International

Fighting in Afghanistan leaves at least 29 dead, including civilians

Kabul (dpa) – At least seven civilians and 22 Afghan security forces were killed in separate incidents on Friday and Saturday, officials confirmed, as fighting continues in several parts of the country. The seven civilians were killed in Afghanistan’s southern Kandahar province, local police spokesman Ahmad Zia Durani said, adding that they had been among […]

Fighting in Afghanistan leaves at least 29 dead, including civilians Read More »

International

Minneapolis police chief resigns over shooting of Australian woman

Washington (dpa) – The chief of police in the Midwestern US city of Minneapolis resigned on Friday, less than a week after a police officer shot dead an Australian woman who had called emergency services to report a possible sexual assault. “Last Saturday’s tragedy, as well as some other recent incidents, have caused me to

Minneapolis police chief resigns over shooting of Australian woman Read More »

International, USA

Donald Trump: ‘the U.S. President has the complete power to pardon’

President Trump claimed Saturday he has “the complete power to pardon,” publicly responding for the first time to recent news reports suggesting he’s seeking pardons for individuals being investigated by prosecutors probing Russia’s role in last year’s White House race, including relatives, staffers and himself. “While all agree the U.S. President has the complete power

Donald Trump: ‘the U.S. President has the complete power to pardon’ Read More »

USA

Congress strikes deal to stiffen Russia sanctions; Trump questions boost bill

Congress has reached a final deal on new Russia sanctions legislation, leaders announced Saturday, clearing the path for final approval of legislation that would codify penalties imposed by the Obama administration and would require President Trump to seek approval from Capitol Hill should he want to lift the sanctions. The bill has been stalled for

Congress strikes deal to stiffen Russia sanctions; Trump questions boost bill Read More »

International, Middle East, USA

US attorney general discussed Trump campaign with Russian ambassador, says report

Jeff Sessions discussed Donald Trump’s White House bid with the Russian ambassador, according to US intelligence intercepts cited in the Washington Post on Friday, contrary to the attorney general’s public assertions. Sergey Kislyak, Russia’s ambassador to Washington, told his superiors in Moscow that he discussed campaign-related matters, including policy issues important to Moscow, with Sessions

US attorney general discussed Trump campaign with Russian ambassador, says report Read More »

International, USA

Qatar’s emir says his country is ready for dialogue to resolve diplomatic crisis

Qatar’s Emir says the country remains open to dialogue with four Arab nations that have isolated it, but that any resolution to the crisis must respect his country’s sovereignty. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani made the comments in his first televised speech since a diplomatic dispute among the U.S. allies erupted more than a

Qatar’s emir says his country is ready for dialogue to resolve diplomatic crisis Read More »

Middle East

Trump commissions USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, calls on Congress to boost defense spending

President Trump commissioned the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford Saturday, celebrating the newest symbol of American military might as he called on Congress to approve a budget with a big increase in defense spending. Addressing an audience of dignitaries and sailors on the $12.9-billion nuclear-powered carrier at the Naval Air Station in Norfolk, Virginia,

Trump commissions USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, calls on Congress to boost defense spending Read More »

USA

Anthony Scaramucci, Trump’s new communications director, deletes old tweets to avoid ‘distraction’

Anthony Scaramucci, President Trump’s newly appointed communications director, has begun purging his Twitter account of old tweets that don’t jive with the administration’s agenda. “Full transparency: I’m deleting old tweets. Past views evolved & shouldn’t be a distraction. I serve @POTUS agenda & that’s all that matters,” Mr. Scaramucci tweeted Saturday afternoon, hardly 24 hours

Anthony Scaramucci, Trump’s new communications director, deletes old tweets to avoid ‘distraction’ Read More »

USA

Israeli leaders can still contain Temple Mount crisis, but require political courage

The escalating violence brings to mind the events of September 2000, after opposition leader Sharon visited the Mount, but with a few significant differences By Avi Issacharoff The decision taken overnight Thursday-Friday to leave the electronic metal detector gates at the entrances to the Temple Mount compound — placed there after the July 14 attack

Israeli leaders can still contain Temple Mount crisis, but require political courage Read More »

Middle East

After Woman’s Mysterious Death At Mexico Resort, Tourists Report Similar Incidents

Something sinister is happening at a handful of luxury Mexican resorts — at least according to one lawyer and some tourists who’ve vacationed there. After a young woman died under mysterious circumstances at the Iberostar Paraiso Resort in Playa Del Carmen, her family and attorneys have been looking for a plausible explanation for what happened

After Woman’s Mysterious Death At Mexico Resort, Tourists Report Similar Incidents Read More »

International, Travel and Food

Closing the State Department’s war crimes office could send the wrong message

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has ambitious plans to streamline and restructure the State Department. And the first thing on the chopping block could be the war crimes office. Foreign Policy magazine reported that a member of Tillerson’s team informed the Office of Global Criminal Justice Special Coordinator Todd Buchwald that he and his

Closing the State Department’s war crimes office could send the wrong message Read More »

International, USA