International News rolls of today
US Navy ship rescues 128 migrants near Malta
A US Navy ship rescued 128 men from a raft after it was spotted in the Mediterranean Sea by a Maltese patrol aircraft, Reuters reported. The USS San Antonio, an amphibious transport dock ship, was called to the scene in the central Mediterranean late on Tuesday, US Navy authorities in Italy said. The men are due to be transferred to Maltese vessels later in the day. More than 550 migrants are feared drowned after two separate disasters this month.
08:49
Bosnia arrests 8 Serbs suspected of war crimes
Police in Bosnia have detained eight Serb men suspected of taking part in looting, expulsions and killing of civilians during the country’s 1992-95 war, AP reports. The men were arrested in the eastern town of Rogatica where the alleged crimes were committed in September 1992, the prosecutor’s office said Thursday. One of the men is suspected of gunning down 20 Muslim civilians. Some 100,000 people were reportedly killed in the Bosnian War.
08:11
Geneva 2 conference on Syria to be held Nov 23-24 – Damascus
An international conference on Syria is scheduled to be held November 23-24, the country’s Deputy Prime Minister Qadri Jamil said on Thursday. He named the dates when he was asked at a news conference in Moscow whether plans for the ‘Geneva 2’ conference had been changed from mid-November to late November or December, Reuters reported. Moscow and Washington have been trying to organize the conference, aimed at bringing the Syrian government and opposition together, since May.
07:24
15 killed in north Iraq in suicide bomber attack
A suicide bomber detonated an explosives-rigged vehicle in a village in northern Iraq on Thursday, killing 15 people, police said. The blast hit a residential area of Al-Muwaffaqiyah, east of Mosul, mainly populated by members of the small Shabak minority. With the latest attack, more than 330 people have been killed so far this month, and over 5,000 since the beginning of the year, according to AFP figures.
06:17
2 small bombs kill 1, injure several in eastern Myanmar
Two small bombs have exploded in eastern Myanmar, killing one person and wounding several others, police said. The bombs went off in Namkham, the northern part of Shan state late Wednesday and early Thursday, AP reported. They may have been time bombs, according to police officers. Ten small bombs in the last week killed three people.
05:26
Fire levels Thai tourist mall
A major fire has destroyed a store on the Thai resort island of Phuket, The Bangkok Post reported. There were hundreds of shoppers and over 1,000 staff members in the building at the moment the blaze started, but remarkably no deaths were reported in the wake of the incident, local officials said. The fire has leveled the SuperCheap store and damages several surrounding buildings, including a wood factory.
00:49
Greenpeace activists block off pipeline terminal in Canada
Greenpeace activists staged a protest by blocking Canada’s Trans Mountain pipeline in Burnaby, British Columbia on Wednesday. Several activists blocked off the entrance to Kinder Morgan’s pipeline terminal. Two of the protestors climbed onto the oil piping mechanism. The activists were demonstrating against plans to nearly triple the pipeline’s capacity from 300,000 barrels a day to 890,000. No ships are scheduled to arrive at the terminal on Wednesday, so the protest had a minimal impact on the terminal’s operations, Kinder Morgan spokesperson Andrew Galamyk told CBC News. “Our focus today is the safety of our staff, the facilities, the protesters and the community. We respect the rights of protesters to advance their cause but in this case we are very concerned about this trespass and disturbance,” Galamyk said.
US debt crises have cost US economy 900,000 jobs – study
A gridlocked US Congress that has caused multiple debt default threats and a government shutdown in recent years have cost the US economy around 900,000 jobs and raised the unemployment rate by around 0.6 percent, a new study reports. The study by Macroeconomic Advisers asserted that even a short-lived delay in raising the debt ceiling this week could eventually cause unemployment to go to 8.5 percent from 7.3 percent, costing 2.5 million jobs. “Partisan divided government has failed to address our long-term fiscal challenges sensibly, instead encouraging policy that is short-sighted, arbitrary, and driven by calendar-based crises,” Joel Prakken of Macroeconomic Advisers said in a press release. The study was commissioned by the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, a high-profile opponent to US long-term deficits.
22:28
Facebook lifts restrictions on who teens can share posts with
Facebook announced Wednesday it will remove restrictions that limited who could see teenagers’ postings on the social networking site. Teens can now manually change their privacy settings, whereas their posts were previously shielded from all but their Facebook friends and friends of friends. “Teens are among the savviest people using of social media, and whether it comes to civic engagement, activism, or their thoughts on a new movie, they want to be heard,” Facebook said announcing the changes. Competition from other social media sites and an increasing generation gap on Facebook have led to some data that show younger Americans are staying away from the 9-year-old networking site.
21:58
UK families of Greenpeace activists appeal to Russia for expedite solution
The families of the British detainees of the Arctic 30 met with UK Foreign Office officials on Wednesday and appealed to Russian authorities to free the arrested protesters as soon as possible. Russian security forces detained 28 Greenpeace activists and two freelance journalists aboard the group’s ship on September 19 following a protest of the state-controlled Gazprom offshore oil platform. The Arctic 30, as they became known, were charged with piracy and face up to 15 years in jail if found guilty. The family members of those arrested are hoping that the matter could be resolved before it reaches the court. “We have to hope that there will be some diplomatic or political solution before then,” Andy Bryan, father of freelance journalist Kieron Bryan – who was hired by Greenpeace to document the demonstration – told the Guardian. “That’s got to be our main hope.”
21:51
Monsanto hires former Senate ag committee chair Lincoln as lobbyist
The lobbying group led by former chair of the Senate agriculture committee Blanche Lincoln has picked up three new major clients, including biotechnology and seed giant Monsanto, Politico Influence reported. The Arkansas Democrat, who failed a reelection bid in 2011, announced in July she would start Lincoln Policy Group along with her former staff director on the agriculture committee, Robert Holifield. Monsanto hired the firm to lobby Congress on agribusiness issues. Telecommunications power Comcast and oil company Valero were the two other clients that have signed on with the lobbying outfit. Both Lincoln and Holifield registered as lobbyists for Monsanto on Oct. 1.
21:27
Syria rebel fighters attack Aleppo prison
Syrian rebels primarily associated with Al-Qaeda affiliated Al-Nusra Front assaulted a government prison in the northern city of Aleppo Wednesday, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The fighters targeted an administration section of the prison, though fighting has not reached areas housing prisoners, Rami Abdel Rahman of the Observatory told Reuters. He said Bashar Assad’s regime aircraft were striking back at rebel positions near the prison as well. In addition to Al-Nusra Front, fighters from another Islamist group, Ahrar Al-Sham, joined in the bombardment.
19:55
Turkish army says it fired on Al-Qaeda sites in Syria
The Turkish army fired four rounds of artillery from self-propelled artillery guns at targets belonging to Al-Qaeda-linked rebels in Syria, the military said in a statement. The positions, held by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, were located near the Syrian border town of Azaz. The shelling came in retaliation for a mortar shell that landed close to a Turkish military post near the border on Tuesday. Turkey has been accused of supporting Al-Qaeda-linked groups fighting Syrian President Bashar Assad’s government. The country denies such claims.
15:21
4 members of tour group killed by Everest avalanche in Tibet
Four people reportedly died after an avalanche hit a foreign tour group camping on the slopes of Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak. One of the dead was an Australian citizen and the other three were local porters, AFP said, citing Chinese media reports. The group “entered a restricted area on the mountain without permission,” Xinhua reported. It was made up of four Australians, including the 60-year-old fatality, and six locals, it said. Other members of the tour were rescued by emergency personnel. More than 300 people have died on Everest since 1953.
15:11
Lebanon spots Israeli drone
The Lebanese military said an Israeli drone entered its airspace on Wednesday, UPI reported. An Israeli surveillance drone reportedly entered the country’s airspace from the southern border region. “Enemy violation of Lebanese airspace and UN Resolution 1701, lasted more than 15 hours,” the National News Agency said. Lebanese military reported eight Israeli warplanes over its airspace on Wednesday and another eight over the same area the previous day.
14:53
Egypt FM says relations with US in ‘turmoil’
Egypt’s Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy said on Wednesday that relations between his country and the US are in “turmoil” following Washington’s decision to suspend delivery of tanks, helicopters and fighter jets to Egypt. There is “unrest in relations” between the two countries, Fahmy told the Al-Ahram newspaper. However, Fahmy said he was “not worried about this turmoil in relations,” because it’s also a chance for the two to ”better evaluate their relationship in the future,” AP reported.
14:40
World powers, Iran to hold next talks on Nov 7-8
Six world powers and Iran will hold their next round of nuclear talks on November 7-8 in Geneva, Reuters reported, citing a western diplomat. The two sides agreed to hold more talks after meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday in Geneva for the first time since the election of President Hassan Rouhani. It was not clear what other issues were agreed on.
14:19
Suicide bomber kills provincial minister, 7 others in Pakistan
A suicide bomber killed the law minister of a Pakistani province and seven others on Wednesday, Reuters reported. Israr Gandapur, a local chief and the law minister for the northern Khyber Pakutunkhwa province, was killed as he greeted residents from his home village. More than 30 people, including Gandapur’s elder brother, were wounded in the attack that came as the country marked the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha.
14:06
Plane crash in Laos kills 49 people – Thailand
A Lao Airlines flight crashed on Wednesday in the southeast Asian country, killing all 49 people aboard, AP reported, citing an official in neighboring Thailand. The flight from the Laos capital of Vientiane to Pakse in southern Laos crashed at about 4pm Laos time, Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Sek Wannamethee said, adding that the flight crashed 7-8km short of Pakse international airport. Earlier reports by Chinese and Thai media said the plane crashed in the Mekong River. Five Thai nationals were among the 39 passengers. The airline flies an ATR-72 twin-engine turboprop plane on the 467-km route.
13:47
Britons were ‘first to eat frogs’ legs’ – archeologists
About 8,000 years ago, Britons were the first to discover the culinary qualities of frogs’ legs, considered to be a French delicacy, archaeologists at a site close to Stonehenge in southwest England said. They have discovered the charred leg bone of a toad among other food remains, dating back to between 6250 BC and 7596 BC, AFP reported. The discovery is “the earliest evidence of a cooked toad or frog leg found in the world,”the team from the University of Buckingham said. The ancient diet might have included toads’ legs, aurochs, wild boar and red deer with hazelnuts for the main course, followed by another course of salmon and trout, with blackberries for dessert, archaeologist David Jacques suggested.
13:19
Iran, 6 world powers to continue new talk session in few weeks
Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has said his country plans a new meeting with six world powers in a few weeks over Tehran’s nuclear problem. The meeting will be held in Geneva, the same venue that is hosting ongoing talks, AP reported. His comments on Wednesday on his Facebook page were seen as the latest indication of progress in the talks after 10 years of near-deadlock. On Tuesday, Iran presented a plan to Russia, the US, China, Britain, France and Germany, which it says could be a breakthrough in ending the confrontation.
12:37
Lao Airlines plane with about 40 passengers crashes into Mekong in Laos
An ART twin-turbo plane carrying about 40 passengers has crashed into the Mekong River as it came into land at an airport in Laos, media reports say. There were no immediate reports on casualties, according to the Bangkok Post newspaper. The plane had taken off from the capital Vientiane and was attempting to land at an airport in Paske, in the south of the country. The crash occurred in bad weather about 4pm local time.
12:16
4 dead as boat capsizes off Florida coast
Four people are dead and another is in a hospital after a boat capsized about seven miles east of Miami, AP reported. The US Coast Guard responded about 1am Wednesday after a 911 call came in regarding the overturned recreational vessel. Coast Guard Petty Officer Sabrina Laberdesque says 15 people had been on the boat, and 9 were clinging to the hull when crews arrived.
11:54
Terrorist attacks prevented in North Caucasus’s Ingushetia
The law enforcement agencies have prevented a series of terrorist attacks in the Russian North Caucasus Republic of Ingushetia, the National Antiterrorist Committee (NAC) said Wednesday. The attacks were planned to be carried out during the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, Interfax reported. Four Ingush residents surrendered after they were surrounded in the republic’s capital of Magas, as well as in Ekazhevo and Yandar. An explosive device with a mix of 80 percent TNT and 20 percent aluminum powder, a homemade grenade launcher, three guns altered to fire automatically and ammunition for those firearms were seized.
11:30
HRW urges Russian authorities to bail Bolotnaya protesters
Human Rights Watch has said Russian authorities should grant bail to all detained defendants on trial for a 2012 mass protest, and investigate allegations of abuse and denial of medical treatment. The individuals have been charged with participation in mass riots in central Moscow’s Bolotnaya Square on May 6, 2012.“Nine protesters have needlessly lost a year of their lives behind bars,” said Rachel Denber, deputy Europe and Central Asia director at HRW. “The failure to take basic steps to establish whether continued detention is reasonable is a violation of the standards required by the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR),” HRW said.
10:59
Magnitude 7.1 earthquake hits near Papua New Guinea
Magnitude 7.1 earthquake has rocked the Papua New Guinea area, according to the US Geological Survey. The quake was located 65km west-southwest of Panguna in Papua New Guinea. It struck at 8:31pm (10:31 GMT) Wednesday at a depth of 58km. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage, and a destructive Pacific-wide tsunami is unlikely, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.
10:46
Greek parliament lifts immunity of 6 right-wing MPs
Greece’s parliament has voted to lift the immunity from prosecution of six lawmakers from the extreme right-wing Golden Dawn. Wednesday’s motion, passed virtually unanimously, is part of a crackdown into the party sparked by the fatal stabbing last month of a Greek rapper. Golden Dawn lawmakers walked out before the vote, AP reported. Three other top party members, including its leader, have been jailed pending trial on charges of participating in a criminal group.
09:36
Death toll from Philippine quake reaches 144
The death toll from the 7.2-magnitude earthquake that hit the Philippines has risen to 144, Civil Defense Director Eduardo del Rosario said Wednesday. Another 291 people were injured, AP reported. The central island of Bohol was hit hardest by Tuesday morning’s quake. Bohol Governor Edgardo Chatto said that all towns in need had been reached, but landslides and damaged bridges were slowing down road travel.
08:51
Netherlands summon Russian envoy after Dutch diplomat beaten in Moscow
The Dutch Foreign Ministry has summoned Russian Ambassador Roman Kolodkin following an incident with a Dutch diplomat in Moscow. The diplomat was reportedly slightly injured after he was tied up and beaten by two unidentified men who barged into his apartment in central Moscow on Tuesday night. Russia’s Investigative Committee is investigating the attack. It followed a similar incident, in which a Russian diplomat was beaten up and arrested in The Hague earlier this month.
07:22
21 killed in explosion of pickup truck in southern Syria – reports
The explosion of a pickup truck killed 21 people Wednesday morning in the southern Syrian province of Daraa, a monitoring group said. Four children and six women were among those killed in the Nawa area of Daraa after a blast that detonated as their vehicle went past Tal al-Jumua, AFP reported, citing the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. A Syrian army troop battalion held a position in the area near the location of the blast.
05:18
Airport employee in LA arrested in connection with dry ice explosions
An airport employee has been arrested in connection with dry ice explosions at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), according to a law enforcement official, cited by AP. The detained person is reportedly Dicarlo Bennett, a 28-year-old Servisair employee. Dry ice bombs exploded at LAX on Sunday and on Monday. In both cases those were blasts in areas with restricted access by employees only. No casualties or injuries were reported, but on Sunday some flights were delayed because of the incident. Security was heightened at the airport following the blasts.
04:05
Russian ambassador to clarify Dutch diplomat’s alleged attack
Russian ambassador to the Netherlands Roman Kolodkin is scheduled to clarify the situation in which a Dutch diplomat was beaten up in Moscow early Wednesday morning, RIA Novosti reported, citing a ministry official. Kolodkin will arrive at the Dutch Foreign Ministry on Wednesday. A source told the news agency that two individuals entered the diplomat’s home and beat him. “He received minor injuries and is feeling good,” the source said. The pair left behind the symbol of a heart and the LGBT initials. Ten days ago, a similar incident happened with a Russian diplomat in The Hague, who was severely beaten and detained for several hours at a police station.
03:11
Taliban fighters launch small rocket attack at Bagram Air Force Base in Afghanistan
Just one day after US Secretary of State John Kerry completed the most recent round of peace negotiations with the Afghan government, the Taliban has claimed responsibility for a rocket attack on US and NATO forces at Bagram Air Force Base. There were no injuries in the attack and US military officials denied any damage had occurred, although a Taliban spokesman claimed the attack destroyed one aircraft and caused other damage. American forces launched a “precision strike” against the insurgents, killing at least one. Kerry said Saturday that he and Afghan President Hamid Karzai had reached a partial agreement on a security accord as US troops prepare to completely withdraw from the country in 2014.
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