More than 1,000 inmates have escaped from a jail in the Libyan city of Benghazi. A security official from the jail told the AP news agency that most of the escapees were facing serious charges. Benghazi is one of the most unstable parts of post-revolution Libya. Last year the US ambassador and three other Americans… Continue reading Libya: Mass jailbreak from Benghazi prison
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Francisco Jose Garzon Amo: Spanish train driver accused of reckless manslaughter
Francisco Jose Garzon Amo, the driver of Spanish train that derailed near Santiago de Compostela killing 78 people, has been accused of “reckless manslaughter”, Interior Minister Jorge Fernandez Diaz has said. Jorge Fernandez Diaz said Francisco Jose Garzon Amo, who was slightly hurt in Wednesday’s accident, had been taken to a police station. Francisco Jose… Continue reading Francisco Jose Garzon Amo: Spanish train driver accused of reckless manslaughter
North Korea: Huge parade to mark armistice 60th anniversary
North Korea is holding a huge parade to mark the 60th anniversary of the armistice that ended the Korean War. State TV showed soldiers and military hardware parading through the capital Pyongyang in a carefully choreographed display. Troops and spectators shouted their allegiance to North Korea’s young ruler, Kim Jong-un. The 1950-53 Korean War ended… Continue reading North Korea: Huge parade to mark armistice 60th anniversary
World Youth Day 2013: Pope Francis re-enacts Way of the Cross in Rio de Janeiro
Crowds of Roman Catholic pilgrims in Rio de Janeiro have joined Pope Francis for a re-enactment of Jesus carrying the cross to his crucifixion. The Stations of the Cross march comes on the Pope’s fifth day in Brazil for World Youth Day – a weeklong event for more than a million young Christians. Pope Francis… Continue reading World Youth Day 2013: Pope Francis re-enacts Way of the Cross in Rio de Janeiro
Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatens legal action against Times newspaper over open letter
Turkey’s PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan has threatened legal action against British newspaper Times for publishing an open letter criticizing his handling of recent protests. Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused the Times of “renting out its pages for money”. Hollywood celebrities and academics were among those who signed the letter this week accusing Turkey’s government of “dictatorial… Continue reading Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatens legal action against Times newspaper over open letter
Ariel Castro avoids death penalty as he accepts plea deal
Cleveland kidnapper Ariel Castro appeared in court today to accept a plea deal under which he will serve a life sentence plus 1,000 years for the kidnap and rape of Amanda Berry, Michelle Knight and Gina DeJesus. Ariel Castro, 53, was said to have agreed to the deal – after initially pleading not guilty to… Continue reading Ariel Castro avoids death penalty as he accepts plea deal
Francisco Jose Garzon Amo: Spanish train crash driver formally detained
Francisco Jose Garzon Amo, the driver of the Spanish train that derailed on Wednesday killing 78 people, has been formally detained, police say. Francisco Jose Garzon Amo, who was injured and is under guard in hospital, is accused of “crimes related to the accident”, they say. There are reports that the train was travelling at… Continue reading Francisco Jose Garzon Amo: Spanish train crash driver formally detained
King Juan Carlos of Spain visits train crash survivors in hospital
King Juan Carlos of Spain has said all Spanish people feel the pain of the families of the 80 people killed in a high-speed train crash near Santiago de Compostela. The king was speaking on a visit to the dozens of hospitalized survivors in Santiago de Compostela, near to where the train derailed on Wednesday… Continue reading King Juan Carlos of Spain visits train crash survivors in hospital
World Youth Day 2013: Pope Francis meets thousands of pilgrims at Copacabana beach
Pope Francis has met thousands of pilgrims at Copacabana beach, in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro, to hold the greeting ceremony for World Youth Day. After arriving by helicopter, Pope Francis drove along the 2.5 miles of the beach, stopping many times to greet the crowd. An estimated 1 million pilgrims attended the… Continue reading World Youth Day 2013: Pope Francis meets thousands of pilgrims at Copacabana beach
Facebook shares jump 25% after stronger than expected mobile ad sales
Facebook shares jumped by more than 25% at the market opening on Thursday, after it beat profit forecasts with stronger than expected mobile ad sales. On Wednesday, the social networking giant had reported profits of $333 million in Q2 2013. When trading began in New York, Facebook shares were 25.6% higher at $33.30, the highest… Continue reading Facebook shares jump 25% after stronger than expected mobile ad sales
Tunisia: Opposition leader Mohamed Brahmi assassinated outside his home
Tunisian opposition leader Mohamed Brahmi has been assassinated outside his home in Tunis, officials say. Mohamed Brahmi, 58, led the nationalist Movement of the People party. It is the second time an opposition party leader has been killed this year. In February, prominent secular politician Chokri Belaid was also shot outside his house in Tunis.… Continue reading Tunisia: Opposition leader Mohamed Brahmi assassinated outside his home
Santiago de Compostela train derailment kills at least 77 people
At least 77 people died and more than 100 are injured following train derailment near Santiago de Compostela in north-western Spain, officials in the Galicia region say. All eight carriages of the Madrid to Ferrol train carrying 218 passengers came off the tracks near the city of Santiago de Compostela. Media reports say the train… Continue reading Santiago de Compostela train derailment kills at least 77 people
House of Representatives rejects Amash amendment voting to continue NSA’s phone surveillance
The US House of Representatives has rejected the Amash amendment, voting to continue collecting data on phone calls, in the first legislative move on the programme. In a 205-217 vote, lawmakers rejected an effort to restrict the National Security Agency’s (NSA) ability to collect electronic information. The NSA’s chief had lobbied strongly against the proposed… Continue reading House of Representatives rejects Amash amendment voting to continue NSA’s phone surveillance
Bo Xilai charged with with bribery, corruption and abuse of power
Disgraced Chinese politician Bo Xilai has been charged with bribery, corruption and abuse of power, state media say. Bo Xilai, formerly the Communist Party chief of Chongqing, was expelled from the party after a scandal surrounding the murder of a British businessman. His wife Gu Kailai was jailed in August for the killing of the… Continue reading Bo Xilai charged with with bribery, corruption and abuse of power
Pope Francis warns against drug legalization in Latin America
Pope Francis has warned against drug legalization plans in Latin America during the inauguration of a clinic for drug addicts in Rio de Janeiro. The roots of drug abuse should be tackled, he said on the third day of his visit to Brazil. Uruguay is close to allowing the legal sale of marijuana, with other… Continue reading Pope Francis warns against drug legalization in Latin America
Spain: Train derailment kills at least 10 people near Santiago de Compostela
At least 10 people are reported killed after a train has derailed near Santiago de Compostela in north-western Spain. Spanish railway company Renfe confirmed the train had come off the tracks near the city of Santiago de Compostela in the Galicia region. A Renfe spokesman told AFP news agency several people had been killed and… Continue reading Spain: Train derailment kills at least 10 people near Santiago de Compostela
Royal baby name revealed: Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge
Kate Middleton and Prince William have named their son George Alexander Louis, Kensington Palace has said. The third in line to the throne, who was born on Monday at 16:24 BST, will be known as His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge. It is thought the Queen was told of Prince George’s name when she… Continue reading Royal baby name revealed: Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge
World Youth Day 2013: Pope Francis holds first Mass at Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida
Pope Francis has arrived at the Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida in the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo to hold the first Mass of his trip to Latin America. The pontiff traveled to the Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida by plane and helicopter. On Monday Pope Francis faced chaotic scenes when crowds mobbed… Continue reading World Youth Day 2013: Pope Francis holds first Mass at Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida
Edward Snowden allowed to leave Moscow airport
Fugitive whistleblower Edward Snowden is being given an official pass to leave Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport, Russian reports say. Russia’s Federal Migration Service is said to have issued a document, which he is due to receive shortly. Edward Snowden, 30, has been staying in transit since arriving from Hong Kong on June 23. Wanted by the… Continue reading Edward Snowden allowed to leave Moscow airport
EU plans to cut transaction fees on debit and credit cards confirmed
The European Union’s plans to cut transaction fees on debit and credit cards have been published – but there is disagreement over the potential impact. The European Commission estimates that the EU payment market is worth 130 billion euros but is “fragmented and expensive”. It wants to cap “interchange fees” to a maximum of 0.3%… Continue reading EU plans to cut transaction fees on debit and credit cards confirmed
Bulgaria: Protesters trap more than 100 politicians and journalists inside parliament
Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev has appealed for calm after weeks-long protests escalated into a blockade of parliament and clashes with police. Rosen Plevneliev urged both protesters and police to remain “peaceful and civilized”. More than 100 politicians, journalists and staff were trapped inside the building overnight, until escorted out by police at about 05:00. PM… Continue reading Bulgaria: Protesters trap more than 100 politicians and journalists inside parliament
World Youth Day 2013: Catholics gather at Copacabana Beach for festival opening
Hundreds of thousands of Catholics have gathered at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro for the opening of the World Youth Day festival. The highlight of the festival will be a visit on Thursday by Pope Francis. Pope Francis arrived on Monday for his first trip abroad since becoming head of the Roman Catholic Church.… Continue reading World Youth Day 2013: Catholics gather at Copacabana Beach for festival opening
China bans government buildings construction for five years
China has decided to ban the construction of government buildings for the next five years, according to state media. The move comes as part of a campaign by President Xi Jinping to show that the ruling Communist Party (CPC) is cracking down on corruption and waste. Glitzy new government buildings, sometimes in impoverished areas, have… Continue reading China bans government buildings construction for five years
Royal baby first picture: Kate Middleton and Prince William leave hospital with the future king
The royal baby left hospital with his parents, who revealed they had not yet chosen him a name. Prince William and Kate Middleton waved and smiled broadly to the waiting cameras as they held their prince on the steps of the private Lindo Wing at St Mary’s Hospital in London, 26 hours after he was… Continue reading Royal baby first picture: Kate Middleton and Prince William leave hospital with the future king
Al-Qaeda claims Baghdad mass jailbreaks
Al-Qaeda has claimed two mass jailbreaks in Iraq, which freed hundreds of prisoners including senior leaders of the Islamist militant group. In an online statement, al-Qaeda said Sunday’s attack was the final one in a campaign aimed at freeing inmates. At least 20 security guards died when gunmen stormed the Abu Ghraib and Taji jails… Continue reading Al-Qaeda claims Baghdad mass jailbreaks