The EU warned Italy, France and six other countries Wednesday that they risk breaching the bloc’s tough public spending rule next year, putting particular pressure on Rome to deliver reforms. Spain, Portugal and Belgium were also in the EU’s cross-hairs for bloated budgets, with their governments still working on spending plans for 2020 after holding … Read more
…….Confirms ‘Pride’ In Being Catholic Pope Francis is traveling to countries where Catholics make up a small percentage of the population. At a time when isolationism is spreading and dialogue has become rare, the pope, who arrived in Thailand on Wednesday, has made it his mission to use such trips to foster understanding between faiths. … Read more
President of the General Assembly (PGA), Amb. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, says the United Nations must continue to insist on protection of the freedom of expression and association around the world. Muhammad-Bande stated this at an interactive session with representatives of civil society organisations at the UN headquarters in New York on Monday. He noted that there … Read more
President Donald Trump said Monday he is “strongly” considering accepting a challenge from opposition Democrats to testify in his own impeachment investigation. After the speaker of the lower house, Nancy Pelosi, upped the ante by suggesting that Trump come forward to tell the “truth,” the Republican president said he was keen. Pelosi suggested “that I … Read more
U.S. President Donald Trump lashed out on Sunday at another witness in Congress’ impeachment inquiry against him, saying the aide to Vice President Mike Pence was a “Never Trumper” who should “work out a better presidential attack.” Writing on Twitter, Trump was scornful of Jennifer Williams, a foreign policy aide to Pence who testified earlier … Read more
Democratic presidential candidates have given their reaction to a warning by former President Barack Obama against moving too far left in politics. Although Obama did not mention anyone by name, the message he delivered before a room of Democratic donors in Washington on Friday was a clear word of caution about the candidacies of Senators … Read more
BBC News presenter Tazeen Ahmad has passed away at the age of 48, her family have confirmed. Her cause of death is yet to be confirmed. The BBC News and Dispatches presenter has died, and her brothers have confirmed the tragic news with a statement, saying: “We remain immensely proud of all she achieved – … Read more
A night-time earthquake in northwestern Iran on Friday killed five people and injured 120, according to early reports on state television. The 5.9-magnitude quake struck about 120 kilometres (75 miles) southeast of the city of Tabriz, in East Azerbaijan Province, in the early hours of the morning, the Iranian Seismological Center said. Described as “moderate”, … Read more
Pro-Beijing lawmaker, Junius Ho, was on Wednesday morning stabbed while campaigning in his constituency for the upcoming Hong Kong district council elections. A video widely circulated online shows the attack on Ho in the far-north town of Tuen Mun. The footage shows a man handing Ho a bouquet of flowers while asking for a photo … Read more
A former officer in Saddam Hussein’s army has reportedly taken over as the leader of ISIS after the death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Abdullah Qardash,known as the Professor is believed to have assumed control of the day-to-day running of the jihadi group. Baghdadi was killed when US forces swooped on his compound in northwestern Syria … Read more
At least four people were killed and nearly 50 injured Sunday after police fired on thousands of Bangladeshi Muslims protesting a Facebook post by a Hindu who allegedly defamed the Prophet Mohammed, officials said. Mob attacks over Facebook posts perceived to be blasphemous have emerged as a major headache for security forces in Bangladesh, where … Read more
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday (local time) strongly condemned the attack on a mosque in northern Burkina Faso , which killed at least 15 worshipers. The attack took place in the village of Salmossi in the northern province of Oudalan on Friday evening (local time) but was not reported until Saturday (local time), according … Read more
The US is poised to evacuate about 1000 troops from northern Syria, Defence Secretary Mark Esper says. The withdrawal of the troops from the region comes after US President Donald Trump abruptly shifted policy and withdrew some US troops deployed to support Kurdish forces in the fight against Islamic State. That decision in turn helped … Read more
In the U.S, a wildfire just outside of Los Angeles has forced tens of thousands to evacuate. Around 25 homes have burned so far. The blaze has consumed nearly 2000 hectares. In just a matter of hours, this latest blaze consumed hundreds of hectares in Southern California’s San Fernando Valley. The fires broke out … Read more
The acting secretary of US Homeland security, Kevin McAleenan submitted his resignation to the White House on Friday, announced President Donald Trump. He was the fourth person to serve in the post since the Trump presidency began, CNN reported. ” Kevin McAleenan has done an outstanding job as Acting Secretary of Homeland Security. We have … Read more
According to The Japan Times , the typhoon is now packing gusts of up to 216km/h as of 10am Japan time (9am Singapore time), and has been forecast to bring winds of the same speed into the Tokyo area, when it fully makes landfall in the evening. Additionally, over 1,000mm of rain is expected to … Read more
Two rockets struck an Iranian tanker traveling through the Red Sea off the coast of Saudi Arabia on Friday, Iranian officials said, the latest incident in the region amid months of heightened tensions between Tehran and the U.S. There was no word from Saudi Arabia on the reported attack, and Saudi officials did not immediately … Read more
No fewer than two people have been killed and several others injured after gunmen opened fire outside a synagogue in Germany. Jews were marking Yom Kippur (or the Day of Atonement, which is the holiest day in Judaism, marked with an intensive 25-hour period of fasting and prayer), when two attackers, believed to be wearing … Read more
The family of former Dutch Minister Ella Vogelaar on Wednesday reported that she committed suicide at the age of 69. The family said in a statement that Vogelaar has been suffering from depression for quite some time and has finally put an end to her life. Vogelaar was chair of Oxfam Novib, the largest Dutch … Read more
US-based researcher John B. Goodenough, born in 1922 in Jena, Germany, became the oldest Nobel laureate ever awarded a Nobel Prize in any category, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced on Wednesday. Mr Goodenough is a few months older than 2018 Physics Prize laureate Arthur Ashkin, said Goran K Hansson, permanent secretary of the … Read more