Catalonia’s new separatist government sworn in
Barcelona, Jun 2 : Catalonia’s new separatist government was sworn in today in an emotional ceremony full of pro-independence symbolism, a move that will spark the end of Madrid’s direct rule over the region imposed after a failed secession bid. The 13 councillors picked by new Catalan president Quim Torra, a close ally of ousted leader […]
Belgium charges Abdeslam accomplice over 2016 Brussels bombings
Brussels, June 1 : A Belgian judge has charged an accomplice of Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam with a terror offence linked to the March 2016 Brussels suicide bombings, prosecutors said today. Tunisian Sofiane Ayari, who along with Abdeslam was jailed in April for opening fire on police in Brussels days before the bombings, was […]
Denmark bans Islamic full-face veil in public spaces
Stockholm, May 31 : The Danish parliament today passed a law banning the Islamic full-face veil in public spaces, becoming the latest European country to do so. “Anyone who wears a garment that hides the face in public will be punished with a fine,” says the law, which was passed by 75 votes to 30. […]
Serena keeps ‘Black Panther’ catsuit despite questions
Paris, May 31 : Serena Williams will continue to wear her striking, all-black catsuit in her French Open second round clash on Thursday despite questions raised over whether or not it breaks the rules over appropriate on-court playing gear. The 36-year-old American dominated the headlines at Roland Garros on Tuesday when she made her return […]
Saudi Arabia outlaws sexual harassment
Riyadh, May 30 : Saudi Arabia has passed a new law to criminalise sexual harassment, state media said today, less than a month before the conservative kingdom lifts its decades-long ban on women driving. The kingdom’s Shura Council, which advises the cabinet, passed a draft law on Monday which would introduce a prison term of […]
Israel hits more Hamas sites, denies ceasefire claims
Gaza City (Palestinian Territories), May 30 : Israel said it struck 25 more Hamas sites overnight after a barrage of rocket and mortar fire from the Gaza Strip, denying Palestinian claims of a ceasefire today after the worst flare-up since a 2014 war. The exchange of fire raised the possibility of yet another war in the […]
Syria chairing world disarmament body ‘a travesty’: US
Geneva, May 29 : The US ambassador to the UN in Geneva said today it was “a travesty” that Syria would head the Conference on Disarmament, leaving briefly when the Syrian representative took the floor. “Syria’s presence here is a travesty. This regime has committed countless crimes against its own people through the use of […]
3 dead in suspected ‘terror’ shooting in Belgian city
Liege (Belgium), May 29 : A gunman today shot dead two police officers with their own weapons before killing a bystander in a brazen suspected terror attack in Belgium, briefly taking a hostage at a school before being killed by police. The carnage in the gritty eastern industrial city of Liege began around 10:30 am […]
Palestinians launch boats from Gaza to protest Israeli blockade
Gaza City (Palestinian Territories), May 29 : Palestinians launched boats from Gaza today to protest Israel’s blockade, a move likely to further raise tensions after mortar fire from the enclave earlier in the day and weeks of deadly unrest. One main boat carrying around 20 people accompanied by a group of smaller ones departed from […]
UK MPs probe unpublished UN ‘sex-for-food’ findings: report
London, May 29: British MPs probing sexual abuse in the international charity sector are investigating an unpublished UN report from 2001 naming 15 major aid organisations implicated in a “sex-for-food” scandal, The Times newspaper reported today. The charities were listed in a probe by UN and Save the Children officials who collected testimony from children […]
