The Statue of Liberty, shut last year after Superstorm Sandy, has reopened to the public on Independence Day. Crowds are flocking once again to see the New York monument, which was swamped by tidal surges during post-tropical cyclone Sandy in October. Events are also being held in Boston, Washington, Atlanta, Philadelphia and New Orleans to… Continue reading Statue of Liberty reopens on 4th of July
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Front Page news
France’s intelligence service intercepts computer and telephone data on a vast scale, Le Monde reveals
According to the French daily Le Monde, France’s foreign intelligence service intercepts computer and telephone data on a vast scale, like the controversial US Prism programme. The data is stored on a supercomputer at the headquarters of the DGSE intelligence service, the paper says. The operation is “outside the law, and beyond any proper supervision”,… Continue reading France’s intelligence service intercepts computer and telephone data on a vast scale, Le Monde reveals
Egypt stock exchange jumps on Mohamed Morsi ousting
Egypt stock exchange has leapt higher after the ousting of Mohamed Morsi as the country’s president. Stocks in Cairo rose by 7% on Thursday, their largest one-day percentage gain in over a year. Traders are hoping that Egypt’s prospects will improve in the absence of Mohamed Morsi, even though the country’s battered economy remains in… Continue reading Egypt stock exchange jumps on Mohamed Morsi ousting
South Korea offers working-level talks with North Korea on Kaesong
South Korea has proposed working-level talks with North Korea on reopening the jointly-run Kaesong Industrial Complex. Seoul made the proposal a day after Pyongyang said South Korean officials could visit the closed complex to inspect and maintain equipment. Work at the factory park, which was a rare symbol of North-South co-operation, was halted in April… Continue reading South Korea offers working-level talks with North Korea on Kaesong
Mohamed Morsi ousted by Egypt’s army
General Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, the head of Egypt’s army, has given a TV address, announcing that President Mohamed Morsi is no longer in office. Abdul Fattah al-Sisi said the constitution had been suspended and the chief justice of the constitutional court would take on Mohamed Morsi’s powers. Flanked by religious and opposition leaders, General Abdul… Continue reading Mohamed Morsi ousted by Egypt’s army
King Albert II of the Belgians announces his abdication
King Albert II of the Belgians has announced his abdication. In a national televised address, King Albert, 79, said he would step down in favor of his son Crown Prince Philippe, 53, on July 21st, Belgium’s national day. The monarch said his health was no longer good enough to fulfill his duties, and he would… Continue reading King Albert II of the Belgians announces his abdication
HIV Breakthrough: Two patients taken off their HIV drugs after bone-marrow transplants
A doctors’ report showed that two patients have been taken off their HIV drugs after bone-marrow transplants seemed to clear the virus from their bodies. One of the patients has spent nearly four months without taking medication with no sign of the virus returning. The team at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, in the US, caution… Continue reading HIV Breakthrough: Two patients taken off their HIV drugs after bone-marrow transplants
Obamacare employer mandate delayed until 2015 because of 2014 midterm elections?
The Obama administration will not begin enforcing employer mandates in the Obamacare law until 2015 – one year later than originally planned. Mark Mazur, the Assistant Treasury Secretary for Tax Policy, announced on the agency’s blog that the administration “will provide an additional year before the … mandatory employer and insurer reporting requirements begin”. The… Continue reading Obamacare employer mandate delayed until 2015 because of 2014 midterm elections?
Mandla Mandela: Nelson Mandela’s grandson accused of illegal grave tampering
Members of Nelson Mandela’s family have laid a criminal complaint against former South African president’s grandson Mandla Mandela. According to police spokesman Mzukisi Fatyela, officers would investigate allegations of illegal grave tampering. A public prosecutor would then decide whether to press charges, he said. It involves the bodies of three of Nelson Mandela’s children, who… Continue reading Mandla Mandela: Nelson Mandela’s grandson accused of illegal grave tampering
Venezuela most likely to shelter Edward Snowden
Venezuela emerged today as the country most likely to shelter NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden from US justice. President Nicolás Maduro said he was “willing in principle” to grant Edward Snowden asylum, declaring: “He didn’t kill anyone or plant a bomb.” Nicolás Maduro said that the NSA whistleblower had not made a formal application for refuge… Continue reading Venezuela most likely to shelter Edward Snowden
John Paul II to be declared saint as Vatican approves second miracle
John Paul II could be declared a saint this year after a Vatican committee approved a second miracle attributed to the former pope’s intercession. The Congregation for the Causes of Saints ruled an “inexplicable recovery” on 1 May 2011 was due to the late Pope’s intercession, Ansa reported. Earlier that same day he had been… Continue reading John Paul II to be declared saint as Vatican approves second miracle
Barack Obama ends Africa trip with Tanzania bombing tribute
President Barack Obama ended his Africa tour by visiting Tanzania, after trips to Senegal and South Africa. Earlier Barack Obama laid a wreath for the victims of the 1998 US embassy bombing in the Tanzanian city of Dar es Salaam. Eleven people were killed in the al-Qaeda attack, which coincided with a bombing in the… Continue reading Barack Obama ends Africa trip with Tanzania bombing tribute
Edward Snowden letter released by WikiLeaks accuses Barack Obama of denying him right to asylum
Edward Snowden accuses President Barack Obama of deception and taking away his basic rights as an American in a letter released by WikiLeaks. The letter says Barack Obama – despite his public denials that he’d been “wheeling and dealing” with international parties over Edward Snowden – has dispatched Vice President Joe Biden to pressurize governments… Continue reading Edward Snowden letter released by WikiLeaks accuses Barack Obama of denying him right to asylum
Vladimir Putin: Edward Snowden can stay in Russia if he stops damaging US
President Vladimir Putin has told fugitive Edward Snowden to stop leaking US secrets if he wants to remain in Russia. Vladimir Putin said Moscow had never extradited anyone before and “has no intention to do so”, adding Edward Snowden was free to go if granted asylum elsewhere. Edward Snowden, 30, is believed to be holed… Continue reading Vladimir Putin: Edward Snowden can stay in Russia if he stops damaging US
Croatia joins European Union
Starting with 1st of July 2013 Croatia has become the 28th member of the European Union, with crowds joining celebrations in the capital Zagreb. Fireworks lit the sky as membership became effective at midnight on Sunday, with President Ivo Josipovic describing the event as historic. It comes almost two decades after Croatia’s brutal war of… Continue reading Croatia joins European Union
Edward Snowden leaks: France, Greece and Italy have been targets of US spying operations
According to the latest files leaked to The Guardian newspaper France, Greece and Italy have been the “targets” of US spying operations. Citing a document by the National Security Agency (NSA), it says America’s non-European allies were also targeted. The claim follows a report by Germany’s Der Spiegel magazine saying EU offices had been bugged.… Continue reading Edward Snowden leaks: France, Greece and Italy have been targets of US spying operations
Arizona wildfire: At least 19 firefighters died while fighting Yarnell blaze
At least 19 firefighters have been killed battling a wildfire in central Arizona, local officials say. The firefighters died while fighting the blaze threatening the town of Yarnell, about 80 miles north-west of Phoenix. The fire was started by lightning on Friday and spread rapidly amid high heat, low humidity and strong winds. At least… Continue reading Arizona wildfire: At least 19 firefighters died while fighting Yarnell blaze
Egypt protests: Mohamed Morsi gets ultimatum from opposition group Tamarud
Tamarud, the Egyptian opposition movement that has led nationwide protests against President Mohammed Morsi, has given him until Tuesday to resign. A statement issued by Tamarud (Rebel) said President Mohamed Morsi would face a campaign of civil disobedience if he did not leave power and allow elections to be held. The group said it had… Continue reading Egypt protests: Mohamed Morsi gets ultimatum from opposition group Tamarud
Brazil protests: Clashes at Confederations Cup final in Rio de Janeiro
Brazilian protesters have clashed with police during the Confederations Cup final between the host nation and Spain in Rio de Janeiro. Riot police fired tear gas as demonstrators threw missiles near the Maracana football stadium. President Dilma Rousseff did not attend the match. She was booed at the opening of the tournament. The protests started… Continue reading Brazil protests: Clashes at Confederations Cup final in Rio de Janeiro
EU outrage over US bugging claim
Germany and France are urging the US to come clean over claims that its intelligence services have been spying on key European Union offices. A report in Germany’s Der Spiegel magazine said EU offices in the US and Europe had been bugged. Other “targets” included the French, Italian and Greek embassies in the US, according… Continue reading EU outrage over US bugging claim
Barack Obama tours Nelson Mandela’s Robben Island jail
President Barack Obama has toured South Africa’s Robben Island – the jail in which Nelson Mandela was kept for 18 years. Barack Obama said he and his family were “deeply humbled” to visit the prison once inhabited by Nelson Mandela – who remains critically ill in hospital. The US president went on to give a… Continue reading Barack Obama tours Nelson Mandela’s Robben Island jail
Saudi Arabia jails seven cyber activists for inciting protests
A Saudi court has sentenced seven cyber activists to between five to 10 years in prison for inciting protests, mainly by using Facebook. The men were arrested in September last year, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW), and their trial began in April. The activists were charged with posting online messages to encourage protests in… Continue reading Saudi Arabia jails seven cyber activists for inciting protests
New WHO guidelines recommend earlier HIV/AIDS treatment
The new World Health Organization guidelines for HIV treatment could see millions more people in developing countries getting life-saving medicine. The WHO is recommending that patients start taking medication at a much earlier stage of the disease. The WHO says the guidelines, which are being launched at an international Aids conference in Kuala Lumpur, could… Continue reading New WHO guidelines recommend earlier HIV/AIDS treatment
Western US heat wave: Dozens of people treated exhaustion and dehydration
Dozens of people across western US have been treated for exhaustion and dehydration, as the region is continuing to bake in a heat wave. A man in Las Vegas is believed to have died from a heat-related illness. Air-conditioned “cooling centres” have been set up in California, Nevada and Arizona, as officials warn the heat… Continue reading Western US heat wave: Dozens of people treated exhaustion and dehydration
EU alarm over US spying claim
Martin Schulz, the head of the European Parliament, has demanded “full clarification” from the US over a report that key EU premises in America have been bugged. Martin Schulz said that if this was true, it would have a “severe impact” on ties between the EU and the US. The report, carried by Germany’s Der… Continue reading EU alarm over US spying claim