florida last year. "This is probably as critical, if not more critical than the evidence," Mark O'Mara, Zimmerman's attorney, said. Neighborhood watch Zimmerman has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder, saying he killed the teen in self-defense. The prosecutors say Zimmerman confronted Martin because he was an African American.
20:01
Bank of Tokyo to pay NY state $250 million
New York State is set to receive $250 million from the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ after deleting information from $100 billion in wire transfers that authorities would have been able to use to monitor transactions with sanctioned-imposed countries like Iran. The bank moved some 28,000 transactions through New York between 2002 and 2007 intended to end up with countries including Iran and Sudan, or institutions linked to them, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo told Reuters. Wire transfers usually flag transactions for sanctioned countries, but the bank stripped the transfers of the details. The bank said that it discovered and reported the activities in 2007, and ceased to allow the stripping of the information.
19:52
Two die in fireworks plant explosions and fire in Montreal, Canada
Two people have been killed after a series of explosions at a fireworks plant near Montreal. The two dead are believed to be employees of fireworks maker BEM. Dozens of people have been evacuated from nearby areas as a precaution after the fire erupted. A highway connecting Montreal and Toronto was also closed as well as a train line between Montreal and Ottawa.
18:57
Iran seizes two UAE fishing boats, detains 13
Twelve UAE nationals and one Indian have been detained by Iran, as they tried to cross into what the country claims was its territorial waters in the Persian Gulf, the Press TV reported Thursday. The UAE vessels have been detected by the Iranian forces at Abu Musa Marine Patrol Base while fishing in the Gulf. The arrested people were transferred to a military dock, but no further details were given. The disputed islands of Abu Musa, Greater and Lesser Tunb are claimed by both countries but have been held by Iran since 1971
18:37
Palestinian PM resigns after two weeks in the office – source
Recently appointed Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah has offered his resignation to President Mahmoud Abbas, a government source said. It is unclear if the acting president accepted Hamdallah’s resignation, and the reasons for the move are unknown. Hamdallah, a senior academic, was sworn in on June 6 to replace Salam Fayyad, who resigned in April.
12:34
Kuwait to hold more snap elections in July
Kuwait will hold another round of snap parliamentary elections on July 25, state news agency Kuna said. The current Kuwaiti legislature has been in office for seven months following the most recent early elections in December 2012 – three months shorter than the term of the previous national assembly, which was voted in by snap elections in February 2012. This is the fifth time since 2006 that Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, a member of the Al-Sabah family that has ruled Kuwait for 250 years, has disbanded parliament.
11:53
10 sentenced to death in Bangladesh for assisting suicide bomber
A court in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka has sentenced 10 Islamist militants to death after they were found guilty of helping a suicide bomber. "They assisted the suicide bomber in making the bomb, providing information, planning and carrying out the attack," special public prosecutor Rafiqul Islam told AFP. The attack on the office of a lawyers' association in the town of Gazipur in November 2005 was carried out by the outlawed Jamayetul Mujahideen Bangladesh movement, killing eight people including the bomber and injuring at least 100 others.
11:35
N. Korean cyber-espionage must be tackled ‘urgently’ – Seoul
North Korean cyber-attacks against the South pose an urgent national security threat, South Korean Defense chief Kim Kwan-jin said during a press conference, adding that Seoul will now work to counter the North’s capabilities. The official stressed that the North boasts one of the best-trained cyber-espionage services in the world, with a dedicated team of roughly 3,000 highly trained hackers.
11:09
Israel ‘ready for renewal of border talks’ – PM Netanyahu
Israel is ready to renew peace talks with the Palestinians without preconditions. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's comments came during a meeting with EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton. He said that Israel is ready to renew negotiations “today, yesterday, tomorrow,” expressing hopes that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas would do the same and that Europe would support the joint effort. Abbas maintains that in order for the talks to proceed, Israel must withdraw to its pre-1967 borders and cease building settlements in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem.
10:28
Magnitude-5.0 quake hits China
A 5.0-magnitude quake rattled the junction zone between the city of Hulunbuir in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Nenjiang county of Heilongjiang Province, the China Earthquake Networks Center reported. The epicenter was recorded at a depth of 6km, at 49.8 degrees north latitude and 125.2 degrees east longitude, according to Xinhua news agency. No reports have emerged on injuries or property damage caused by the tremor.
08:51
China restaurant blasts kills one, injures over 150
A series of explosions tore through a restaurant in China's Shanxi province on Wednesday night, killing one person and injuring over 150 others, authorities said. The incident occurred in a two-storey building housing the restaurant in Shuozhou city, Xinhua reported. Among the 156 injured are dozens of firefighters who were at the scene when the final blast took place. Witnesses said they heard the first explosion around 9:20 pm, and that they also smelled gas. The cause of the explosions has not been confirmed.
06:31
Monsoon flooding kills 182 in India, rescue operations ongoing
Thousands of people are still stranded by flash floods in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand, where the death toll has risen to 182. It is believed that over 62,000 pilgrims are stranded in the hilly state. Over 10,000 army personnel, 18 helicopters and an Air Force transport plane have been deployed for relief and rescue operations, as residents across the region are stranded at tourist spots and pilgrim centers, the Hindustan Times reported. With the weather set to improve, the government is moving to supply additional emergency food to the flood-stricken region.
05:44
19 Uighurs jailed in China for religious extremism
China has sentenced 19 ethnic Uighurs in the western region of Xinjiang to up to six years in jail for promoting racial hatred and religious extremism online, Reuters reported, citing official newspaper Legal Daily. Uighurs are a Turkic-speaking Muslim people who mainly reside in Xinjiang, and many complain they lack cultural, language and religious freedoms. China maintains that many Uighur groups are linked to Central Asian and Pakistani Islamist militants. One of the suspects was jailed for publishing religious and extremist materials from overseas via the Internet. Another suspect visited banned websites to download material that "whipped up religious fervor and preached 'holy war'" and "whipped up ethnic enmity,” Legal Daily wrote on their website. "This created a despicable effect on society," it said, citing the court ruling.
Nearly 200,000 construction workers strike in Quebec
Over 175,000 construction workers across Quebec, Canada's second-largest province, walked off the job this week, beginning the first province-wide strike in nearly 20 years. Organizers said the strike was approved by a 95 per cent union vote, with workers attempting to preserve their wages and fend off steep cuts to overtime pay. The show of solidarity froze billions of dollars’ worth of building projects, including two hospitals and condominium developments in Montreal, where business owners can usually count on millions of dollars in profit over the summer. The Quebec government put a two-week deadline on the demonstration, with lawmakers saying they will attempt to arbitrate a solution if an agreement is not met in that time.
02:12
19 June, 2013
22 killed in Islamist attack on UN compound in Somalia
An assault on a UN compound in Somalia has left at least 22 people dead. Islamist group al Shabaab claimed responsibility for the assault in which a car bomb exploded outside the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) center. A fierce battle erupted with security personal as gunmen tried to force themselves into the compound. Soldiers from the African Union force were sent in armored vehicles to take control of the territory after a 90 minute gunfight. Local guards and insurgent fighters were also among those killed in Wednesday’s attack, including seven civilians.
20:38
Dolce&Gabbana sentenced to prison for tax dodge
The founders of the famous fashion house Dolce&Gabbana have been sentenced to one year and eight months in jail for tax evasion of 200 million euros ($268 million), an Italian court ruled on Wednesday. The court in Milan also ordered the fashion house to pay a fine of 500,000 euros to Italian national tax agency. The lawyers for the duo immediately said they would appeal. Dolce&Gabbana fashion house was accused of having transferred control of their brands to a shell company, located in Luxembourg, in 2004 and 2005 to avoid paying taxes in Italy.
17:15
2 injured as protests continue in Brazil
At least two demonstrators are reported to be injured in clashes with police near the stadium in the Brazilian city of Fortaleza on Wednesday. About 10,000 protesters threw stones at the security forces, who used tear gas and rubber bullets in return. One person suffered an eye injury and another was taken away on a stretcher. The protesters march against government spending on the World Cup and the Olympics. Brazil was to play a Confederations Cup match with Mexico later in the stadium.
17:06
Friends of Syria to meet in Doha on Saturday
The foreign ministers from eleven countries, which form the core group of the Friends of Syria, will meet on Saturday in Doha to discuss help for the Free Syrian Army, a French foreign ministry official reported Wednesday. The meeting will be held after recent successful operations performed by government forces. Representatives of France, the United States, Britain, Egypt and Saudi Arabia will take part in the discussion, the official added, speaking on condition of anonymity.
16:11
Elderly woman killed by floods in southwestern France
An elderly woman has been killed in flash floods in southwestern France. A woman in her seventies was washed away overnight by floodwaters after getting out of her submerged car at Saint Beat near Lourdes. Her husband was rescued by firefighters. Lourdes is a popular tourist destination that attracts millions of visitors every year. Due to the flooding, the Roman Catholic pilgrimage site of Lourdes has been closed, and tourists in the town were relocated from hotels to higher ground.
13:00
Reports that US is ready for war in Syria ‘exaggerated’ – Obama
Reports that the US is readying to intervene militarily in the Syrian civil war have been called ‘exaggerated’ by US President Barack Obama. “Some of the stories that have been out there publicly have gotten a little overcranked in terms of the idea that somehow the United States is preparing to go all in and participate in another war. What we want to do is end a war,” he stated publicly on Wednesday. He also confidently reiterated US claims that the Syrian government has used chemical weapons, noting Russia’s skepticism on account of the lack of evidence in the public sphere.
12:34
N. Korea slams ‘Mein Kampf’ accusation
North Korea has harshly criticized a report that its leader Kim Jong-un handed out copies of Hitler’s ‘Mein Kampf’ to senior officials on his birthday in January. The report was posted on News International, a website run by North Korean defectors, which cited an anonymous but supposedly ‘trusted source.’ Pyongyang threatened that it is “determined to take substantial measures to physically remove” the report’s writers, who they labeled “human scum.” The report has been called a “smear campaign,” with the aim of holding back the country’s progress. Hitler wrote the book in the early 1920s, chronicling his early life and political ideology, including his nascent anti-Semitism.
12:28
48 dead in a militant attack in northern Nigeria
Unidentified gunmen have killed 48 people in an attack on the small town of Kizara in northern Nigeria, AFP reported. Further details are not available at this time. Earlier on Tuesday, nine students were killed in Nigeria's northeastern city of Maiduguri when suspected Islamist militants belonging to Boko Haram opened fire in the second such deadly attack on schools in three days.
11:47
Russia urges West to pressure Syrian rebels to join talks
Western nations must use their clout with the Syrian rebels to convince them to participate in the planned peace conference in Geneva, just as Russia did with the Syrian government, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said. Unlike Damascus, the rebels did not agree to attend, to present their negotiators or to unveil a platform that they would bring to the table, Gatilov stressed. “The ball is in our partners’ court now and we expect them to actively work with the opposition,” he said.
11:00
Syrian rebels claim Lebanon attack
A Syrian rebel group has claimed responsibility for killing four Shiites in Lebanon this week. The men were killed as they attempted to enter Syria, the group said in a video statement, adding that the four were Hezbollah fighters. Another video posted by the same group showed IDs and weapons that the four were allegedly carrying. Hezbollah voiced public support for the Syrian government last month and sent fighters to aid in their battle against the rebels.
10:20
Gunmen, suicide bomber attack UN office in Somalia
A suicide bomber and several gunmen attacked an office of the United Nations Development Program in the Somali capital Mogadishu, a senior police officer and a witness told Reuters. "A suicide bomber blew himself up at the gate of the UNDP and then several armed fighters went in and opened fire inside," police official Abdikadir Mohamed said. The UNDP compound is only several hundred meters from the city's fortified airport that serves as the main base for an African peacekeeping force battling Islamist militants in the country.
09:42
Singapore air pollution hits 16-year high
Singapore's main indicator of air quality moved into the ‘unhealthy’ range after smoke from fires on Indonesia's Sumatra Island wafted across the sea and cast a gray pall over the city-state's skyline. The readings on the Pollutant Standards Index held steady between 104 and 123 on Tuesday. An ‘unhealthy’ measurement is between 101 and 200. The index hit 155 on Monday night, the worst pollution reading since it soared to 226 in late 1997. Smoke haze is an annual headache for Singapore, often beginning midyear when farmers in Indonesia clear land by igniting fires. This sometimes causes diplomatic strains, with Singapore calling on Indonesia to do more to prevent illegal burning.
06:51
Afghan Taliban claim killing of 4 US troops
The Taliban have claimed responsibility for an attack in Afghanistan that killed four US soldiers, just hours after the militant group said it would hold talks with the US on finding a political solution to ending the country’s nearly 12-year war. Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid said on Wednesday that the insurgent group launched two rockets into the Bagram Air Base late Tuesday, AP reported. US officials confirmed the military base had come under attack by indirect fire and that four US troops were killed. The attack highlights the challenges ahead, after the Taliban and the US announced they would hold talks in Qatar as early as this week in an effort to end the violence while Washington prepares to withdraw its forces from Afghanistan next year.
06:42
Body of Todashev flown to Russia after FBI slaying
The body of Ibragim Todashev, a man of Chechen origin who lived in the US and was killed by FBI agents while being questioned about the Boston Marathon bombings, was flown home to Russia almost a month after he was fatally shot. Todashev, 27, lived in Orlando and was a friend of accused Boston Marathon bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev, the Boston Globe reported. During a final interview about their relationship, Todashev was shot multiple times and killed by an agent who said the man attacked him. The details of the incident remain classified. Todashev’s family has faced delays in shipping his body back to Russia as the FBI has yet to release his green card and passport, which made booking a flight difficult.
06:21
9 students killed in suspected Islamist attack in Nigeria
Nine students were killed in Nigeria's northeastern city of Maiduguri when suspected Islamist militants opened fire in the second such deadly attack on schools in three days. "I saw five students sitting the exams killed on the spot. Four others were killed as they were entering the school premises," witness Ibrahim Mohammed told Reuters. Boko Haram, whose name means ‘Western education is sinful,’ has attacked several schools in the past. Seven students, two teachers and two insurgents were killed when the militants attacked a school in the town of Damaturu on Sunday. Although Nigerian forces claim their month-long offensive has helped them wrest control of the country’s remote northeast from Boko Haram, the two latest attacks raise concerns that the offensive has only pushed the militants into hiding.
05:25
Blasts at Russian ammo depot end
Russian emergency services have reported that a string of blasts at an ammunition depot in the Samara region have ended, after the base first caught fire on Tuesday. The assessment was made after no blasts were reported for about two hours. There are two sites where the fire continues, but both have been contained by firefighters.
04:58
US House passes late-term abortion bill with incest
The US House of Representatives has adopted legislation that would ban late-term abortions. The bill is designed to make it illegal to terminate a pregnancy after 20 weeks after fertilization, but would exempt victims of rape or incest on the condition that they first report the crime to authorities. With the Democrat-controlled Senate and the threat of a White House veto, the Republican-designed bill, observers argue, is likely to fail.
00:33
Indian high court rules couples who engage in premarital sex are ‘married’
The Madras High Court with jurisdiction over more than 70 million Indian residents living within the states of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry has determined that any unmarried couples of the proper legal age that “indulge in sexual gratification” will be considered married. According to the court’s ruling, if an unmarried man of at least 21 years of age and an unmarried woman of 18 consummate their relationship it will become “a total commitment with adherence to all consequences that may follow, except on certain exceptional considerations.” Justice CS Karnan passed the order on Monday while overseeing the appeal of an unmarried woman who was seeking financial support from the man who had fathered two children with her.
01:5018 June, 2013
Four US troops killed as peace talks announced
Four US soldiers were killed in Afghanistan Tuesday, just hours after officials announced top State Department brass would begin peace talks with the Taliban. The Americans were hit by “indirect fire,” US officials said, from insurgents at Bagram air base, located not far from Kabul, the location of the largest US military base in Afghanistan. A precondition for the peace talks was for the Taliban to stop attacking US troops and members of Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s administration. Also included was the requirement that the Taliban renounce al-Qaeda, although that condition was withdrawn. On Tuesday NATO forces passed responsibility for the security of the entire country entirely to Afghan security forces.
23:40
McDonald's faces class action lawsuit over use of prepaid debit cards for wages
A class action lawsuit has been filed against the owners of McDonald’s stores in the state of Pennsylvania over their strict policy of compensating employees via a payroll debit card, which plaintiffs allege came with a slew of extra fees. According to Natalie Gunshannon, a former employee, when she requested to be paid by check instead of a JP Morgan Chase payroll card she was told the card was the only way for her to receive her wages. Gunshannon, a single mother who earned $7.44 per hour, says the payroll card forced her to incur fees for ATM withdrawals, over-the-counter cash withdrawals, and even to check her balance. The payroll debit card system has also been embraced by companies such as Walmart, Lowe’s, The Home Depot and FedEx Corp.
22:12
Libya exclusion law to violates rights - UN
A new law introduced in Libya which bans anyone linked to the Gaddafi regime from power is in violation of political and civil rights, the UN’s envoy to the African country said Tuesday. Tarek Mitri, also told the UN Security Council that despite strong political support, the new legislature jeopardizes the state institutions following the 2011 civil war. “This escalation in exerting pressure set a dangerous precedent in its resort to the use of military force in order to extract political concessions,” Mitri said.
5.6 magnitude quake hits Peru's capital
A 5.6 magnitude earthquake has rocked Lima the capital of Peru, Peru's geological survey reported. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damages from the quake. The epicenter was located in the Pacific Ocean about 73 kilometers west of the city.
18:20
Brazil's president praises peaceful protests
Brazil's president said that the voices of thousands of protestors rallying across the country must be heard, AFP reports. "My government is listening to these voices for change,” President Dilma Rousseff said in an address at the presidential palace. "My government wants to broaden access to education and health, understands that the demands of the people change," she added. The demonstrations were triggered by the increase in public transportation costs and the cost of hosting sporting events such as the World Cup. The protesters took to the streets of major cities across Brazil starting last week. The rallies are reportedly the biggest protests the country has seen in decades.
17:11
UN chief urges ‘maximum restraint’ in Turkey
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed dismay at the violent confrontations in Turkey between Turkish security forces and protesters demonstrating against Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan. The Secretary General “urged maximum restraint” and the pursuit of constructive dialogue to avoid any further violent confrontation in the country, Reuters cites a UN spokesman as saying. Erdogan has dismissed international criticism over force used to stamp out the nationwide demonstrations, vowing he would increase police powers to deal with the unrest.
16:49
Suicide bomber kills 30 in Pakistan
30 killed by a suicide bomber at a funeral of a businessman in Mardan in the northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan, police said. A provincial legislator Imran Mohmand was killed in the bombing. The legislator, formerly associated with Awami National Party known for its anti-Taliban stance, was allegedly the target of the bombing. The province was previously controlled by the ANP before politician Imran Khan won a majority there in May. Khan's party favor holding talks with the Taliban. A Taliban spokesman denied to comment whether its militants were responsible for the bombing.
14:13
Double suicide bomb attack kills at least 31 in Iraq
At least 31 people have been killed and 57 wounded in two apparently coordinated suicide bomb attacks in the Iraqi capital, according to police. The first blast occurred at a checkpoint about 100 meters from a Shiite Muslim mosque in northern Baghdad. The second suicide bomber detonated himself just minutes later inside the building, among worshipers who were gathering for the prayer, a local policeman told Reuters. There has been a rise in sectarian attacks in Iraq in recent months, with May becoming the deadliest month since 2006-2007 sectarian war: over 1,000 people were killed.
Israel freezes new buildings in West Bank settlements
Israel has halted the construction of new buildings in settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, according to Housing Minister Uri Ariel. The step will not impact construction that is already underway, he added. Settlement construction on territory that the Palestinians seek as part of an independent state was the main reason for the breakdown of US-sponsored talks in 2010, and has been cited as a stumbling block in Secretary of State John Kerry's latest bid to restart negotiations.
10:11
Yahoo reports 13,000 data requests from US law enforcement
Yahoo has reported that US law enforcement agencies made 12-13,000 requests for data between December 2012 and May 31, 2013. "The most common of these requests concerned fraud, homicides, kidnappings, and other criminal investigations," Yahoo said, stating that the remaining requests were made under the US Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
08:36
Death toll from MERS virus climbs to 32
Four more people have died from the MERS virus in Saudi Arabia, bringing the death toll from the disease to 32, according to the country’s health ministry. Two people died in the western city of Taif, with the other two were pronounced dead in Eastern Province, where most of the infections so far have been reported. Three more cases have also been confirmed of the virus dubbed MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus) by the World Health Organization.
08:01
State-owned Greek radio, TV broadcaster ERT reopens after court win
Greek broadcaster ERT is set to reopen following its shutdown by the government a few days ago. Authorities insisted that the closure of the 75-year-old broadcaster was a temporary measure aimed at reforming the company and re-launching it in a more efficient form, citing overstaffing and wasted public money as the reasons for the move. The closure triggered a 24-hour strike and mass protests.
06:17
President Karzai announces Afghan security takeover
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has announced that the nascent Afghan armed forces will be taking over for NATO in the fight against the country’s Taliban insurgency. A ceremony was held to mark the transfer of security responsibilities of the last 95 districts from NATO control.This will be the first time since the invasion of Afghanistan by the Soviet Union in 1989 that security responsibilities will be completely under Afghan control. The full withdrawal of alliance troops is scheduled for 2014.
06:05
Arrest of Montreal Mayor dents Canada’s no-corruption record
A Quebecois anti-corruption task force arrested Montreal Mayor Michael Applebaum on Monday over fraud allegations, tarnishing Canada’s image as a corruption-free country. Since 2006, Canada has placed on Transparency International’s yearly top-10 corruption perception index. Meanwhile, Rob Ford, the mayor of Toronto, Canada’s biggest city, is being investigated for allegations he smoked crack cocaine, and Canadian PM Stephen Harper is dealing with the fallout of a recent Senate expenses scandal.
05:32
Bombs blast strikes Kabul amid security handover
A bomb exploded in the Afghan capital Kabul as NATO forces handed over security responsibilities to Afghanistan’s nascent national army. The attack targeted the convoy of Afghanistan’s second vice president Mohammed Mohaqiq, destroying one police vehicle, a police officer told AFP. There were no immediate reports of casualties. Alliance forces are due to complete the security handover by 2014.
02:28
Navy football players to be charged with rape - report
Three football players at the US Naval Academy will be charged with the rape of a female midshipman, according to a report from the Capital Gazette. The three men are accused of raping the younger cadet after a night of partying at the school, which is governed by military law, in Annapolis, Maryland in April of 2012. The female cadet said she was forced to take her allegations public after the Academy “brushed away” her complaints and she was “ostracized” on campus. The three suspects could face a court-martial. Sexual assault has been described as “rampant” in every branch of the US military, with President Obama and Congressional leaders calling for a solution to the epidemic.
US continues purchasing Russian helicopters for Afghans
The US Defense Department announced Monday it will buy 30 Russian-made military helicopter to be used by Afghan security forces, Reuters reported Monday. The aircraft will cost $572 million and be used for counter-narcotics, special operations, and anti-terrorism measures in the Middle Eastern nation. Russia has long sold the Pentagon aircraft, fulfilling an “urgent, near-term need to purchase MI-17 helicopters,” a Defense Department announced earlier this year after a previous order was made public. The MI-17 was first introduced by the Soviet Union in 1977 but has found consistent use in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan, where US troops have used it in training exercises.
