Morgan Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) in Zimbabwe has filed a legal challenge to Robert Mugabe’s victory in last week’s presidential elections. The electoral petition seeks an order for the result to be declared null and void and a new election to be called within 60 days. The MDC’s 15 grounds include alleged bribery,… Continue reading Zimbabwe election: MDC files legal challenge to Robert Mugabe’s victory
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Front Page news
IRS still targeting Tea Party groups
A current Internal Revenue Service employee revealed during a closed-door interview with congressional staffers that the agency is still subjecting Tea Party groups with a level of scrutiny that it doesn’t apply to other applicants for nonprofit tax exempt status. The news comes three months after the IRS was forced to admit it targeted conservative… Continue reading IRS still targeting Tea Party groups
Two Turkish Airlines pilots abducted in Lebanon by Zuwwar al-Imam Rida group
Two Turkish pilots have been abducted in Lebanon, near Beirut’s international airport. The men working for Turkish Airlines were snatched from a bus which was carrying several other crew members and passengers between a hotel and the airport terminal. A group called Zuwwar al-Imam Rida has said it seized the men, saying they would be… Continue reading Two Turkish Airlines pilots abducted in Lebanon by Zuwwar al-Imam Rida group
Pakistan: US withdraws all non-essential government personnel from Lahore consulate
The United States has ordered all non-essential government personnel to leave its consulate in the Pakistani city of Lahore. A senior State Department official said the move was in response to a “credible threat” to the consulate. US personnel remaining in Lahore should limit non-essential travel within the country, the official said. On Thursday, the… Continue reading Pakistan: US withdraws all non-essential government personnel from Lahore consulate
MERS coronavirus: Dromedary camels could be responsible for passing to humans
A new research suggests that dromedary camels could be responsible for passing to humans the deadly MERS coronavirus that emerged last year. Tests have shown the MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) virus, or one that is very closely related, has been circulating in the animals, offering a potential route for the spread. The study is… Continue reading MERS coronavirus: Dromedary camels could be responsible for passing to humans
Lavabit: Encrypted email service used by Edward Snowden shut down
Lavabit, an encrypted email service thought to have been used by Edward Snowden, has abruptly shut down. Ladar Levison, owner of the Texas-based Lavabit service, said legal reasons prevented him explaining his decision. He said he would rather suspend his business than become complicit in “crimes against the American people”. Correspondents say Lavabit appears to… Continue reading Lavabit: Encrypted email service used by Edward Snowden shut down
Paul Fronczak: FBI reopens probe into 1964 missing Chicago boy case
The FBI has reopened an investigation into the disappearance of Paul Fronczak, a newborn boy stolen from a Chicago hospital in 1964. It comes after DNA tests showed that the child returned to the missing baby’s parents is not their son. Paul Fronczak, now 49, was raised by Chester and Dora Fronczak after detectives found… Continue reading Paul Fronczak: FBI reopens probe into 1964 missing Chicago boy case
Zimbabwe election: 305,000 voters turned away
Nearly 305,000 Zimbabwean voters were turned away during last week’s elections, which the opposition has said were rigged. These are the first such official figures provided by Zimbabwe’s Electoral Commission (ZEC). The number of rejected voters has been a major complaint. It also said 207,000 voters were “assisted” to cast their ballot – another alleged… Continue reading Zimbabwe election: 305,000 voters turned away
Pope Francis tightens financial supervision at Vatican bank
Pope Francis has stepped up the fight against corruption at the Vatican by strengthening supervision of financial transactions at its internal bank. The Pope issued a decree designed to combat money-laundering and prevent any financing of terrorism. It is the latest move to stamp out abuses at the Vatican bank, which handles funds for the… Continue reading Pope Francis tightens financial supervision at Vatican bank
Venezuela’s Supreme Court rejects Henrique Capriles’ election appeal
Venezuela’s Supreme Court has rejected an appeal by opposition leader Henrique Capriles against April’s contested presidential election result. The Supreme Court of Justice described the appeal as “inadmissible”. After the ruling Henrique Capriles tweeted that there was a “lack of justice” in Venezuela. Nicolas Maduro, Hugo Chavez’s handpicked successor, won the election by less than… Continue reading Venezuela’s Supreme Court rejects Henrique Capriles’ election appeal
Syria denies Bashar al-Assad motorcade attack
Syrian rebels’ claims that they attacked President Bashar al-Assad’s convoy have been denied today by the information minister. Reports that rebel rockets hit his motorcade were “dreams and illusions”, Omran Zoabi told Syrian state TV. Rebels said they fired mortars at his convoy as it headed towards the Anas bin Malek mosque in the Malki… Continue reading Syria denies Bashar al-Assad motorcade attack
International flights begin landing at Nairobi airport after fire
International flights have begun landing at Nairobi’s international airport a day after fire gutted the arrivals hall, causing serious disruption. A plane from London was the first to land at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at 06:30 local time, Kenyan airport authorities said. Other planes from Bangkok and Kilimanjaro also arrived. The cause of the fire… Continue reading International flights begin landing at Nairobi airport after fire
Barack Obama cancels meeting with Vladimir Putin over Edward Snowden asylum
Barack Obama has canceled a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin after Russia’s decision to grant asylum to Edward Snowden, the White House said. But President Barack Obama will still attend the G20 economic talks in St Petersburg. A White House aide said Edward Snowden’s asylum had deepened the pre-existing tension between the two countries.… Continue reading Barack Obama cancels meeting with Vladimir Putin over Edward Snowden asylum
H7N9 virus: China bird flu passed between humans
Scientists have reported the first case of human-to-human transmission of the new strain of bird flu that has emerged in China. The British Medical Journal said a 32-year-old woman was infected after caring for her father. Both later died. Until now there had been no evidence of anyone catching the H7N9 virus other than after… Continue reading H7N9 virus: China bird flu passed between humans
Yemen foils al-Qaeda plot to blow up oil pipelines and seize main ports
Yemen announces it has foiled an al-Qaeda plot to blow up oil pipelines and seize some of the country’s main ports. Security remains tight – and hundreds of armored vehicles have been deployed to protect key targets. Both the US and UK have withdrawn diplomatic staff from Yemen, prompted by intelligence reports of renewed terrorist… Continue reading Yemen foils al-Qaeda plot to blow up oil pipelines and seize main ports
Nairobi airport closes following major fire
A huge fire has broken out at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, the main international airport in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) said Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) had been closed and passengers evacuated. Cabinet secretary for transport Michael Kamau said the fire was “very severe” and urged people to stay away… Continue reading Nairobi airport closes following major fire
Bank of America sued by US government over mortgage securities
The US government filed two lawsuits against Bank of America relating to fraud on $850 million of mortgage-backed securities. The Justice Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission filed parallel suits in North Carolina. Attorney General Eric Holder said the government wanted “justice for those who have been victimized.” Bank of America denied the charges,… Continue reading Bank of America sued by US government over mortgage securities
Hassan Rouhani calls for serious nuclear talks
President Hassan Rouhani has called for “serious and substantive” negotiations with the international community about Iran’s nuclear programme. At the first news conference since his inauguration on Sunday, Hassan Rouhani said he was confident both sides’ concerns could be resolved in a short time. But a solution could be reached solely through “talks, not threats”,… Continue reading Hassan Rouhani calls for serious nuclear talks
George W. Bush undergoes heart surgery in Dallas
George W. Bush has undergone successful heart surgery in Dallas, Texas, after doctors found an artery blockage, a spokesman has said. The former US president had a stent inserted on Tuesday morning, a day after the blockage was discovered during a routine check-up. George Bush, 67, was in “high spirits” afterwards and would be discharged… Continue reading George W. Bush undergoes heart surgery in Dallas
Copenhagen terror alert: Central area evacuated over suspect car
Police evacuated an area of central Copenhagen, Denmark, on Tuesday following the discovery of a parked car with wires attached to it, local television reported. “There are cables coming in and out of the vehicle and there are some suspicious items in it,” a Copenhagen police spokesman told TV2 News. He also said a military… Continue reading Copenhagen terror alert: Central area evacuated over suspect car
US citizens warned to leave Yemen immediately amid terror alert
The US State Department has warned citizens and non-emergency government staff to leave Yemen “immediately” due to security threats. It comes after the sudden closure of 20 US embassies and consulates on Sunday. This was prompted by intercepted conversations between two senior al-Qaeda figures, including top leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, US media said. The US earlier… Continue reading US citizens warned to leave Yemen immediately amid terror alert
Australia’s central bank cuts its benchmark interest rate to a new record low
The central bank of Australia has cut its benchmark interest rate to a new record low, in an attempt to spur a fresh wave of economic growth. The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) cut its key rate to 2.5% from 2.75%. Last week, the government cut its growth forecasts and warned that unemployment in the… Continue reading Australia’s central bank cuts its benchmark interest rate to a new record low
Al-Qaeda leaders conversations prompted US embassy closures
The sudden closure of many American diplomatic missions in North Africa and Middle East were prompted after the US intercepted conversations between two senior al-Qaeda leaders. The chatter, involving top leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, represented one of the most serious plots since the 9/11 attacks, the New York Times wrote. The US earlier said the closures… Continue reading Al-Qaeda leaders conversations prompted US embassy closures
Switzerland to change national anthem in 2014
Switzerland considers changing its national anthem as being too old-fashioned, so a new one will be chosen through a competition. The priority is to have a new text, but contestants will also be free to compose a new tune, said project leader Lukas Niederberger. The current text dates back to 1841 and includes references to… Continue reading Switzerland to change national anthem in 2014
Frankenburger: World’s first lab-grown burger cooked and eaten in London
Frankenburger, the world’s first lab-grown burger, was cooked and eaten at a news conference in London today. Dutch scientists took cells from a cow and turned them into strips of muscle that they combined to make a patty. Researchers say the technology could be a sustainable way of meeting what they say is a growing… Continue reading Frankenburger: World’s first lab-grown burger cooked and eaten in London