HANOI, Vietnam – An official says hundreds of villagers in central Vietnam blocked traffic on the country’s main artery for hours to protest pollution from a coal-fired thermo power plant. Local official Nguyen Thanh Sang in Binh Thuan province said Thursday that the villagers threw rocks, bricks and gasoline bombs …
Read More »Turkey recalls ambassador to Austria after parliament issues Armenian genocide declaration
ANKARA, Turkey – Turkey said Wednesday it is recalling its ambassador to Austria after parties represented in parliament signed a declaration recognizing the massacre of Armenians a century ago as genocide. The six parties signed a declaration on Tuesday and held a minute of silence in memory of the victims. …
Read More »France detains second suspect in thwarted church attack investigation
PARIS – French officials say a second man has been detained in an investigation into an alleged plot to attack a church near Paris. The detention occurred Sunday in Saint-Ouen north of Paris, according to a French security official. The man’s DNA was found on a hairbrush in the house …
Read More »Envoy: UN Security Council wants Libya political agreement by Ramadan, in mid-June
UNITED NATIONS – The United Nations envoy on Libya says the Security Council wants to see a political agreement on Libya before Ramadan, which begins in the middle of June, but he says he cannot be optimistic amid the country’s chaos. Bernardino Leon spoke to reporters Wednesday after briefing the …
Read More »Spain's leader makes visit to 2 west African countries amid European migrant pressure
MADRID – Spain’s prime minister has started a two-day trip to two west African countries as Europe faces pressure from jihadis and migrants making perilous sea crossings seeking a better life. Mariano Rajoy landed in Bamako, the capital of Mali, on Sunday and met with President Ibrahim Keita, the prime …
Read More »Philippines says Muslim rebels killed wanted bomb-maker, thanks them for cooperation
MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine military says a wanted Filipino bomb-maker and one of the top terror suspects has been killed by a rival factions of Muslim rebels. The U.S. government has offered a $1 million reward for the capture and prosecution of Abdul Basit Usman. Military spokesman Brig. Gen …
Read More »Mali separatists say they killed 30 army troops in attack in the north
BAMAKO, Mali – Mali’s separatist rebels say they killed 30 army soldiers in an attack on an army convoy. Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane, spokesman for the Coordination of Azawad Movements, a coalition of separatist groups, said they killed 30 army soldiers when they attacked an army patrol about 40 kilometers (25 …
Read More »Rights group says defamation case has been dropped against prominent Angolan journalist
JOHANNESBURG – A human rights group says a prominent Angolan journalist, jailed for his criticism of the government, has been released. The Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights group said on Thursday the criminal case against Rafael Marques de Morais has been stopped. The group said the reasons for this are …
Read More »Turkish finance minister slammed for defending state money spent on luxury cars as 'peanuts'
ANKARA, Turkey – Turkey’s finance minister has come under criticism for defending government spending of $1.3 billion on luxury cars and other vehicles for officials as “peanuts.” Mehmet Simsek made the remark last week as he tried to justify a move by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who promised to provide …
Read More »Senior US official joins Iran nuclear talks with world powers ahead of June deadline
VIENNA – A senior U.S. official has joined nuclear talks between Iran and six world powers with little more than a month until the deadline for a deal. The talks resumed in Vienna Wednesday, with negotiators working on a main document and technical annexes outlining how it will be implemented. …
Read More »