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NewsReutersDisgraced U.S. ex-cardinal could be defrocked soon: Vatican sources
Disgraced former U.S. cardinal Theodore McCarrick is almost certain to be defrocked in the next few weeks over allegations against him, including sexual abuse of minors, two Vatican sources said. Last July, McCarrick became the first Catholic prelate in nearly 100 years to lose the title of cardinal
NewsReutersNew passage to Britain as Iranian migrants use boats to cross Channel
Mohamed's first attempt to reach Britain's southern shores in December foundered because the outboard engine was not powerful enough to propel the boat carrying him and half a dozen other Iranian migrants through the choppy English Channel. Last year saw a sharp increase in the number of migrants
NewsAFP NewsTerrified civilians hide, send farewells, during Nairobi siege
When an explosion and gunfire rang out at an upmarket hotel complex in Nairobi, people hid under desks, cowered in bathrooms or hunkered down in their cars, some of them all through the 20-hour siege. Here are some of the stories from survivors of the attack claimed by the Somali Islamist group Al-Shabaab
NewsAFP NewsUK's 'zombie PM' May battles on alone
Isolated British Prime Minister Theresa May once again proved her stoicism by battling on in the face of humiliating defeat for her Brexit deal, but she is running out of allies in her epic political struggle. May suffered the biggest government defeat in modern British history when the House of Commons
NewsAFP NewsKremlin says 'stupid' to suggest Trump a Russian agent
A top Kremlin aide on Wednesday dismissed as ridiculous claims that US President Donald Trump has acted as an agent for Russia amid mounting controversy over his alleged ties to Moscow. How can the US president be an agent of another country?" President Vladimir Putin's foreign policy advisor
NewsAFP NewsNadal shrugs off 'slow start' to accelerate past Ebden
Rafael Nadal admitted he got off to a "slow start" but he still finished off Matthew Ebden in rapid fashion to reach the third round of the Australian Open on Wednesday. The 32-year-old's newly remodelled serve briefly came under pressure from Ebden, 31, who enjoyed vociferous home support
NewsAFP NewsKenya says Nairobi attack over, all five gunmen killed
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta said Wednesday that gunmen who stormed a luxury hotel complex, killing 14 people, had been "eliminated" after an almost 20-hour operation in which hundreds of civilians were rescued. The attack was claimed by the Al-Qaeda-linked Somali group Al-Shabaab, which
NewsAFP NewsChina firm completes $1.4bn Sri Lanka land reclamation
A Chinese state-owned company marked on Wednesday the completion of an ambitious land reclamation adjacent to Sri Lanka's capital Colombo, part of Beijing's "Belt and Road" infrastructure initiative that has alarmed India and the West. "Colombo Port City is an important project
NewsReutersEx-Ivorian leader Gbagbo wants to return home after acquittal: daughter
Former Ivorian leader Laurent Gbagbo intends to return to Ivory Coast following his acquittal on war crimes charges, his daughter said on Wednesday, but prosecutors urged the International Criminal Court to bar him from going home. Judges ruled on Tuesday that prosecutors had failed to prove any case
FinanceReutersSnap shares hit by second CFO exit in a year
Stone joined the owner of Snapchat last May after spending two decades with Amazon.com Inc , replacing Andrew Vollero, who was responsible for taking Snap public in 2017. Several Wall Street analysts termed Stone's departure "materially negative", arguing the loss of an experienced industry
NewsAFP NewsMind the gulf as crisis-hit Qatar, Saudis clash at Asian Cup
Nineteen months of diplomatic rancour will be recast as 90 minutes of football when isolated Qatar take on Saudi Arabia in a clash bristling with political symbolism at the Asian Cup on Thursday. With Saudi Arabia the chief protagonist in a Gulf crisis that has left Qatar, the 2022 World Cup host, cut
NewsAFP NewsGreek PM to face confidence vote after Macedonia row
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras headed into a confidence vote Wednesday with his political future on the line after a row over a landmark name deal with Macedonia sunk his four-year coalition. Tsipras is expected to secure at least 151 votes thanks to the backing of a number of independent MPs.
NewsAFP NewsSudan police tear gas anti-government protest in Kassala: witnesses
Sudanese police Wednesday fired tear gas at crowds of anti-government protesters in Kassala, witnesses said, in the first such demonstration held in the eastern town bordering Eritrea. Protesters chanting "Freedom, justice and peace" took to the streets in downtown Kassala but were swiftly
NewsAFP NewsRussia and Japan 'far from partners': Lavrov
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday that Moscow and Tokyo are still "far from being partners" despite renewed efforts to resolve a decades-old conflict over disputed islands. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe are to meet in Moscow next
NewsAFP NewsEgypt university overturns expulsion of student over hug
An Egyptian university has overturned its decision to expel a male student over hugging his female friend on campus, in an incident that sparked controversy in the conservative country. The footage was widely circulated online earlier this month and initially prompted the expulsion of both students
NewsAFP NewsWarning to Davos: world 'sleep-walking' into climate disaster
The risks of catastrophic weather and flooding from climate change top the list of concerns for business leaders heading into next week's World Economic Forum meeting in Davos. "The world is sleep-walking into catastrophe," Alison Martin, group chief risk officer at Zurich Insurance Group
NewsReutersGreek PM will win votes on confidence and new Macedonia name - deputy PM
Greece's deputy prime minister said the government would emerge stronger after winning a confidence vote later on Wednesday and be able to secure parliament's endorsement for an accord to end a dispute over Macedonia's name. Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras called the confidence vote following
NewsReutersIran vows to will keep military forces in Syria despite Israeli threats
Iran will keep military forces in Syria, the head of the elite Revolutionary Guards said on Wednesday, defying Israeli threats that they might be targeted if they do not leave the country. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that Israeli forces would continue to attack Iranians
NewsReutersDemocrats to grill Trump's new EPA chief pick over past lobbying
Democratic lawmakers will grill U.S. President Donald Trump's new pick to run the Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday over his past coal lobbying, but have little hope of blocking his confirmation in the Republican-controlled Senate. Trump nominated EPA Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler
NewsReutersBritish PM May: We are leaving the EU on March 29
Prime Minister Theresa May said on Wednesday that Britain will be leaving the European Union on March 29, and that the bloc would only consider extending the 'Article 50' negotiating period if there was a credible alternative exit plan. "The government's policy is that we are leaving
EntertainmentReutersFace value: One-time Afghan wedding singer a ringer for Canada's Trudeau
Afghan singer Abdul Salam Maftoon's striking resemblance to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has turned him into an unlikely celebrity in the war-torn country since his debut on a talent show. The 28-year-old first caught the attention of fans when he travelled to the capital, Kabul, to appear
NewsReutersFace value: One-time Afghan wedding singer a ringer for Canada's Trudeau
Afghan singer Abdul Salam Maftoon's striking resemblance to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has turned him into an unlikely celebrity in the war-torn country since his debut on a talent show. The 28-year-old first caught the attention of fans when he traveled to the capital, Kabul, to appear
NewsReutersScores arrested as Zimbabwe police clamp down on fuel price protests
Scores of Zimbabwean civilians including a prominent political activist were arrested to face public order charges on Wednesday, lawyers said, as authorities moved to clamp down on dissent in response to protests against fuel price hikes. Evan Mawarire, a Harare pastor who rose to prominence as a critic
NewsReutersSearch on for Brexit consensus after May's crushing defeat
Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday will try to forge consensus in parliament on a Brexit divorce agreement after the crushing defeat of her own deal left Britain's exit from the European Union in disarray 10 weeks before it is due to leave. The confidence motion, called by opposition Labour
NewsReutersFirst thing May needs to do is extend Brexit deadline: Sturgeon
If British Prime Minister Theresa May wants a cross-party compromise on Brexit the first thing she needs to do is to extend the March 29 time limit, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said on Wednesday. The day after a parliamentary loss by the worst margin for a British government in modern times
