Tag: breaking world news

After shooting, investigators probe trail of political anger left by attacker
“The day before he turned a semiautomatic rifle on congressional Republican baseball players and was fatally shot in a firefight with police, James T. Hodgkinson went on a profane rant against President Trump at a nearby garage…” (The Washington Post)

Trump lashes out at Russia probe; Pence hires a lawyer
“A heightened sense of unease gripped the White House on Thursday, as President Trump lashed out at reports that he’s under scrutiny over whether he obstructed justice, aides repeatedly deflected questions about the probe and Vice President Pence acknowledged hiring a private lawyer to handle fallout from investigations into Russian election meddling…” (The Washington Post)

B.C. contractor exposed to asbestos blows whistle, says government made his life a ‘nightmare’
“When general contractor Don Garrett was invited to bid on plumbing work in Agassiz’s Kent Prison in 2008, he had no idea that such routine work would expose him to asbestos and touch off a nine-year battle that would cast him on the national stage as a whistleblower, make it impossible to obtain bonding, and cost him future contracts. He says the exposure to asbestos has compromised his health, and the government has made his life a “nightmare”…” (The Vancouver Sun)

Trudeau reaffirms support for Kinder Morgan pipeline, Notley says
“Premier Rachel Notley says she’s confident that Ottawa is fully behind the expansion of Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline expansion as it faces fierce opposition in British Columbia…” (The Vancouver Sun)

United Nations Criticizes Brazil’s Indigenous Policies
“SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL – Indigenous rights experts, including the United Nation Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Victoria Tauli Corpuz, stated on Thursday (June 8th) that the rights of the indigenous are being attacked in Brazil…” (The Rio Times)

Organizers May Cancel the 2018 Carnival Samba School Parades in Rio
“RIO DE JANEIO, BRAZIL – In a surprising move, the Independent League of Samba Schools (LIESA) announced on Wednesday night that if the League is unable to receive subsidies from the city of Rio de Janeiro, the world’s most famous samba parades will be cancelled for Carnival 2018…” (The Rio Times)

Police launch criminal inquiry into Grenfell Tower blaze
“Police have launched a criminal inquiry into the Grenfell Tower blaze as it emerged that cladding panels similar to those likely to have been used on the 24-storey building have been widely prohibited on tall buildings in the US since 2012…” (The Guardian)

Brendan Cox: ‘Jo’s death took the heart out of our family. But we are not broken’
“The widower of Jo Cox has spoken out on the anniversary of the MP’s killing, describing how her murder had “taken the heart out of our family” but not broken them. Brendan Cox was joined by all four of Britain’s living former prime ministers in paying tribute to the MP and the impact she had on the country’s political discourse…” (The Guardian)

China Focus: China launches space telescope to search for black holes, pulsars
“JIUQUAN, June 15 (Xinhua) — China launched its first X-ray space telescope to observe black holes, pulsars and gamma-ray bursts, via a Long March-4B rocket from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China’s Gobi Desert at 11 a.m. Thursday…” (XINHUANET)

China’s quantum satellite establishes photon entanglement over 1,200 km
“HEFEI, June 16 (Xinhua) — A team of Chinese scientists have realized the satellite-based distribution of entangled photon pairs over 1,200 kilometers. The photon pairs were demonstrated to be still entangled after travelling long distances…” (XINHUANET)

 

After the shootings, calls for unity amid recriminations and finger-pointing
“In the charged environment of 2017, it took only a few hours for a baseball diamond to be transformed from a peaceful practice field to a horrific crime scene and then to a vivid symbol of the tensions between the angry politics of our time and the better angels of the American people…” (The Washington Post)

Senate overwhelmingly votes to curtail Trump’s power to ease Russia sanctions
“The Senate voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to allow Congress to block any efforts by the president to scale back sanctions against Russia, and to strengthen those sanctions in retaliation for Moscow’s alleged interference in the 2016 election and its actions in Syria…” (The Washington Post)

China’s tomato paste colonialism
“Who knew that a Mao-era Chinese agricultural conglomerate dominates the African tomato market and supplies global food companies?”
(Le Monde diplomatique)

The Fula turn to arms
“The pastoralist Fula have taken up arms across a great stretch of Africa to back their claims to their traditional way of life. That may upset the regional balance…”
(Le Monde diplomatique)

Marine expert warns of climate emergency as fish abandon tropical waters
“As climate change pushes marine species towards cooler waters, and the fishing industry expands around the globe, the tropics are emptying out, a leading fisheries expert has warned…” (The Guardian)

Grenfell Tower: 12 dead in fire that destroyed 24-storey building
“Firefighters and police were searching through the still smouldering debris of a tower block inferno in London to retrieve bodies as police warned the death toll of 12 would rise in the coming hours…” (The Guardian)

Arab Coalition: Houthis attack UAE ship off coast of Yemen
“The Arab Coalition in support of restoring the legitimate government in Yemen said on Wednesday that a boast launched a missile targeting a UAE ship off the coast of Yemen…” (Al Arabiya – English)

US moves long-range rocket launchers into southern Syria
“The US military has moved a new truck-mounted, long-range rocket launcher from Jordan to a US base in Tanf, Syria, near the Iraqi and Jordanian borders, stepping up its presence in the area, two regional intelligence sources said on Wednesday…”
(Al Arabiya – English)

After 130 Years, Scientists Might Have Just ‘Rediscovered’ an Eighth Wonder of The World
“After more than a century of being buried by a volcanic eruption, New Zealand’s long-lost pink and white terraces might have finally been rediscovered under layers of ash and mud…” (Science Alert)

Our Sun Could Have Been Born With an Evil Twin Called “Nemesis”
“A new model on how stars are formed has added weight to the hypothesis that most – if not all – stars are born in a litter with at least one sibling…” (Science Alert)

 

Photo: By Kathrin Tausch [CC BY 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Trump sees Comey’s testimony as ‘complete vindication’ — and his fans agree
“President Trump and his allies lashed out at former FBI director James Comey after his congressional testimony on June 9, while some Republican lawmakers had a more measured defense of the president…” (Washington Post)

Sessions won’t testify at congressional budget hearings but at Senate intelligence hearing instead
“Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who had agreed to testify this week before the Senate and House appropriations committees about the Justice Department budget, wrote the chairmen of the committees Saturday and said he was sending his deputy to testify instead…” (Washington Post)

Montreal names Outremont peak for Mohawk nation
“Centuries before people congregated for the tam-tams, to have barbecues or to feed the ducks at Beaver Lake, Mount Royal was a gathering point for the Mohawk nation…” (Montreal Gazette)

Governments to pay $98.2 million to keep Grand Prix in Montreal until 2029
“Mayor Denis Coderre and representatives of the federal and Quebec governments on Friday pledged $98.2 million to a five-year extension of a contract with Formula One owners Liberty Media. The current contract was to expire in 2024…” (Montreal Gazette)

Raqqa: US-backed forces advance in IS ‘capital’
“US-backed Syrian forces have advanced into the western part of so-called Islamic State’s “capital” of Raqqa, they and a monitor report…” (BBC News – Middle East)

Yemen cholera cases pass 100,000 amid ‘unprecedented’ epidemic
“The number of suspected cases of cholera resulting from a severe outbreak in Yemen has passed 100,000, the World Health Organization says…” (BBC News – Middle East)

Meirelles Says Economy Recovers in Brazil Despite Political Turmoil
“SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL – The Brazilian economy continues to show signs of recovery and growth despite the current political turbulence, according to Finance Minister Henrique Meirelles. According to the official Meirelles the markets are “relatively stable”, indicating an expectation of continuity in the evolution of the Brazilian economy…” (The Rio Times)

Brazil Court Dismisses Corruption Case Against President Temer
“RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The political landscape in Brazil avoided another upheaval yesterday (Friday, June 9th) when the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) voted against the annulment of the Dilma-Temer presidential campaign ticket, which won the 2014 elections…” (The Rio Times)

Theresa May’s plan to govern with DUP support thrown into confusion
“Theresa May’s plan for a loose alliance with the Democratic Unionists to prop up her government was thrown into confusion last night after after the Northern Ireland party contradicted a No 10 announcement that a deal had been reached…” (The Guardian)

 

Police release images of fake suicide belts from London Bridge
“Police investigating the London Bridge terrorist attack have released images of the fake explosive belts worn by the three perpetrators and which officers believe may suggest the terrorists planned to create a “siege situation”…” (The Guardian)

 

Photo: Whitehouse.gov (cropped)

London attack: police name Khuram Butt and Rachid Redouane as two of three perpetrators – latest updates
“Butt, 27, was British citizen born in Pakistan, previously known to both police and MI5. Redouane, 30, had claimed to be both Moroccan and Libyan…” (The Guardian)

Cancel Trump state visit, says Sadiq Khan, after London attack tweets
“The London mayor, Sadiq Khan, has called on the British government to cancel a planned state visit by Donald Trump after being criticised in two tweets by the US president…” (The Guardian)

As Trump lashes out, Republicans grow uneasy
“President Trump, after days of lashing out angrily at the London mayor and federal courts in the wake of the London Bridge terrorist attack, faces a convergence of challenges this week that threatens to exacerbate the fury that has gripped him — and that could further hobble a Republican agenda that has slowed to a crawl on Capitol Hill…”
(Washington Post)

Contractor charged in NSA document leak case
“A 25-year-old government contractor has been charged with mishandling classified information after authorities say she gave a top-secret National Security Agency document to a news ­organization…” (Washington Post)

A question of justice
“Fifty years after the June 1967 war, the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands continues. Whatever new plan is devised will concern the entire region and the wider Muslim world…” (Le Monde diplomatique)

Britain’s Multiculturalism Falters
“The UK is coming to terms with a third violent attack in as many weeks as the country prepares to vote this Thursday…” (Le Monde diplomatique)

Turkey maintains ban on German visits to Incirlik airbase: minister
“Turkey will maintain a ban on visits by German politicians to a key airbase in its south which is used for raids against the Islamic State group in Syria, the foreign minister said on Monday…” (The Local – de)

German parliament passes law ending child marriage
“The German parliament passed a law ending child marriage late on Thursday night, officially raising the marriageable age to 18.
The new law officially makes 18 the minimum age for marriage. Previously, 16-year-olds were allowed to marry adults in certain cases with court permission…” (The Local – de)

Ramadan in Yemen: Fasting by day, starving by night
“The holy month has been tarnished in war-torn Yemen, where 17 million people are staring at famine…” (Al Jazeera)
Libya and the Manchester connection
“There is a link between the woeful Manchester attack and the dubious methods the UK used to help Libyans topple Gaddafi…” (Al Jazeera)

 

Photo: Met Police

White House signals that the U.S. is likely to exit Paris climate deal
“President Trump is still undecided but leaning toward withdrawing the United States from the landmark Paris climate agreement, White House officials said Wednesday, a move that would honor a campaign vow but risk rupturing global alliances and disappointing both environmentalists and corporate titans…” (The Washington Post)

Trump administration moves to return Russian compounds in Maryland and New York
“The Trump administration is moving toward handing back to Russia two diplomatic compounds, near New York City and on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, that its officials were ejected from in late December as punishment for Moscow’s interference in the 2016 presidential election…” (The Washington Post)

Corbyn confronts Rudd over spending cuts in fractious TV debate
“Jeremy Corbyn challenged Amber Rudd over the impact of the government’s spending cuts on Wednesday night, as he sought to exploit the cracks in the Conservatives’ general election campaign with his last-minute decision to take part in a live leaders’ debate on BBC1…” (The Guardian)

UK government sued for third time over illegal air pollution from diesels
“Environmental lawyers are taking the government to the high court for a third time in a bid to remove “major flaws” from minister’s plans to tackle the UK’s illegal levels of air pollution…” (The Guardian)

Yemen facing total collapse as war continues, UN warns
“The United Nations humanitarian chief has said Yemen is facing “total social, economic and institutional collapse”” (BBC – Middle East)

Russia fires cruise missiles at IS targets in Syria
“A Russian warship and submarine in the Mediterranean have fired four cruise missiles at so-called Islamic State (IS) positions in central Syria…” (BBC – Middle East)

Police target teen gang in Castle Hill, Bad Machine Brotherhood
“HILLS police are putting the squeeze on a youth gang operating in Castle Hill called the Bad Machine Brotherhood…” (news.com.au)

Malaysia Airlines: A man threatening to ‘blow up’ a plane is the latest in a long line of incidents
“A MAN threatening to “blow up” a Malaysia Airlines flight en-route to Kuala Lumpur from Melbourne is just the latest in a string of episodes to strike the beleaguered airline in recent years…” (news.com.au)

Filmmaker wins for third time at Cannes
“Mexican filmmaker Michel Franco has won an award at the Cannes Film Festival for the third time…” (Mexico News Daily)

Mexican surfer wins world championship
“18-year-old’s win gave Mexico its first individual medal at the World Surfing Games…” (Mexico News Daily)

Scientists Have Used CRISPR to Slow The Spread of Cancer Cells
“CRISPR-Cas9 is the gene editing tool that promised to change the world.

In the short time since its discovery, it has snipped HIV out of human immune cells, sparked a biomedical race between the US and China to work toward bioengineered humans, and now scientists have used CRISPR-Cas9 to slow the spread of cancer…” (Science Alert)

Strange, Violent Dreams Could Be Trying to Warn Us About Future Brain Disease
“Researchers have found an unexpected link between strange, physically violent dreaming and the risk of neurological disease, such as Parkinson’s and dementia, later in life, and say they could act as an early warning sign decades before diagnosis…” (Science Alert)

 

Photo: joelbeeb [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

These Are The Lives Cut Tragically Short At The Ariana Grande Concert In Manchester
“The victims of the bombing at Monday’s Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England, include an 8-year-old girl “loved by everyone” and an 18-year-old who revered Grande and whose friends called her a “true ray of sunshine [who] loved everyone for who they were…” (The Huffington Post)

Trump Praised Philippines President Duterte For Drug War That Has Killed 9,000 People
“President Donald Trump opened a brief April phone call with Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte by commending the strongman’s bloody war on drugs, according to a transcript obtained by The Washington Post and the The Intercept…” (The Huffington Post)

Salman Ramadan Abedi named by police as Manchester Arena attacker
“The man who murdered 22 people and injured 59 others has been named as Salman Ramadan Abedi, a Mancunian of Libyan descent…” (The Guardian)

Roger Moore – Saint, Persuader and the suavest James Bond – dies aged 89“The much-loved English actor, who made his name on the small screen before taking on the mantle of 007, has passed away in Switzerland…” (The Guardian)

Saudi Arabia: radical Islam or reform?
“Relations between the United States and Saudi Arabia have been tense since 11 September 2001, and were not improved by last month’s suicide bombings in the heart of Riyadh, which killed some 40 people, mostly residents in foreign compounds. Saudi rulers are facing a radicalised Islamist current in society and also demands for reform within the country…” (Le Monde diplomatique)

Tunisia makes a pact with remembering its past
“The Truth and Dignity Commission is supposed to shed light on Tunisia’s human rights violations over nearly sixty years. But there’s already a desire to compromise…” (Le Monde diplomatique)

Retired senior Indian police officer denied entry to Canada at YVR
“Despite having visited Canada many times in the last 30 years, sometimes on official business, a former high-ranking Indian police officer was barred from entering Canada last week at Vancouver International Airport…” (Vancouver Sun)

Young girl dragged into water by sea lion wasn’t feeding animal, family says
“http://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/sea-lion-girl-treated-for-mild-wound-wasnt-feeding-animal-that-attacked-her-family-say…” (Vancouver Sun)

Brazil’s President Temer Vows to Not Resign Over Scandal
“SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL – In the midst of a crisis that could oust him out of office, Brazil’s President Michel Temer told journalists he would not step down and that he had done nothing wrong, despite incriminating audio recordings being released to the public and thousands taking to the streets in protest…” (The Rio Times)

Market Plunges in Brazil, Dollar Surges Amidst Political Turmoil
“SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL – The U.S. dollar surged by 7.9 percent against the Brazilian real, as the country’s main stock market plummeted 8.8 percent on Thursday with the aftermath of the secret recordings showing that President Michel Temer approved of pay-off to a convicted politician for his silence…” (The Rio Times)

 

Photo: By Kalnroze – Own work, CC BY 3.0, Link

(Video) Trump in Riyadh: Controversy follows US president
“President Trump is one of the world’s most famous Twitter users – and that fact isn’t being forgotten during his trip.

In addition to his main address he’ll also make a short speech at a social media conference in Riyadh…” (Al Jazeera)

Riyadh summit discusses ways of rooting out terrorism
“US President Donald Trump, leaders and representatives of 55 Arab and Muslim-dominated countries kicked off their Arab-Islamic-American summit in Riyadh on Sunday, focusing on unity in the fight against terrorism.

King Salman of Saudi Arabia was the first to address the summit, telling the gathering that Islam provided the best example for coexistence and “will always be the religion of mercy and coexistence…” (Al Jazeera)

Hassan Rohani Declared Winner Of Iran’s Presidential Vote
“President Hassan Rohani has been declared the outright winner with nearly all the ballots counted from Iran’s May 19 presidential election, a seemingly emphatic endorsement of the incumbent’s efforts to reengage internationally and seek modest reforms within Iran’s clerically dominated society…” (Payvand Iran News)

Scapegoating Iran Will Not Resolve Middle East Challenge
“During his Middle East trip, President Donald Trump is reportedly planning to pursue an ambitious list of objectives. Paramount among these is to strengthen regional cooperation in defeating the Islamic State (ISIS or IS) and Islamist terrorism in general. He will also try jump-starting the effort to build peace between Israel and the Palestinians that, if successful, could eliminate a major source of tensions in the region…”
(Payvand Iran News)

May school lunch cut ‘would hit 900,000 children of struggling families’
“About 900,000 children from struggling families will lose their right to free school lunches under a cut unveiled in the Conservative manifesto.

The total includes more than 600,000 young children recently defined as coming from “ordinary working families”, according to analysis for the Observer by the Education Policy Institute…” (The Guardian)

Theresa May under pressure over ‘dementia tax’ social care shakeup
“Theresa May is coming under pressure to drop or water down her controversial shakeup of social care that has been branded a “dementia tax”, amid warnings that it is unfair and could deter older people from seeking care…” (The Guardian)

The Kurds’ changing alliances
“The defence of Kobane has become a symbol of the struggle against IS. But Kurdistan remains deeply fragmented, and its divisions have grown wider even though there is now a common enemy…” (Le Monde diplomatique)

France’s Chinese citizens stand up for their rights
“There are over half a million people of Chinese origin in France, and they run 35,000 small businesses. The younger generation are so French that they’ve taken to protest…” (Le Monde diplomatique)

Right-wing protesters try to storm justice ministry over ‘hate speech law’
“Members of the right-wing Identitarian movement attempted to storm the German justice ministry in Berlin on Friday over a proposed law to fight hate speech on social media.
About 50 people from the right-wing, anti-immigrant movement gathered before the justice ministry in the afternoon and then tried to force their way into the building, according to police…” (The Local)

Merkel awards first integration prize to small town that took in extra refugees
“Altena, a town in western Germany, was on Wednesday honoured by Chancellor Angela Merkel for its achievements in integrating refugees. It was the first place to win the National Integration Prize, and received €10,000 for its efforts…” (The Local)

California Grid Smashes Record – Getting 67% of Energy From Renewables
“On 13 May 2017, California smashed through another renewable energy milestone as its largest grid, controlled by the California Independent System Operator (CISO), got 67.2 percent of its energy from renewables – not including hydropower or rooftop solar arrays…” (Science Alert)

Now Artificial Intelligence Is Inventing Sounds That Have Never Been Heard Before
“As well as beating us at board games, driving cars, and spotting cancer, artificial intelligence is now generating brand new sounds that have never been heard before, thanks to some advanced maths combined with samples from real instruments…” (Science Alert)

Obama Calls On Congress To Have ‘Courage’ In Health Care Debate
“Former President Barack Obama called on Congress to have “courage” in the debate over health care for millions of Americans.

While accepting the Profile in Courage Award at the John F. Kennedy Library on Sunday, Obama reflected on how some lawmakers voted for the Affordable Care Act in 2010, even though they knew their seats were vulnerable and the vote could cost them…
(Huffington Post)

Republicans Are Building An Alternate Reality Around Their Health Care Bill“President Donald Trump pledged on the campaign trail that he would not cut Medicaid, the government program that provides health coverage to millions of Americans. But now Trump and Republicans are moving a health care bill that would slash Medicaid funding dramatically.

Confronted with Trump’s campaign promise on Sunday, the president’s health secretary Tom Price insisted there would be no Medicaid cuts at all under the GOP plan, even though the cuts are undeniable…” (Huffington Post)

Richard III staging in Leicester Cathedral condemned
“A screenwriter who spearheaded the project to find the remains of Richard III has condemned plans to stage Shakespeare’s play in the cathedral where he was reburied in 2015…” (The Guardian)

Two-thirds of Britons have had mental health problems – survey“Two-thirds of British adults say they have experienced mental ill-health at some point in their lives, according to a survey.

The World Health Organisation says one in four people globally are affected by problems such as depression or panic attacks at some point. Research published by the Mental Health Foundation on Monday suggests that the prevalence is far wider in the UK…”
(The Guardian)

Rivalries threaten in post-ISIS Mosul
“The highway into Mosul bears the scars of battle to dislodge ISIS from Ninewa. Deep craters, ruined buildings and the distant sound of airstrikes mark the steady advance of Iraqi security forces into militant-held territory. All this also highlights the immense task Baghdad faces as it looks to restore infrastructure, essential services and institutions to those living in Mosul and the towns scattered across the surrounding Ninewa plains…”
(Le Monde diplomatique)

Who judges the EU laws?
“The EU believes the rule of law is the foundation of the union. But on what basis does its own law supersede and even countermand national legislation?”
(Le Monde diplomatique)

Netanyahu’s wife to be indicted over corruption charges
“Israeli police have moved to indict Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s wife on allegations of corruption, Israeli broadcaster Channel 10 revealed on Friday.

The Israeli channel said that the indictment is related to the case referred to by the media as the prime minister’s real estate on which Sara Netanyahu was investigated over her alleged use of state funds for private spending…” (Middle East Monitor)

Amnesty: Algeria must safeguard freedom of speech
“Amnesty International has called on Algeria to amend its laws to remove “restrictions imposed unduly” on media outlets and to release those detained for exercising their right to freedom of expression…” (Middle East Monitor)

Why taps in Nairobi will remain dry despite rains
“By Josphat Thiong’o | Updated Mon, May 8th 2017 at 00:00 GMT +3 SHARE THIS ARTICLE Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Residents of Nairobi Langata Southlands Kijiji area line up for water in the early hours. (Photo: Elvis Ogina/Standard) Nairobi residents may soon get more water if the rains persist. However, until the water level hits the 30 per cent mark at Ndakaini Dam, city residents will continue to get water twice a week…”
(The Standard – Kenya)

How Kenyans make money through online writing
“NAIROBI, KENYA: About 50 000 graduates are churned out of public and private universities in Kenya every year piling into the number of unemployed youths in the country estimated at 2.3 million…” (The Standard – Kenya)

Photo: Kennedy Center / Youtube (screen capture)

Flynn was warned by Trump transition officials about contacts with Russian ambassador
“Former national security adviser Michael Flynn was warned by senior members of President Trump’s transition team about the risks of his contacts with the Russian ambassador weeks before the December call that led to Flynn’s forced resignation, current and former U.S. officials said…” (Washington Post)

Health care is now set to be a defining issue in the next election cycles
“With one hasty and excruciatingly narrow vote, House Republicans have all but guaranteed that health care will be one of the most pivotal issues shaping the next two election cycles — including congressional, gubernatorial and state legislative races in the 2018 midterms and President Trump’s likely reelection bid in 2020…” (Washington Post)

Matthew Fisher: How Canadian commanders will use hockey to keep soldiers safe from Russian ‘honey pots’
“ADAZI, Latvia — As Canada prepares to stand up a multi-national NATO battle group here this summer, army commanders have come up with a plan to prevent their soldiers being exploited by the Kremlin via “honey pots,” “gentlemen’s clubs”and other such temptations: hockey, hockey and more hockey…” (National Post)

Attacker who killed soldier in 2014 was ‘living in delirium’ and needed psychiatric help: Quebec coroner
“Martin Couture-Rouleau was “living in delirium” when he drove his car at three soldiers in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que. in 2014, killing one of them, Quebec’s coroner concluded in a report released Friday…” (National Post)

Russia says has stopped bombing proposed Syria safe zones
“Russia on Friday said it had already stopped bombing in areas of Syria set to be designated safe zones under an agreement it inked with Iran and Turkey…” (Al Arabiya)

ISIS leader warns Muslims to avoid Christian gatherings in Egypt
“ISIS leader warned Muslims in Egypt to avoid Christian gatherings, posing a threat of further attacks against Christians in the country following two suicide bombings that targeted two churches last month…” (Al Arabiya)

Does the FN have an economic strategy?
“The FN has campaigned on national rather than class consciousness, a cultural more than economic classification, which pundits have interpreted as anything from Marxism to local capitalism…” (Le Monde diplomatique)

The creation of Emmanuel Macron
“Macron rose to presidential frontrunner against Le Pen helped by new celebrity status in France. It was enthusiastically crafted for him by friends, allies and contacts in the media…” (Le Monde diplomatique)

50,000 in Hanover prep for second biggest post-war bomb defusal
“Experts were able to confirm the existence of five unexploded Second World War bombs out of 13 possible locations within the Lower Saxon capital, the fire department said on Thursday. Seven care and elderly homes are among the buildings to be evacuated, along with a clinic, and a Continental tire plant…” (The Local de)

German ‘refugee’ soldier case lays bare asylum chaos
“Posing as a Damascus fruit seller, army lieutenant Franco Albrecht, 28, had managed to gain asylum in his home country, obtaining a space in a shelter and monthly benefits of €409 ($447) even though he speaks no Arabic, investigations found…”
(The Local de)

 

Photo: By DonkeyHotey (Michael Flynn – Caricature) [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons