Jerusalem, Undefined | AFP | Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday hailed majority backing in the UN General Assembly for condemning militant group Hamas even though a draft resolution failed to win enough votes to pass. The US draft won 87 votes in the General Assembly on Thursday compared …
Read More »End of an era: Merkel passes torch to new party leader
Hamburg, Germany | AFP | German Chancellor Angela Merkel will hand off leadership of her party Friday after nearly two decades at the helm, with the race wide open between a loyal deputy and a longtime rival. The contest’s outcome is expected to be crucial in deciding whether Merkel, Europe’s …
Read More »Road accident deaths swell to 1.35 million each year: WHO
Geneva, Switzerland | AFP | Road accidents kill someone every 24 seconds, with a total of 1.35 million traffic deaths around the world each year, the World Health Organization said Friday, demanding global action. The number of fatalities annually has swelled by around 100,000 in just three years, with road …
Read More »Trump to pick State Dept spokeswoman Heather Nauert as UN envoy: reports
Washington, United States | AFP | President Donald Trump is expected Friday to nominate State Department spokeswoman and former Fox TV news anchor Heather Nauert as US ambassador to the United Nations, according to multiple reports. If confirmed by the Senate, she would take over from Nikki Haley, who announced …
Read More »Universal Declaration of Human Rights: main points
Paris, France | AFP | Here is a rundown of the main points in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the United Nations in Paris 70 years ago. – The charter addresses four key areas: personal rights, such as freedom and equality; relationship rights, such as nationality and …
Read More »CNN offices evacuated after bomb threat, no explosive found
New York, United States | AFP | CNN’s New York offices were evacuated Thursday night after a bomb threat, but no explosive was found and police later gave the all clear, the network said. The roughly 90 minute drama recalled a similar evacuation in October after an explosive device was …
Read More »Nobel Peace Prize to honour champions of struggle against sexual violence
Oslo, Norway | AFP | Champions of the fight against sexual violence, Congolese doctor Denis Mukwege and Yazidi activist Nadia Murad, a former captive of jihadists, will on Monday receive the Nobel Peace Prize, which this year highlights rape as a weapon of war. Murad, 25, and Mukwege, 63, will …
Read More »Canada defends Huawei arrest after markets wobble
Montreal, Canada | AFP | Canada on Thursday defended its arrest of an executive of Chinese tech giant Huawei on a US extradition request after markets wobbled on fears of fresh friction between Washington and Beijing. With China demanding the release of Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou, Canadian Prime …
Read More »Conditions met for Assange to leave Ecuador embassy in London: president
Quito, Ecuador | AFP | Ecuador’s president said Thursday that conditions have been met for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to leave the country’s embassy in London, which would end a six-year standoff with British authorities. “The way has been cleared for Mr Assange to take the decision to leave in …
Read More »UK’s May offers more say for MPs to save Brexit deal
London, United Kingdom | AFP | British Prime Minister Theresa May sought Thursday to woo MPs with a promise of more power over the next stage of Brexit as she fought to save her EU withdrawal deal ahead of a crucial parliamentary vote next week. May said lawmakers could have …
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