LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — The British government said Sunday that its security services must have access to encrypted messaging applications such as WhatsApp, as it revealed that the service was used by the man behind the parliament attack. Khalid Masood, the 52-year-old Briton who killed four people in a rampage in Westminster on Wednesday before being shot dead, reportedly used the Facebook-owned service moments before the assault. Home Secretary Amber Rudd told Sky News […]
International
Opposition leader among hundreds arrested at Moscow protest
by Anna MALPAS and Germain MOYON Agence France Presse MOSCOW , Russia (AFP) — Hundreds of people including top Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny were arrested on Sunday as thousands of Russians defied bans to stage protests across the country against corruption. Navalny had called for the marches after publishing a detailed report this month accusing Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev of controlling a property empire through a shadowy network of nonprofit organisations. The report has been […]
Mosul civilian deaths a ‘terrible tragedy:’ US military chief
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The top commander for US military forces in the Middle East on Sunday called recent civilian deaths in the Iraqi city of Mosul a “terrible tragedy,” but stopped short of taking responsibility. “We are investigating the incident to determine exactly what happened and will continue to take extraordinary measures to avoid harming civilians,” General Joseph Votel, who heads US Central Command, said in a statement. “We will continue to prioritize […]
Hollande seeks to boost ties with Asia in face of “isolationism”
SINGAPORE, Singapore (AFP) — French President Francois Hollande called Sunday for efforts to intensify the relationship between Europe and Asia in the face of resurgent “isolationism.” He was speaking in Singapore, the first stage of the last international tour of his five-year term which will also take him to Malaysia and Indonesia. “I appeal for us to intensify our exchanges, our trade, political and cultural agreements,” he said. “This is all the more necessary […]
Australia braces for ‘very destructive’ cyclone
Sydney, Australia (AFP) — Australians are bracing for the worst cyclone in the country’s northeast in several years, with residents evacuated and schools closed amid forecasts of destructive winds and rain. Cyclone Debbie has been forming off the coast of Queensland state in recent days, the official Bureau of Meteorology said Sunday, with its “very destructive core” expected to hit land early Tuesday morning. “The very destructive core of Tropical Cyclone Debbie is currently expected to […]
Beijing favorite Lam voted Hong Kong leader: media count
HONG KONG (AFP) — Carrie Lam was voted leader of Hong Kong Sunday by a mainly pro-China committee according to unofficial media counts, in an election rejected as a sham by pro-democracy activists. Widely seen as Beijing’s favorite candidate, her victory comes as semi-autonomous Hong Kong remains deeply politically divided with concerns growing that China is tightening its grip.
New blow for Trump as Obamacare repeal bid collapses
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Donald Trump faced the biggest blow yet to his young presidency as his bid to repeal Obamacare went down in flames at the hands of rebel Republican lawmakers. Barely two months into his term, Trump was forced to withdraw an embattled Republican health care bill Friday, moments before a vote, leaving his campaign pledge to dismantle his predecessor’s health care reforms unfulfilled. The stinging defeat showed the limits […]
New arrests as British police release new photo of parliament attacker
By James Pheby LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — British police said Friday they had made further “significant” arrests over the Islamist-inspired terror attack on parliament, as they released the first picture of the homegrown killer who left four people dead. Khalid Masood, a 52-year-old Briton with a history of violent offenses but no terrorist convictions, was shot by police on Wednesday after a rampage through Westminster. Two other suspects are in custody following searches at 21 […]
Cities and monuments to dim lights in nod to Earth
PARIS, France (AFP) — From Sydney to New York, cities and monuments will dim their lights on Saturday in a show of solidarity against the threats being faced by the planet from humankind. This year marks the tenth anniversary of Earth Hour, an annual bid to raise awareness about global warming caused by the burning of coal, oil and gas to power cars and power plants. Since it was first held in 2007, in Sydney […]
Tillerson to meet allies as NATO races to save talks
By Dave Clark WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — United States Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will meet with North Atlantic Treaty Organization members next week in Brussels, officials said Friday, as alliance diplomats worked to nail down the date. “We are currently planning to hold the meeting of NATO foreign ministers on 31 March. Consultations on scheduling among Allies are ongoing,” a NATO official in Brussels said. The NATO foreign ministers meeting had been planned […]
S.Sudan’s leaders force famine on their people: analysts
by Tristan MCCONNELL Agence France-Presse NAIROBI, Kenya – South Sudan’s famine is a disaster created by its leaders, say analysts who argue that while food may save some lives now it is only peace that can bring lasting relief. But peace is as distant as ever with an international community that appears paralysed, while the men ruling over the country’s misery are unmoved by pleas for them to lay down their weapons. There is no […]
Watch: Hopes and fears collide for Sewol parents as ferry emerges
Huddled in makeshift shipping container homes on a South Korean waterfront, the relatives of the missing from the Sewol ferry disaster have endured a harrowing wait to recover their dead children. (Video courtesy AFPTV)





