International

German sadistic killer couple jailed in ‘House of Horrors’ trial

  BERLIN, Germany (AFP) — A German court Friday jailed a couple who tortured and killed women they had lured to their village home in what has been dubbed the “House of Horrors” case. Angelika Wagener, 49, received a 13-year prison sentence and her former husband Wilfried, 48, an 11-year term in a psychiatric ward for the abuse that led to the deaths of two women. The couple had entrapped at least eight women over […]

Crew recount terror of tsunami that dumped ferry in village

  By Stephen Wright Associated Press WANI, Indonesia (AP) — The captain and crew sailing the Sabuk Nusantara ferry to new owners on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi got the task done and then some. The hulking red and yellow ship was bounced like a basketball as a massive earthquake rocked the region and it landed in front of a row of houses in the village of Wani, dumped by tsunami waves that the crew […]

India signs $5 billion deal for Russian air defense systems

  By Ashok Sharma and Emily Schmall Associated Press NEW DELHI (AP) — India signed a $5 billion deal to buy five Russian S-400 air defense systems on Friday despite a looming threat of U.S. sanctions on countries that trade with Russia’s defense and intelligence sectors. The deal was signed in New Delhi during a visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss nuclear energy, space exploration […]

Fears grow that more than 1,000 still missing in Indonesia disaster

  by Andrew Beatty Agence France Presse PALU, Indonesia (AFP) — More than a thousand people could still be missing after Indonesia’s devastating quake-tsunami, officials said Friday, drastically upping the number of people unaccounted for a week after the disaster. Palu city on Sulawesi island has been left in ruins after it was hit by a powerful quake and a wall of water which flattened houses and flipped over cars, with the official death toll […]

S. Korea court releases Lotte chairman from jail

  SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — The chairman of South Korean retail giant Lotte Group was released from jail on Friday after an appeals court suspended four years his sentence in a massive corruption scandal that brought down former president Park Geun-hye. Shin Dong-bin, 63, was jailed for 30 months in February for providing seven billion won ($6.2 million) to a foundation controlled by Park’s secret confidante in return for state favours regarding Lotte’s duty-free […]

S. Korea ex-president Lee jailed for 15 years over corruption

SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — Former South Korean president Lee Myung-bak was jailed for 15 years for corruption Friday, becoming the latest of the country’s ex-leaders to be sent to prison. The 76-year-old CEO-turned-president, who served from 2008 to 2013, was found guilty on charges including bribery and embezzlement and ordered to pay a fine of 13 billion won ($11.5 million) by the Seoul Central District Court. “Bringing everything into consideration, heavy punishment for the […]

More than 1,000 may still be missing in Indonesia disaster: official

by Andrew Beatty Agence France-Presse PALU, Indonesia (AFP) — More than a thousand people could still be missing after Indonesia’s devastating quake-tsunami, officials said Friday, drastically upping the total number of people unaccounted for a week after the disaster. Palu city on Sulawesi island has been left in ruins after it was hit by a powerful quake and a wall of water which flattened houses and flipped over cars, with the confirmed death toll now […]

No signs of life in hotel rubble, week after Indonesia quake

  PALU, Indonesia (AP) — French rescuers on Friday were unable to find the possible sign of life they detected a day earlier under hotel rubble, a week after the destructive earthquake and tsunami struck Indonesia’s Sulawesi island, killing more than 1,550 people and burying hundreds in mud and debris. The five-member International Emergency Firefighters team said late Thursday its sensor “detected the presence of a victim” under thick concrete in the wreckage of the […]

Abuse victim sues Vatican in bid to identify predators

  LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — A US man who says he was raped by a priest as a child announced Thursday he was suing the Vatican seeking the identification of accused clergy members worldwide. Over recent months, the Catholic Church has been gripped by a global sexual abuse scandal — particularly in Australia, Chile and the US — with allegations that cases were covered up by top church officials. “I’m seeking the truth […]

Putin talks arms, nuclear deals in India

NEW DELHI, India (AFP) — President Vladimir Putin was expected Friday to sign a deal in India worth more than $5 billion for the S-400 air defense system, despite US warnings of sanctions against countries buying Russian military hardware. Putin, who arrived in New Delhi late Thursday, was also set to discuss with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi further agreements worth some $3 billion for Russian naval ships and military helicopters. Russia building its second […]

US court nominee in unusual plea as Senate nears vote

by Michael Mathes and Chris Lefkow Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — As angry protesters swamped Capitol Hill on the eve of a crunch vote Friday to advance the nomination of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, the judge made a highly unusual plea to defend his “impartiality.” The Wall Street Journal opinion piece by Judge Kavanaugh appeared as Republicans confidently declared that a week-long FBI investigation found nothing to corroborate sex assault allegations […]