The tower was lit in the black, yellow and red of the Belgian flag at the request of Paris' Mayor Anne Hidalgo, according to a statement on the monument’s official website Tuesday.
Ebola flare-up over says WHO, as virus no longer spreading in West Africa
The latest flare-up of Ebola in Sierra Leone has ended, leaving no confirmed cases of the virus in West Africa
Donald Trump crushes Kasich despite big win in Ohio
Donald Trump won the Republican presidential primaries in Florida, North Carolina and Illinois on Tuesday
Tuesday, 22 March 2016
Eiffel Tower To Light Up In Belgian Flag's Colors following terror attacks in Brussels
The tower was lit in the black, yellow and red of the Belgian flag at the request of Paris' Mayor Anne Hidalgo, according to a statement on the monument’s official website Tuesday.
ISIS admits responsibility for Brussels attacks
The blown out facade of the terminal is seen at Zaventem airport, one of the sites of two deadly attacks in Brussels, Belgium, Tuesday, March 22, 2016. Authorities in Europe have tightened security at airports, on subways, at the borders and on city streets after the attacks Tuesday on the Brussels airport and its subway system.
Sunday, 20 March 2016
Russian investigators reveals Black boxes from FlyDubai plane crash site are badly damaged
Aviation experts on Sunday began examining the black boxes from the FlyDubai flight that crashed amid high winds at an airport in southern Russia but said the cockpit voice and data recorders were badly damaged.
FlyDubai's Boeing 737-800 from Dubai nosedived and exploded in a giant fireball before dawn Saturday after trying to land for a second time in strong winds in the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don. FlyDubai confirmed all 62 people on the plane were killed. Most of the passengers were Russian.
Several planes had trouble landing at the airport at the time of the crash.
Sergei Zaiko, deputy chairman of the Inter-State Aviation Committee, told Russia's Channel One that experts on Sunday were looking at the data recorders, which were delivered to Moscow earlier in the day. But the committee that investigates plane crashes in much of the former Soviet Union said in a statement they had been badly damaged and it was not immediately clear what, if any, data could be retrieved.
The black boxes were being viewed by experts from Russia, the United Arab Emirates, France and the U.S., since the American-made Boeing plane had French-made engines.
At Rostov-on-Don, hundreds of people flocked Sunday to the airport, the region's largest, to lay flowers and leave candles and toys in memory of the dead. The city is 950 kilometers (600 miles) south of Moscow near the Ukrainian border.
Closed-circuit TV footage showed the plane going down at a steep angle and exploding. The powerful explosion left a big crater in the runway and pulverized the plane and passengers' remains.
The airport remained closed Sunday. Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov told reporters that emergency teams had finished combing the area and authorities were waiting for investigators to let repair teams onto runway. He expects the airport to open early Monday.
FlyDubai's chief executive Ghaith al-Ghaith said on Sunday the plane had enough fuel to maintain its holding pattern, which reportedly went on for two hours. He expressed confidence in Russian authorities and said the carrier intends to resume flights to the airport once it reopens.
He reiterated that the Rostov-on-Don airport was open Saturday despite the high winds and was "good enough to operate" at the time of the accident, and that it was up to Russian authorities to make that determination.
Some of the crash victims were from rebel-held areas in eastern Ukraine where fighting between Russian-backed separatists and Ukrainian government troops has killed more than 9,100 people in nearly two years. The war has turned the region's main airport of Donetsk into a wasteland, and many locals have been using the airport in Rostov-on-Don, across the border.
Self-proclaimed rebel authorities in Donetsk said Sunday that two residents had been killed in the crash, while the Komsomolskaya Pravda daily reported that a family of three from the rebel-controlled town of Sverdlovsk in Ukraine was among the victims.
FlyDubai's Boeing 737-800 from Dubai nosedived and exploded in a giant fireball before dawn Saturday after trying to land for a second time in strong winds in the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don. FlyDubai confirmed all 62 people on the plane were killed. Most of the passengers were Russian.
Several planes had trouble landing at the airport at the time of the crash.
Sergei Zaiko, deputy chairman of the Inter-State Aviation Committee, told Russia's Channel One that experts on Sunday were looking at the data recorders, which were delivered to Moscow earlier in the day. But the committee that investigates plane crashes in much of the former Soviet Union said in a statement they had been badly damaged and it was not immediately clear what, if any, data could be retrieved.
The black boxes were being viewed by experts from Russia, the United Arab Emirates, France and the U.S., since the American-made Boeing plane had French-made engines.
At Rostov-on-Don, hundreds of people flocked Sunday to the airport, the region's largest, to lay flowers and leave candles and toys in memory of the dead. The city is 950 kilometers (600 miles) south of Moscow near the Ukrainian border.
Closed-circuit TV footage showed the plane going down at a steep angle and exploding. The powerful explosion left a big crater in the runway and pulverized the plane and passengers' remains.
The airport remained closed Sunday. Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov told reporters that emergency teams had finished combing the area and authorities were waiting for investigators to let repair teams onto runway. He expects the airport to open early Monday.
FlyDubai's chief executive Ghaith al-Ghaith said on Sunday the plane had enough fuel to maintain its holding pattern, which reportedly went on for two hours. He expressed confidence in Russian authorities and said the carrier intends to resume flights to the airport once it reopens.
He reiterated that the Rostov-on-Don airport was open Saturday despite the high winds and was "good enough to operate" at the time of the accident, and that it was up to Russian authorities to make that determination.
Some of the crash victims were from rebel-held areas in eastern Ukraine where fighting between Russian-backed separatists and Ukrainian government troops has killed more than 9,100 people in nearly two years. The war has turned the region's main airport of Donetsk into a wasteland, and many locals have been using the airport in Rostov-on-Don, across the border.
Self-proclaimed rebel authorities in Donetsk said Sunday that two residents had been killed in the crash, while the Komsomolskaya Pravda daily reported that a family of three from the rebel-controlled town of Sverdlovsk in Ukraine was among the victims.
At least 14 students killed after bus crashes near Tarragona, Spain
At least 13 European university exchange students have died in a motorway bus crash near Tarragona in north-east Spain.
Jordi Jané, the Catalan interior minister, said the victims were aged 22 to 29 and "the majority are Erasmus students of various nationalities. We are trying to draw up a list of the victims".
He said he was unable to confirm reports that all the students were at the University of Barcelona.
The coach was the last in a group of five returning to Barcelona after celebrating the Fallas festivities in Valencia. The occupants of the other three coaches were unaware of the accident until they arrived in Barcelona.
Latest Ebola Outbreak Has Claimed Four Lives In Guinea
A fourth person has died of Ebola in Guinea in the latest flare up of an epidemic that has killed more than 11,300 people in that country, Sierra Leone and Liberia since 2013 but now claims few victims.
"The young girl who was hospitalized at the Ebola treatment centre in Nzerekore is dead," said Fode Tass Sylla, spokesman for the centre that coordinates Guinea's fight against the virus.
Three others have died of the virus since February 29. Health workers on Saturday also stepped up efforts to trace anyone who could have come into contact with the family.
The world's worst recorded Ebola epidemic is believed to have started in Guinea and killed about 2,500 people there by December last year, at which point the U.N. World Health Organization (WHO) said it was no longer actively transmitted.
WHO warned, however, that Ebola could resurface at any time, since it can linger in the eyes, central nervous system and bodily fluids of some survivors.
It was not immediately clear how the villagers from Korokpara, around 100 km (60 miles) from Nzerekore, had contracted the disease but the area had previously resisted efforts to fight the illness in the initial epidemic.
"The young girl who was hospitalized at the Ebola treatment centre in Nzerekore is dead," said Fode Tass Sylla, spokesman for the centre that coordinates Guinea's fight against the virus.
Three others have died of the virus since February 29. Health workers on Saturday also stepped up efforts to trace anyone who could have come into contact with the family.
The world's worst recorded Ebola epidemic is believed to have started in Guinea and killed about 2,500 people there by December last year, at which point the U.N. World Health Organization (WHO) said it was no longer actively transmitted.
WHO warned, however, that Ebola could resurface at any time, since it can linger in the eyes, central nervous system and bodily fluids of some survivors.
It was not immediately clear how the villagers from Korokpara, around 100 km (60 miles) from Nzerekore, had contracted the disease but the area had previously resisted efforts to fight the illness in the initial epidemic.
UN Headquarters in New York City goes dark to rally support in climate change fight
The United Nations will go dark later this evening as the Organization shuts off the lights at its iconic Headquarters complex in New York and other facilities around the world in observance of 'Earth Hour,' an annual global event to put the spotlight on the issues facing the planet and to inspire millions across the world to live more sustainably.
In a video message, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, said: "This year's Earth Hour comes at a pivotal moment. Last December, all the world's Governments came together to adopt the Paris Agreement on climate change. This is a historic achievement for people and the planet – but only if we follow through on the promises made."
Organized by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Earth Hour encourages individuals, companies, organizations and Governments to switch off their lights for one hour at 8:30 p.m., local time worldwide, to focus attention on people-driven solutions to protecting the planet and building a bright, sustainable future.
Mr. Ban notes that the world is now entering a new era of opportunity. “Together, we can create the low-emissions future the world needs for sustainable development and a life of dignity and stability for all. Earth Hour reminds us that we all have a role to play.”
First launched in 2007, Earth Hour has become an annual event, mobilizing hundreds of millions of individuals to participate and growing to become the world's largest grassroots movement for the environment.
According to the WWF, the UN family will join the thousands of homes, offices, skylines and monuments that will go dark to put the spotlight on the issues facing the planet, and to inspire millions across the world to live more sustainably. At least 178 countries and territories are expected to take part in this year's celebrations.
So far over 366 landmarks are confirmed and will be turning off on the night of Earth Hour including iconic sites such as the Brandenburg Gate, Empire State Building, Sydney Opera House, the Roman Colosseum and Marina Bay Sands.
Amongst participating countries this year 90 are taking actions to achieve impact during Earth Hour through digital interactions, engaging local communities and raising awareness, adds the WWF.
22 people sent to hospital following chemical release in pool area of Lafayette
A total of 22 people, mostly children, are at five Colorado hospitals after a chemical incident at a Lafayette rec center pool.
KMGH reports that the incident happened just after 4p.m. at the Bob L. Burger recreation center. The call originally came in as a chlorine spill, but authorities on the scene wouldn't confirm what type of chemical spill had happened.
The people taken to the hospital had reported symptoms including coughing, nausea and vomiting.
The affected rec center is closed.
KMGH reports that the incident happened just after 4p.m. at the Bob L. Burger recreation center. The call originally came in as a chlorine spill, but authorities on the scene wouldn't confirm what type of chemical spill had happened.
The people taken to the hospital had reported symptoms including coughing, nausea and vomiting.
The affected rec center is closed.
2 Americans dead in Istanbul suicide bombing attack
The White House says two Americans were among those killed in a suicide attack in Istanbul. An Israeli diplomat in Istanbul says they held dual Israeli citizenship.
Israeli media named one of the victims as 60-year-old Simha Dimri, a mother of four. Her husband was wounded in the attack, according to reports.
Ned Price, a spokesman for the National Security Council, in a statement Saturday condemned the "heinous attack" and said the U.S. remains steadfast in support of Turkey, its NATO ally.
He says the U.S. remains in close touch with Turkish authorities. He offered thoughts and prayers to the families of those who were killed or wounded.
Price says these repeated acts of terrorism in Turkey must come to an end.
An Iranian citizen was also killed in Saturday's attack on Istanbul's main pedestrian shopping street that killed at least five people, including the suicide bomber.
It was the sixth suicide bombing in Turkey in the past year.
Israeli media named one of the victims as 60-year-old Simha Dimri, a mother of four. Her husband was wounded in the attack, according to reports.
Ned Price, a spokesman for the National Security Council, in a statement Saturday condemned the "heinous attack" and said the U.S. remains steadfast in support of Turkey, its NATO ally.
He says the U.S. remains in close touch with Turkish authorities. He offered thoughts and prayers to the families of those who were killed or wounded.
Price says these repeated acts of terrorism in Turkey must come to an end.
An Iranian citizen was also killed in Saturday's attack on Istanbul's main pedestrian shopping street that killed at least five people, including the suicide bomber.
It was the sixth suicide bombing in Turkey in the past year.
Saturday, 19 March 2016
Seven people killed in plane crash near Campo de Marte Airport in Sao Paulo, Brazil
The accident happened at around 3:30 p.m. local time on Saturday when the plane, believed to be a Comp Air 9 aircraft, went down at the edges of a neighborhood in Case Verde district, just outside Campo de Marte Airport.
Airport operator Infraero said a total of six people were on board the aircraft when it tried to land at the airport, which serves mostly small planes and helicopters. The aircraft belonged to businessman Roger Agnelli, who previously served as the president of mining company Vale.
Emergency services said at least five people were killed in Saturday's accident, but it is still unclear whether Roger Agnelli was actually on board the aircraft at the time of the accident. At least one person on the ground has been injured.
Video from the area of the crash showed thick black smoke rising from the residential area, and photos from the scene showed that at least one building had been damaged by the accident. The Folha newspaper reported that one person who lived in the building had been taken to hospital in unknown condition.
Centers for Disease Control Warns of Zika Risk Ahead of Obama's Cuba Trip
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has added Cuba to its list of countries and territories where Zika virus is spreading after a local case was confirmed.
The first case of local transmission of Zika virus in the country was confirmed Tuesday: State media reported a 21-year-old Havana woman who had not traveled outside of Cuba was diagnosed after suffering symptoms of Zika, NBC News reported.
Cuba was one of a handful of countries that had previously only reported cases contracted while traveling abroad.
The CDC advises that pregnant women should postpone trips to countries with active Zika virus transmission, and that women planning to become pregnant should speak to their doctor before the trip. Sexual transmission of Zika virus has increasingly been reported, and CDC has also said men who travel to countries affected by Zika should use protection if having sex with a partner who is or may become pregnant.
Cuba's addition to CDC's list of travel notices comes as President Obama has lifted many of the restrictions on Americans wishing to travel there.
While tourism is still banned — and will be until Congress acts — the barriers to entry are falling rapidly. U.S. airlines are planning to offer commercial flights by the fall. Americans need only fill out a form that says their trip is for educational purposes, and not tourism.
In a recent survey by TripAdvisor, 62% of U.S. respondents said they were interested in booking a trip to Cuba, and 25% said they plan to take a trip in the next 12 months.
Eleven percent said they are more interested in booking a trip knowing President Obama is visiting the country March 20-22.
Prior to the confirmed local case, Cuba had already assigned resources to combating Zika: More than 9,000 soldiers, police and university students are part of an effort to eliminate mosquitoes through fumigation and reducing standing water.
The first case of local transmission of Zika virus in the country was confirmed Tuesday: State media reported a 21-year-old Havana woman who had not traveled outside of Cuba was diagnosed after suffering symptoms of Zika, NBC News reported.
Cuba was one of a handful of countries that had previously only reported cases contracted while traveling abroad.
The CDC advises that pregnant women should postpone trips to countries with active Zika virus transmission, and that women planning to become pregnant should speak to their doctor before the trip. Sexual transmission of Zika virus has increasingly been reported, and CDC has also said men who travel to countries affected by Zika should use protection if having sex with a partner who is or may become pregnant.
Cuba's addition to CDC's list of travel notices comes as President Obama has lifted many of the restrictions on Americans wishing to travel there.
While tourism is still banned — and will be until Congress acts — the barriers to entry are falling rapidly. U.S. airlines are planning to offer commercial flights by the fall. Americans need only fill out a form that says their trip is for educational purposes, and not tourism.
In a recent survey by TripAdvisor, 62% of U.S. respondents said they were interested in booking a trip to Cuba, and 25% said they plan to take a trip in the next 12 months.
Eleven percent said they are more interested in booking a trip knowing President Obama is visiting the country March 20-22.
Prior to the confirmed local case, Cuba had already assigned resources to combating Zika: More than 9,000 soldiers, police and university students are part of an effort to eliminate mosquitoes through fumigation and reducing standing water.
5 dead including Israeli in suicide car bombing in Istanbul
Four people were killed in a suicide bombing attack on Istanbul's main pedestrian shopping street Saturday-- the sixth suicide bombing in Turkey in the past year.
Several foreigners were among 36 people wounded, according to the health ministry.
The attacker was deterred from an initial target by police and detonated the bomb "out of fear", an official said, according to Sky News.
Several foreigners were among 36 people wounded, according to the health ministry.
The attacker was deterred from an initial target by police and detonated the bomb "out of fear", an official said, according to Sky News.
Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam to oppose extradition to France
Salah Abdeslam, the last surviving terrorist believed responsible for
the November 13, 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris, is said to be
cooperating with police in Belgium, and his legal team is opposing his
extradition to France, Yahoo News is reporting.
On Friday, the 26-year-old Abdeslam, along with other accomplices, were arrested in a bloody gun battle with Belgian police, according to Fox News.
Belgian police, following up on information from tips and earlier raids, caught up with Abdeslam in the Brussels neighborhood of Molenbeek. Abdeslam was shot in the leg but will recover from his wounds.
On Friday, the 26-year-old Abdeslam, along with other accomplices, were arrested in a bloody gun battle with Belgian police, according to Fox News.
Belgian police, following up on information from tips and earlier raids, caught up with Abdeslam in the Brussels neighborhood of Molenbeek. Abdeslam was shot in the leg but will recover from his wounds.
Passenger Boeing 738 from Dubai crashes in Rostov-on-Don
Flydubai flight FZ981 has crashed in the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don killing all 62 passengers and crew on board. The flight was en route from Dubai and crashed during a landing approach.
Air-traffic control and local emergency services confirmed that the Boeing 737-800 jet crashed near the runway during a second approach in conditions of poor visibility.
“According to preliminary data, the Boeing 738 crashed in poor visibility conditions, some 50-100 meters left of the runway,” the source said.
“The plane, according to preliminary data, crashed during the second approach,” the source told Interfax.
All crew and passengers on board the plane were killed in the crash, according to the regional Emergencies Ministry. According to preliminary reports there were 62 people on board, including seven crew members.
“During the landing approach a Boeing-737 crashed. It had 55 passengers on board. All of them died,” a regional spokesman told TASS.
Another source told RIA that all passengers on board were Russians, while the flight crew consisted of foreigners.
CCTV camera footage posted on YouTube claims to have captured the moment of the explosion as the aircraft impacted the ground. However, its authenticity could not be immediately verified.
Emergency crews are working at the scene of the crash and have already put out the fire, according to a TASS source.
The airport is to remain closed until at least 9:00am Moscow time. As a result at least six flights have been delayed, two of which were supposed to leave for St. Petersburg, while the others were due to arrive in Moscow. The inbound flights are getting rerouted to Krasnodar.
According to a LifeNews source, the plane failed to land at the first approach and was forced to make a reentry. However, at this point the aircraft's tail allegedly hit the ground. The Boeing then crashed and caught fire.
Flydubai confirmed that they are aware of an “incident involving our flight FZ981 from Dubai to Rostov On Don.”
“We are investigating further details and will publish an update once more information is available,” the airline added.
The Emergencies Ministry has opened up a hotline while a team of psychologists has been sent to help the grieving relatives.
Air-traffic control and local emergency services confirmed that the Boeing 737-800 jet crashed near the runway during a second approach in conditions of poor visibility.
“According to preliminary data, the Boeing 738 crashed in poor visibility conditions, some 50-100 meters left of the runway,” the source said.
“The plane, according to preliminary data, crashed during the second approach,” the source told Interfax.
All crew and passengers on board the plane were killed in the crash, according to the regional Emergencies Ministry. According to preliminary reports there were 62 people on board, including seven crew members.
“During the landing approach a Boeing-737 crashed. It had 55 passengers on board. All of them died,” a regional spokesman told TASS.
Another source told RIA that all passengers on board were Russians, while the flight crew consisted of foreigners.
CCTV camera footage posted on YouTube claims to have captured the moment of the explosion as the aircraft impacted the ground. However, its authenticity could not be immediately verified.
Emergency crews are working at the scene of the crash and have already put out the fire, according to a TASS source.
The airport is to remain closed until at least 9:00am Moscow time. As a result at least six flights have been delayed, two of which were supposed to leave for St. Petersburg, while the others were due to arrive in Moscow. The inbound flights are getting rerouted to Krasnodar.
According to a LifeNews source, the plane failed to land at the first approach and was forced to make a reentry. However, at this point the aircraft's tail allegedly hit the ground. The Boeing then crashed and caught fire.
Flydubai confirmed that they are aware of an “incident involving our flight FZ981 from Dubai to Rostov On Don.”
“We are investigating further details and will publish an update once more information is available,” the airline added.
The Emergencies Ministry has opened up a hotline while a team of psychologists has been sent to help the grieving relatives.
Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith quits Cameron's Cabinet
The Work and Pensions Secretary who has held the position since 2010 made the announcement on Friday evening amid a Conservative row over the Budget.
The former Conservative leader said that plans to cut the benefits paid to the disabled by more than £1 billion were a "compromise too far" and said that welfare for pensioners should be cut instead.
The planned cuts are to hit Personal Independence Payments, expected to affect 640,000 people.
Mr Duncan Smith said the cuts were "not defensible" within a Budget that "benefits higher earning taxpayers".
He said he is proud of reforms made over the last five years, but that the latest cuts were a "compromise too far".
In a letter he wrote: "I am unable to watch passively whilst certain policies are enacted in order to meet the fiscal self-imposed restraints that I believe are more and more perceived as distinctly political rather than in the national economic interest.
"I have for some time and rather reluctantly come to believe that the latest changes to benefits to the disabled and the context in which they’ve been made are a compromise too far.
"While they are defensible in narrow terms, given the continuing deficit, they are not defensible in the way they were placed within a Budget that benefits higher earning taxpayers.
"They should have instead been part of a wider process to engage others in finding the best way to better focus resources on those most in need."
The MP for Chingford continued: "Those reforms have helped to generate record rates of employment and in particular a substantial reduction in workless households.
"Throughout these years, because of the perilous public finances we inherited from the last Labour administration, difficult cuts have been necessary.
"I have found some of these cuts easier to justify than others but aware of the economic situation and determined to be a team player I have accepted their necessity."
Tory MPs are openly rebelling over the plans to slash £1.2billion from Personal Independence Payments (PIP) by removing weekly payments from people who need 'aids and appliances' to help them dress and use the toilet.
Labour has demanded the Government abandon the plans and promised to force a Commons vote.
North Korean recent missile tests condemned Tokyo
Two suspected North Korean missile launches drew Japanese condemnation on Friday, just days after the isolated country’s defiant leader Kim Jong Un threatened to carry out a series of nuclear warhead tests and missile launches.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said North Korea shot off a medium-range ballistic missile at around 5:54 a.m. from the western part of Sukchon. It flew about 800 km and fell into the Sea of Japan about 650 km east of the Korean Peninsula. Suga said Tokyo lodged protest with North Korea through the embassy in Beijing, and that there is no report of damages caused to Japanese ships by the launch.
The U.S. officials said the second missile, fired about 20 minutes later, disappeared from radar in the early stage of its flight. Yonhap News reported that it may have exploded before reaching its target area, citing South Korean defense officials.
Both U.S. and South Korean defense officials believe the missiles were probably Nodongs fired from mobile launch vehicles.
Tokyo has yet to confirm details on the second missile or what type may be involved, but Defense Minister Gen Nakatani did tell reporters he has not ruled out the possibility they were Nodong missiles, which have a maximum range of 1,300 km and are capable of striking Japan. Kyodo News reported that Nakatani issued an order to destroy the missiles should they threaten Japanese territory, citing government sources.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe denounced the North’s lates tprovocation, calling it a clear violation of the U.S. Security Council resolutions.
“We demand that North Korea refrain (from any provocative actions), and we are bracing for any contingency,” Abe said during the Upper House budgetary committee session.
Tensions have been simmering since Pyongyang carried out its fourth nuclear test on Jan. 6, followed by the launch of a long-range rocket that was seen as cover for another long-range ballistic missile test.
Friday’s launch is widely believed to be a blatant protest against the biggest joint military drills held by the United States and South Korea. The drills, underway since March 7, are often criticized by Pyongyang as a provocative rehearsal for invasion.
On March 10, the North fired two short-range missiles into the Sea of Japan. It also launched a Nodong missile in March 2014, while the U.S. and South Korea were staging joint drills.
Pyongyang’s continuous provocations come amid mounting international pressure against it. Japan and South Korea have already adopted their own sanctions and the U.N. Security Council earlier this month unanimously adopted a resolution that imposes the most stringent sanctions ever on the North. U.S. President Barack Obama on Thursday also signed an executive order implementing tough sanctions based on the resolution, further isolating a country that is already known as the hermit kingdom.
The newly imposed sanctions are aimed at weakening Pyongyang’s ability to further develop nuclear weapons. Pyongyang is believed to already have a small stockpile of nuclear weapons, though its ability to accurately strike targets has been questioned. Among the North’s ambitions is to develop a usable inter-continental ballistic missile that can strike the North America. Yet experts say it will take years for North Korea to develop that capability.
To diffuse such skepticism, the North has been flaunting its technological development.
The state-run Korean Central News Agency earlier this month reported that the country has succeeded in miniaturizing nuclear warheads to fit in ballistic missiles.
The state media on Tuesday also reported that North Korea successfully conducted a simulation of the atmospheric re-entry of a warhead. The technology, if actually developed, would give the North the ability to not only launch a long-range missile, but also guide it through re-entry and to a target, including the United States.
South Korea’s defense ministry said that Pyongyang is yet to acquire such technology. Yet experts say that the North could soon be testing an ICBM, which could further destabilize the security landscape of the Korean Peninsula and escalate military tensions.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said North Korea shot off a medium-range ballistic missile at around 5:54 a.m. from the western part of Sukchon. It flew about 800 km and fell into the Sea of Japan about 650 km east of the Korean Peninsula. Suga said Tokyo lodged protest with North Korea through the embassy in Beijing, and that there is no report of damages caused to Japanese ships by the launch.
The U.S. officials said the second missile, fired about 20 minutes later, disappeared from radar in the early stage of its flight. Yonhap News reported that it may have exploded before reaching its target area, citing South Korean defense officials.
Both U.S. and South Korean defense officials believe the missiles were probably Nodongs fired from mobile launch vehicles.
Tokyo has yet to confirm details on the second missile or what type may be involved, but Defense Minister Gen Nakatani did tell reporters he has not ruled out the possibility they were Nodong missiles, which have a maximum range of 1,300 km and are capable of striking Japan. Kyodo News reported that Nakatani issued an order to destroy the missiles should they threaten Japanese territory, citing government sources.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe denounced the North’s lates tprovocation, calling it a clear violation of the U.S. Security Council resolutions.
“We demand that North Korea refrain (from any provocative actions), and we are bracing for any contingency,” Abe said during the Upper House budgetary committee session.
Tensions have been simmering since Pyongyang carried out its fourth nuclear test on Jan. 6, followed by the launch of a long-range rocket that was seen as cover for another long-range ballistic missile test.
Friday’s launch is widely believed to be a blatant protest against the biggest joint military drills held by the United States and South Korea. The drills, underway since March 7, are often criticized by Pyongyang as a provocative rehearsal for invasion.
On March 10, the North fired two short-range missiles into the Sea of Japan. It also launched a Nodong missile in March 2014, while the U.S. and South Korea were staging joint drills.
Pyongyang’s continuous provocations come amid mounting international pressure against it. Japan and South Korea have already adopted their own sanctions and the U.N. Security Council earlier this month unanimously adopted a resolution that imposes the most stringent sanctions ever on the North. U.S. President Barack Obama on Thursday also signed an executive order implementing tough sanctions based on the resolution, further isolating a country that is already known as the hermit kingdom.
The newly imposed sanctions are aimed at weakening Pyongyang’s ability to further develop nuclear weapons. Pyongyang is believed to already have a small stockpile of nuclear weapons, though its ability to accurately strike targets has been questioned. Among the North’s ambitions is to develop a usable inter-continental ballistic missile that can strike the North America. Yet experts say it will take years for North Korea to develop that capability.
To diffuse such skepticism, the North has been flaunting its technological development.
The state-run Korean Central News Agency earlier this month reported that the country has succeeded in miniaturizing nuclear warheads to fit in ballistic missiles.
The state media on Tuesday also reported that North Korea successfully conducted a simulation of the atmospheric re-entry of a warhead. The technology, if actually developed, would give the North the ability to not only launch a long-range missile, but also guide it through re-entry and to a target, including the United States.
South Korea’s defense ministry said that Pyongyang is yet to acquire such technology. Yet experts say that the North could soon be testing an ICBM, which could further destabilize the security landscape of the Korean Peninsula and escalate military tensions.
Two daughters of Ukrainian pianist Vadym Kholodenko found slain in Texas home
The young daughters of renown Ukrainian pianist Vadym Kholodenko have been found dead at their home near Fort Worth, Texas.
Nika and Michela Kholodenko, 5 and 1, were discovered on Thursday morning along with their 31-year-old mother Sofia Tsygankova, who suffered multiple stab wounds, according to police in Benbrook.
The Tarrant County medical examiner identified the girls and said that they were found in a bedroom, but did not say how they died.
Police, who are investigating the incident as a double homicide and assault, said that neither child had stab wounds.
Their classical music star father is scheduled to play Friday, Saturday and Sunday with the Fort Worth Symphony.
A spokeswoman for the Van Cliburn Foundation, which manages Kholodenko, told the Daily News that the symphony would make an announcement about the performances on Friday, and added that her organization had not heard from the musician.
It was not clear as of Thursday night where he was in the morning.
Kholodenko had filed for divorce from Tsygankova in November after five years of marriage, and had not lived with her since August, according to NBC DFW.
The 29-year-old pianist was born in Kiev, later moving to Moscow for more musical training before recently making a home in Texas.
He achieved fame after winning prizes at international competitions, including a gold medal at the Fort Worth-based Van Cliburn International Competition in 2013.
Nika and Michela Kholodenko, 5 and 1, were discovered on Thursday morning along with their 31-year-old mother Sofia Tsygankova, who suffered multiple stab wounds, according to police in Benbrook.
The Tarrant County medical examiner identified the girls and said that they were found in a bedroom, but did not say how they died.
Police, who are investigating the incident as a double homicide and assault, said that neither child had stab wounds.
Their classical music star father is scheduled to play Friday, Saturday and Sunday with the Fort Worth Symphony.
A spokeswoman for the Van Cliburn Foundation, which manages Kholodenko, told the Daily News that the symphony would make an announcement about the performances on Friday, and added that her organization had not heard from the musician.
It was not clear as of Thursday night where he was in the morning.
Kholodenko had filed for divorce from Tsygankova in November after five years of marriage, and had not lived with her since August, according to NBC DFW.
The 29-year-old pianist was born in Kiev, later moving to Moscow for more musical training before recently making a home in Texas.
He achieved fame after winning prizes at international competitions, including a gold medal at the Fort Worth-based Van Cliburn International Competition in 2013.
Hulk Hogan gets $115 million in lawsuit win against Gawker
Former pro wrestler Hulk Hogan had sued Gawker for $100 million for
posting a video of him having sex with his then-best friend's wife. A
jury awarded Hogan (Terry Bollea) $115 in the lawsuit - $55 million for
economic injuries plus $60 million for emotional distress, according to
Anna Phillips of the Tampa Bay Times.
Friday, 18 March 2016
Salah Abdeslam the most-wanted fugitive from November's Paris attacks arrested in Brussels
The most-wanted fugitive from November's Paris attacks was wounded and caught in a shootout with police in Brussels on Friday, Belgian newspaper Derniere Heure and other media said.Other newspapers reported two people had been arrested, though there were conflicting accounts and French President Francois Hollande said there was no confirmation of the detention of Salah Abdeslam, the 26-year-old French suspect from Brussels.
Several exchanges of gun fire rang out in the city's Molenbeek area - the scene of past investigations - and police officers were seen surrounding an apartment block there.
AFP Photo/Vincent LEFAI, Laurence SAUBADU
Hollande and Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel left a meeting of EU leaders on the migration crisis going on at the same time in the Belgian capital and met to discuss the operation, officials said.
Television footage showed masked, black-clad security forces guarding a street. Reporters at the scene described white smoke rising from a rooftop and a helicopter hovering overhead.
A police spokeswoman said an operation was ongoing and could not give further details.
Belgian police had found fingerprints belonging to Abdeslam at the scene of an apartment raided on Tuesday, prosecutors said earlier.
The Belgian federal prosecutor's office also said an Algerian killed during that earlier operation was probably one of the people French and Belgian investigators were seeking in relation to the Islamic State attacks in Paris on November 13.
It later said in a separate statement that Mohamed Belkaid was probably the man who went under the name of Samir Bouzid and was killed on Tuesday.
Public broadcaster RTBF said it had information that Abdeslam, whose elder brother blew himself up in Paris, was "more than likely" one of two men who police have said evaded capture at the scene before a sniper shot dead 35-year-old Belkaid as he aimed a Kalashnikov.
Other Belgian media were more cautious, however, saying only there was evidence Abdeslam had been there.
A man named Samir Bouzid has been sought since December when police issued CCTV pictures of him wiring cash from Brussels two days after the Paris attacks to a woman who was then killed in a shootout with police in the Paris suburb of St. Denis.
She was a cousin of Abdelhamid Abbaoud, a Belgian who had fought in Syria and is suspected of being a prime organiser of the attacks in which 130 people were killed. Both died in the apartment in St. Denis on November 18.
France's BFM television said the fingerprints were found on a glass in the apartment, where four police officers, including a Frenchwoman, were wounded when a hail of automatic gunfire hit them through the front door as they arrived for what officials said they had expected to be a relatively routine search.
Belgian officials said earlier in the week that police had not expected to find armed suspects at the apartment and that the presence of French officers was not an indication the raid was of special importance to the investigation.
Abdeslam's elder brother was among the suicide bombers who killed themselves in Paris during a shooting rampage in which 130 people died. The younger Abdeslam was driven back to Brussels from Paris hours later.
Belgian authorities are holding 10 people suspected of involvement with him, but there has been no report of the fugitive himself being sighted. There has long been speculation in Belgium that he could have fled to Syria.
Investigators believe much of the planning and preparation for the November bombing and shooting rampage in Paris was conducted in Brussels by young French and Belgian nationals, some of whom fought in Syria for Islamic State.
The attack strained relations between Brussels and Paris, with French officials suggesting Belgium was lax in monitoring the activities of hundreds of militants returned from Syria.
Brussels, headquarters of the European Union as well as Western military alliance NATO, was entirely locked down for days shortly after the Paris attacks for fear of a major incident there. Brussels has maintained a high state of security alert since then, with military patrols a regular sight.
Connecticut Confirms First Zika Virus Case
On Friday, the state Department of Public Health announced that the first case of Zika virus in the state has been detected.
The patient is between 60 and 69 years old and traveled to a Zika-affected area and had onset of illness on the day the patient returned in March.
Officials said the patient’s illness was characterized by a skin rash, conjunctivitis, fatigue, chills, headache, and muscle aches.
The patient was seen by a physician and is recovering, a press release said.
The patient is between 60 and 69 years old and traveled to a Zika-affected area and had onset of illness on the day the patient returned in March.
Officials said the patient’s illness was characterized by a skin rash, conjunctivitis, fatigue, chills, headache, and muscle aches.
The patient was seen by a physician and is recovering, a press release said.
President Obama to meet with leaders of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden
Sweden's prime minister says that President Barack Obama will meet with Nordic leaders in Stockholm next month en route to the Group of 20 economic summit in Russia, to discuss issues on terrorism, violent extremism, environmental issues among others.
Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt told reporters on Thursday that he will host discussions with Obama on Sept. 4, followed by a joint meeting with the prime ministers of neighboring Norway, Finland, Denmark and Iceland. Finnish President Sauli Niinisto also will attend, his office said.
Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt told reporters on Thursday that he will host discussions with Obama on Sept. 4, followed by a joint meeting with the prime ministers of neighboring Norway, Finland, Denmark and Iceland. Finnish President Sauli Niinisto also will attend, his office said.
WHO sends specialists in response to recent Guinea Ebola case
The World Health Organisation is deploying specialists to Guinea and the government is holding an emergency meeting after two new Ebola cases were confirmed.
The cases were announced just hours after Sierra Leone officially heralded the end of its recent Ebola flare-up, again dashing hopes that the deadly disease was gone from West Africa.
The new cases occurred in a remote region of south east Guinea, 1,000km (620 miles) from the capital.
The cases were announced just hours after Sierra Leone officially heralded the end of its recent Ebola flare-up, again dashing hopes that the deadly disease was gone from West Africa.
The new cases occurred in a remote region of south east Guinea, 1,000km (620 miles) from the capital.
Bitcoin found favour among smaller investors as large institutions still on sidelines
NEW YORK Digital currency bitcoin has found favour among smaller investors, thanks to the availability of funds designed to invest in it, but remains a niche among the larger investing community.
Investors at some family offices, smaller mutual funds, and traders at hedge funds say bitcoin has helped returns and demonstrated a low correlation with other asset classes.
Hopes that bitcoin would become a broadly used alternative to other currencies helped buoy its price to more than $1,000 (£692) in December 2013, when its market capitalisation was $13 billion.
But the market cap has retreated since then, to about $6.4 billion as of Thursday.
Europa League quarter-final draw update: Jurgen Klopp will return to Dortmund as Sevilla face Villarreal
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will return to former club Borussia Dortmund after the two sides were drawn against each other in the Europa League quarter-finals.
After triumphing against arch rivals Manchester United in the last 16, Klopp was asked about the possibility of facing his former club, indicating that he did not want to draw them, asking: "Why should I want the strongest team in the round?"
UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Draws 2016
The first legs will take place on April 5 and 6, and the second legs will be played on April 12 and 13.
Wolfsburg v Real Madrid
Bayern Munich v Benfica
Barcelona v Atletico Madrid
Paris Saint-Germain v Manchester City
Wolfsburg v Real Madrid
Bayern Munich v Benfica
Barcelona v Atletico Madrid
Paris Saint-Germain v Manchester City
Statoil says a gas facility in Algeria hit by explosive
An Algerian gas plant owned by Norway's Statoil, BP and state firm Sonatrach was attacked on Friday, the company said.
"The In Salah Gas asset in Krechba was hit by explosive munitions fired from a distance," Statoil said in a statement.
"Statoil is working on getting an overview of the situation, but has so far no information about anybody being injured during the attack," it said.
"The In Salah Gas asset in Krechba was hit by explosive munitions fired from a distance," Statoil said in a statement.
"Statoil is working on getting an overview of the situation, but has so far no information about anybody being injured during the attack," it said.
US confirms North Korean launch of a missile into the Sea of Japan
Provocateur North Korea on Friday did what it does the best, provoke neighbours and the world powers by launching ballistic missiles and raise possibility of more global economic sanctions.
According to the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff, the latest ballistic missile launch came around 5:55 a.m. Friday, near Sukchon county, South Pyongang province. The missile flew a distance of 800 kilometers before crashing off the North's east coast, the chiefs said.
The North Korean move is the latest ostentatious display of the military power by North Korea that roils with tension on the peninsula.
It comes a week after Pyongyang fired two missiles from North Hwanghae province, south of the capital, toward the sea east of the Korean Peninsula.
South Korean military is said to have tracked the projectiles and is monitoring the situation, it said.
The launch was confirmed by US officials. A defense official told CNN the United States tracked two ballistic missiles, adding it appears to be a Rodong missile fired from a road-mobile launcher.
The official said the test violated multiple UN Security Council resolutions that ban North Korea from engaging in any ballistic and nuclear activities.
Japan condemned the launch, lodging a protest with North Korea through its embassy in Beijing, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told parliament.
"Japan strongly demands North Korea to exercise self-restraint and will take all necessary measures, such as warning and surveillance activity, to be able to respond to any situations," Abe said.
The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said it wasn't known what type of missile was fired. However, South Korean defense sources said it was the medium-range missile launch a first by North Korea since April 2014 when it fired two.
"(The) Rodong medium-range ballistic missile was fired from Sukchon County, South Pyongang. It landed in the East Sea (Sea of Japan)," said an online blog, "North Korea Leadership Watch", which analyzes developments in the Korean peninsula.
Kim Jong Un was not observed to have attended the Friday missile launch, the blog said.
It added that South Korean sources believe that the missile was fired from a transporter-erector-launcher and marked the second mobile missile launch by the North within a week.
On March 10, North Korea conducted a mobile missile drill in which two missiles were launched from outside Sariwon, North Hwanghae province, later implicitly identified as a sea port of debarkation test.
Last week's launch was also confirmed in a report by the state-run Korean Central News Agency. It followed a North Korean claim that it had miniaturized nuclear warheads to fit on ballistic missiles, according to KCNA.
The news agency published a statement that "all agreements on economic cooperation and business exchanges adopted by North and South are invalid".
Seoul last month ordered the closure of the Kaesong industrial complex, a rare symbol of cooperation between the two Koreas.
Tensions have heightened on the Korean Peninsula since a fourth North Korean nuclear test and joint US-South Korean military drills.
Around 17,000 American military personnel and 300,000 South Korean troops are taking part in what the South Korean Defense Ministry described as the "largest ever" joint military exercises.
North Korea has warned that it would make a "pre-emptive and offensive nuclear strike" in response to the joint exercises.
Prosecutors raid Volkswagen inspection center in South Korea
Prosecutors raided an inspection center of the local unit of Volkswagen, officials said Friday, in the latest raid at the German carmaker's unit over its poor execution of recall orders on its emissions-faked vehicles.
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office said computer hard drives and documents on Volkswagen vehicles' emissions results have been confiscated from its pre-delivery inspection center in Pyeongtaek, about 70 kilometers south of Seoul.
World Health Organization: Death toll in Angola yellow fever outbreak rises to 158
A yellow fever outbreak in Angola that began late last year has killed 158 people, up from 50 a month ago, as deaths from the disease transmitted by mosquitoes accelerate, a World Health Organisation official said on Friday.
There has also been an increase in malaria, cholera and chronic diarrhoea in Luanda and other cities, partly due to a breakdown in sanitation services and rubbish collection, health officials say.
There has also been an increase in malaria, cholera and chronic diarrhoea in Luanda and other cities, partly due to a breakdown in sanitation services and rubbish collection, health officials say.
Thursday, 17 March 2016
Apple will lead increase in wearable device shipments through 2020
With the Apple Watch set to ship in April, analysts and experts are busy calculating the potential market for the upcoming wearable.
The Apple Watch is expected to add marginally to Apple’s revenue and only be a fraction of the iPhone sales unit, but in the next four years, the company is expected to participate in a wearable market worth $16.5 billion, according to Liam Tung of ZDNet.
Ebola flare-up over says WHO, as virus no longer spreading in West Africa
The latest flare-up of Ebola in Sierra Leone has ended, leaving no confirmed cases of the virus in West Africa, the UN said Thursday, hailing a "milestone" in the fight against the outbreak.
"The World Health Organization joins the government of Sierra Leone in marking the end of the recent flare-up of Ebola virus disease in the country," a statement said.
Russia’s Olympic Swimmer bronze medalist Yefimova tests positive for banned drug meldonium
Russia’s swimming star Yulia Yefimova has tested positive for meldonium, the drug recently banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), a source in the All Russian Swimming Federation told TASS."The Federation is aware that Yefimova tested positive for meldonium," the source said. The test was conducted in the out-of-competition period.
Yefimova, 23, Russia’s Olympic bronze medalist in swimming, the four-time world champion and many times winner of European tournaments, was given a 16-month ban in 2014 after testing positive for a banned substance (steroid DHEA).
The swimmer, who was considered as Russia’s best hope for podium place at this year’s Olympics in Rio, could face a lifetime ban for another violation of anti-doping rules.
Some 100 athletes have tested positive for meldonium this year, according to the latest reports. The names of 14 athletes have been revealed. Ten Russians are among them: speed skater Pavel Kulizhnikov, biathlete Eduard Latypov, cyclist Eduard Vorganov, figure skater Yekaterina Bobrova, tennis player Maria Sharapova, short-track skaters Semion Elistratov and Ekaterina Konstantinova, volleyball player Aleksandr Markin and rugby players Alexey and Alena Mikhaltsov.
Meldonium belongs to S4 class on the WADA blacklist (hormones and metabolic modulators). In sports, meldonium (mildronate) is used to enhance the human body’s endurance and ability to resist high physical strain during training and nervous and psychological stress during competitions. In the former Soviet states, the drug is used to prevent damage to the heart during high-intensity exercise. Since January 2016, the presence of the meldonium substance in the athlete’s blood during and between competitions is a violation of anti-doping rules.
TAK (Kurdistan Freedom Falcons) admits responsibility for Sunday Ankara bombing
In February, the Kurdistan Freedom Falcons (Teyrenbazen Azadiya Kurdistan; TAK) claimed responsibility for a bomb attack in the Turkish capital Ankara targeting buses carrying military personnel in which 28 people were killed. Experts and Turkish officials believe the group may also be responsible for an attack at a bus stop in the city on Sunday, 13 March, in which 34 people, mostly civilians died.
Russia’s pullout from Syria will leave dangerous void says Isreal
Israel viewed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s announcement that he was removing the bulk of his troops from Syria with a mix of surprise and concern.
Israeli President Reuven Rivlin met with Putin in Moscow on Wednesday as part of a visit to mark 25 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
During the meeting, which lasted two hours, Putin reiterated Russia’s commitment to Israel’s security, a senior adviser to Rivlin said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief the news media.
He said Rivlin made clear Israel’s concerns regarding the wider regional instability and stressed issues that would constitute red lines in terms of Israel’s security.
Israeli journalists traveling with Rivlin reported that he spoke to Putin about the possibility of U.N. peacekeeping troops returning to the tense border between Syria and the Israeli-controlled portion of the Golan Heights. It was also reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu might soon be heading to Moscow to meet with Putin.
Israelis, like others closely monitoring the conflict, had little understanding of what had driven the Russians to pull back from the fight. But for Israel, which borders Syria on its northern edge, there was fear that a vacuum in the war-torn country could allow Israel’s enemies — Iran and its Lebanese proxy, the Shiite militia Hezbollah — to gain strength.
Israel not only is anxious about spillover of fighting in southern Syria into the Golan Heights but is also worried about transfers of Iranian and Syrian missiles and weapons to Hezbollah.
"Everybody understands that the Islamic State is a danger to the entire world, but for us, fundamentalist Iranian Shiite Islam is no less of a danger," Rivlin said as he left for Russia on Tuesday evening.
Rivlin is the first foreign leader to meet with Putin since he announced the withdrawal from Syria.
Speaking in the Knesset on Tuesday, the Israeli army’s chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Gadi Eisenkot, said Israeli officials had not received any information in advance about Putin’s plans to pull out and were as surprised as everyone else. He said it was likely that the Russians would reduce their presence in a gradual manner, maintaining a naval and air base in Syria.
Although Israel has refrained from direct involvement in the five-year-old Syrian conflict, it has been keeping a close eye on the situation there.
Along the demilitarized zone on the Golan Heights, groups for and against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad vie for control. Additionally, fighting between rebels and Assad forces often spills over into Israel, with stray rockets or wounded fighters crossing the border.
Moshe Marzuk, a researcher at the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism in Herzliya and former head of the Israeli army’s Lebanon and Palestinian intelligence division, said there is real concern that Hezbollah has gained strength and valuable military experience from its involvement the Syrian conflict. Hezbollah fought an intense three-week war with Israel in the summer of 2006.
"I don’t think Hezbollah will try to do something to Israel at this stage — it knows it will pay an expensive price if it does," he said. "But Israel still has to keep monitoring the situation closely."
Marzuk said that although the Russians were physically pulling out, they still had a vested interest in the region and in helping to bring stability to Syria.
Yaakov Amidror, a former major general in Israel’s army and former national security adviser, played down the threat to Israel that might arise from Russia’s move.
"I think there will be the same vacuum as there was before the Russians entered," he said. "We have been living with this situation for a long a time, and just like there was not any real change when the Russians came in, there will not be any real change now that they are leaving."
Israeli President Reuven Rivlin met with Putin in Moscow on Wednesday as part of a visit to mark 25 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
During the meeting, which lasted two hours, Putin reiterated Russia’s commitment to Israel’s security, a senior adviser to Rivlin said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief the news media.
He said Rivlin made clear Israel’s concerns regarding the wider regional instability and stressed issues that would constitute red lines in terms of Israel’s security.
Israeli journalists traveling with Rivlin reported that he spoke to Putin about the possibility of U.N. peacekeeping troops returning to the tense border between Syria and the Israeli-controlled portion of the Golan Heights. It was also reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu might soon be heading to Moscow to meet with Putin.
Israelis, like others closely monitoring the conflict, had little understanding of what had driven the Russians to pull back from the fight. But for Israel, which borders Syria on its northern edge, there was fear that a vacuum in the war-torn country could allow Israel’s enemies — Iran and its Lebanese proxy, the Shiite militia Hezbollah — to gain strength.
Israel not only is anxious about spillover of fighting in southern Syria into the Golan Heights but is also worried about transfers of Iranian and Syrian missiles and weapons to Hezbollah.
"Everybody understands that the Islamic State is a danger to the entire world, but for us, fundamentalist Iranian Shiite Islam is no less of a danger," Rivlin said as he left for Russia on Tuesday evening.
Rivlin is the first foreign leader to meet with Putin since he announced the withdrawal from Syria.
Speaking in the Knesset on Tuesday, the Israeli army’s chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Gadi Eisenkot, said Israeli officials had not received any information in advance about Putin’s plans to pull out and were as surprised as everyone else. He said it was likely that the Russians would reduce their presence in a gradual manner, maintaining a naval and air base in Syria.
Although Israel has refrained from direct involvement in the five-year-old Syrian conflict, it has been keeping a close eye on the situation there.
Along the demilitarized zone on the Golan Heights, groups for and against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad vie for control. Additionally, fighting between rebels and Assad forces often spills over into Israel, with stray rockets or wounded fighters crossing the border.
Moshe Marzuk, a researcher at the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism in Herzliya and former head of the Israeli army’s Lebanon and Palestinian intelligence division, said there is real concern that Hezbollah has gained strength and valuable military experience from its involvement the Syrian conflict. Hezbollah fought an intense three-week war with Israel in the summer of 2006.
"I don’t think Hezbollah will try to do something to Israel at this stage — it knows it will pay an expensive price if it does," he said. "But Israel still has to keep monitoring the situation closely."
Marzuk said that although the Russians were physically pulling out, they still had a vested interest in the region and in helping to bring stability to Syria.
Yaakov Amidror, a former major general in Israel’s army and former national security adviser, played down the threat to Israel that might arise from Russia’s move.
"I think there will be the same vacuum as there was before the Russians entered," he said. "We have been living with this situation for a long a time, and just like there was not any real change when the Russians came in, there will not be any real change now that they are leaving."
Sir Andrew Witty GlaxoSmithKline to retire in March 2017
In the publication of its 2015 Annual Report to shareholders, GSK plc today announced that Sir Andrew Witty, CEO, has indicated to the Board his intention to retire from the company in early 2017. The Board has agreed that he will retire on 31st March 2017. The Board will now conduct a formal search for a successor and will consider internal and external candidates for the role.
Wednesday, 16 March 2016
Report:Google's cloud platform now in use by Apple
Sources tell enterprise tech site CRN Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) has begun using Google's (GOOG, GOOGL) cloud infrastructure (IaaS) platform, and has "significantly reduced its reliance" on market leader Amazon Web Services (NASDAQ:AMZN), which it has used to help run iCloud and other services.
Google execs have reportedly told partners Apple is spending $400M-$600M on the Google Cloud Platform - CRN says it isn't clear if this reflects an annual spending rate or capacity purchases. Morgan Stanley estimated last month Apple, which has been investing heavily in its own data center infrastructure, spends ~$1B/year on AWS.
Google execs have reportedly told partners Apple is spending $400M-$600M on the Google Cloud Platform - CRN says it isn't clear if this reflects an annual spending rate or capacity purchases. Morgan Stanley estimated last month Apple, which has been investing heavily in its own data center infrastructure, spends ~$1B/year on AWS.
Obama nominates Merrick Garland to US Supreme Court
President Barack Obama said Wednesday he would nominate appeals court judge Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court, challenging Republicans to reject a long-time jurist and former prosecutor known he called "one of America's sharpest legal minds."
Pope Francis urges countries to 'open doors to migrants'
On Wednesday Pope Francis renewed his appeal on behalf of the tens of thousands struggling to enter other countries as they flee war and violence, asking global leaders to "open their hearts" and doors to migrants and refugees.
"How many of our brothers are currently living a real and dramatic situation of exile, far away from their homeland, with their eyes still full of the rubble of their homes, and in their heart the fear, and often, unfortunately, the pain of having lost loved ones," the Pope said March 16.
Such cases can often lead one to ask questions such as "where is God? How is it possible that so much suffering befalls innocent men, women and children?" he said.
Francis lamented that migrants and refugees fleeing violence in their homeland frequently find "closed doors" when attempting to enter another country.
Germans give thumbs down to Merkel migrant policy
Election losses for Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats in three German state elections will not change policies in the refugee crisis, a government spokesman said on Monday.
Merkel acknowledged Monday that the refugee issue dominated three state elections and that many voters felt there is no satisfactory solution yet.
The three-year-old Alternative for Germany, or AfD - which has campaigned against Merkel's open-borders approach - easily entered all three legislatures, according to projections for ARD television based on exit polls and early counting. Merkel's conservatives trailed centre-left rivals in two states they hoped to win. While Sunday's results will likely generate new tensions, Merkel herself should be secure: she has put many state-level setbacks behind her in the past, and there's no long-term successor or figurehead for any rebellion in sight. "I am fully convinced that we need a European solution, and that this solution needs time".
Merkel acknowledged Monday that the refugee issue dominated three state elections and that many voters felt there is no satisfactory solution yet.
The three-year-old Alternative for Germany, or AfD - which has campaigned against Merkel's open-borders approach - easily entered all three legislatures, according to projections for ARD television based on exit polls and early counting. Merkel's conservatives trailed centre-left rivals in two states they hoped to win. While Sunday's results will likely generate new tensions, Merkel herself should be secure: she has put many state-level setbacks behind her in the past, and there's no long-term successor or figurehead for any rebellion in sight. "I am fully convinced that we need a European solution, and that this solution needs time".
Not less than 15 people killed in bus explosion in Peshawar, Pakistan
A powerful bomb ripped through a bus carrying government employees in Pakistan's Peshawar city today, killing at least 15 people and injuring 30 others.
The blast took place as a bomb placed inside the bus exploded when the vehicle packed with government employees reached Peshawar from Mardan.
The bomb exploded when the private bus was on Sunehri Masjid Road as it was taking civil secretariat employees for duty.
Argentina Coast Guard Sinks Illegal Fishing Boat With Chinese Flag
Argentina's navy announced Tuesday that it used gunfire to sink a boat flying the Chinese flag that was fishing illegally in national waters.
China's government said it expressed its serious concern to Argentina and called for an investigation
The navy statement said the boat was intercepted Monday off the coast of Puerto Madryn, about 907 miles (1,460 kilometers) south of Buenos Aires.
The statement said the boat did not heed warning calls and instead tried to ram an Argentine naval vessel. Sailors then shot holes in different parts of the fishing boat, causing it to sink, the navy said.
Four people on board were rescued and arrested. They remained in custody and were to go before a federal judge in southern Chubut province, the statement said.
The navy said it had been 15 years since one of its vessels last sank a foreign vessel fishing illegally in Argentina's waters.
In Beijing, Lu Kang, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, posted a statement on the ministry's website saying the boat had been fishing in Argentine waters and was chased for several hours before Argentine naval fire holed the vessel. It said four Chinese were picked up by the Argentines and 28 more were rescued by a nearby Chinese vessel.
The statement did not directly address the question of whether the boat was fishing illegally or tried to ram the Argentine navy vessel.
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese Embassy to Argentina have lodged urgent representations with Argentina, expressing serious concern, urging Argentina to carry out a full investigation immediately and to inform China of the details, to protect the safety and lawful rights of Chinese sailors, and to take effective measures to avoid similar incidents," the statement said.
China's government said it expressed its serious concern to Argentina and called for an investigation
The navy statement said the boat was intercepted Monday off the coast of Puerto Madryn, about 907 miles (1,460 kilometers) south of Buenos Aires.
The statement said the boat did not heed warning calls and instead tried to ram an Argentine naval vessel. Sailors then shot holes in different parts of the fishing boat, causing it to sink, the navy said.
Four people on board were rescued and arrested. They remained in custody and were to go before a federal judge in southern Chubut province, the statement said.
The navy said it had been 15 years since one of its vessels last sank a foreign vessel fishing illegally in Argentina's waters.
In Beijing, Lu Kang, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, posted a statement on the ministry's website saying the boat had been fishing in Argentine waters and was chased for several hours before Argentine naval fire holed the vessel. It said four Chinese were picked up by the Argentines and 28 more were rescued by a nearby Chinese vessel.
The statement did not directly address the question of whether the boat was fishing illegally or tried to ram the Argentine navy vessel.
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese Embassy to Argentina have lodged urgent representations with Argentina, expressing serious concern, urging Argentina to carry out a full investigation immediately and to inform China of the details, to protect the safety and lawful rights of Chinese sailors, and to take effective measures to avoid similar incidents," the statement said.
Donald Trump crushes Kasich despite big win in Ohio
Donald Trump won the Republican presidential primaries in Florida, North Carolina and Illinois on Tuesday, scoring the biggest prize of the race so far and driving Florida Sen. Marco Rubio out of the race.
But Ohio Gov. John Kasich prevailed over Mr. Trump on his home turf, while Texas Sen. Ted Cruz was battling the front-runner in Missouri.
The results ensure that the Republican race will continue and increases the odds that Mr. Trump will not win the 1,237 delegates he needs to claim the nomination before the Republican convention in July.
John Kerry to meet with Vladimir Putin and Sergey Lavrov in Moscow over Syria peace
On Tuesday, Putin ordered most of the estimated 3,000 to 6,000 personnel to begin withdrawing from Syria.
“As we mark the fifth anniversary of the start of this horrific war, we may face the best opportunity that we’ve had in years to end it,” Kerry said at the White House on Tuesday alongside the Georgian foreign minister.
First Case of Zika Virus Patient Detected in Cuba
Cuba has announced the first case of the Zika virus on the island, which had been one of the last nations in the western hemisphere free of the disease.The ministry of health said in state media that a 28-year-old Venezuelan post-doctoral student in gastroenterology arrived in the country 21 February and a day later came down a high fever and rash. The government says the woman was under medical quarantine in Artemisa province outside Havana with other newly arrived doctors when her symptoms were detected.
