- Associated Press
The Latest: Iran FM says US sanctions 'economic terrorism'
Mohammad Javad Zarif spoke Wednesday at a sustainable development forum. The U.S. re-imposed tough sanctions on Tehran's oil exports after withdrawing last year from the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and several world powers. The sanctions exacerbated an economic crisis that has sent Iran'
- Associated Press
UN court rejects Pakistan's argument in Indian spy case
The United Nations' highest court ordered Pakistan on Wednesday to stay the execution of an alleged Indian spy and undertake a full review of his case, after agreeing with India's contention the man's rights had been violated in a case that has been a source of friction between the nuclear
AFPNo-deal Brexit looms as race for new British PM wraps up
The battle to be Britain's next prime minister enters its final straight on Wednesday with both candidates hardening their positions on Brexit, putting the future government on a collision course with Brussels. Ex-London Mayor Boris Johnson, the favourite to replace Theresa May, and foreign secretary
- Associated Press
Sudanese military, protesters sign power-sharing document
Sudan's pro-democracy movement and the ruling military council signed a document early Wednesday that outlines a power-sharing deal, but the two sides are still at work on a more contentious constitutional agreement that would specify the division of powers. The signing ceremony held in the capital
- The Telegraph
'Anti-vaxxer' parents face £2,000 fines as Germany makes measles vaccinations compulsory
Germany is to make measles vaccinations compulsory for all children from next year amid concern at the rise in infections. Angela Merkel’s cabinet agreed on Wednesday to make vaccinations mandatory at all schools and kindergartens. As school is compulsory in Germany and home schooling is not permitted
- Associated Press
Cyprus detains 12 Israelis after UK woman alleges rape
A Cyprus police official says 12 Israelis have been detained after a 19-year-old British woman alleged that she was raped in the resort town of Ayia Napa. The police official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he's not authorized to speak publicly about an ongoing investigation, said Tuesday
- Bloomberg
Minister Says No-Deal Risk Is ‘Underpriced’: Brexit Update
(Bloomberg) -- The U.K.’s House of Lords backed a move designed to make a no-deal Brexit more difficult by stopping the next prime minister from closing down Parliament. The plan won’t become law until it has also been passed by members of Parliament in the Commons, where it is likely to face stronger
- Associated Press
Brother of Manchester Arena suicide bomber arrested in UK
A key suspect in the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing that killed 22 people was arrested Wednesday at a London airport after being extradited from Libya, British police said. Greater Manchester Police said Hashem Abedi, the younger brother of suicide bomber Salman Abedi, has been arrested for murder, attempted
- Associated Press
Gunmen in restaurant in northern Iraq kill Turkish diplomat
Unknown gunmen opened fire inside a Turkish-owned restaurant in the northern Iraqi city of Irbil on Wednesday, killing at least one Turkish diplomat stationed in Ankara's consulate and one Iraqi civilian, Turkish officials and Kurdish security forces said. The rare shooting in broad daylight jolted
- The Telegraph
Mini-Merkel handed 'ejector seat' job of German defence minister
Angela Merkel on Wednesday named the woman widely seen as her chosen successor as the new German defence minister, one of the toughest jobs in German politics. In a surprise move, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer was appointed at a ceremony in Berlin to succeed Ursula von der Leyen, who is moving to Brussels
- Associated Press
Discarded windows give view of Jerusalem's diversity
A project in downtown Jerusalem is using an ornate tower constructed of discarded windows from around the city to give people a view of its diverse cultural past and present and bring life to a neglected area. "Window Stories" is made of 550 windows collected by the late Jerusalem artist Yoram
- Associated Press
Militants behead 4 people in Egypt's Sinai
EL-ARISH, Egypt (AP) — Egyptian security officials say militants have beheaded four people in the restive northern Sinai Peninsula. The officials say the militants attacked a group of people in the small town of Bir al-Abd on Wednesday, beheading four and kidnapping a fifth after accusing them of cooperating
- Bloomberg
Sanders Wants Rivals to Reject Big Pharma Money: Campaign Update
(Bloomberg) -- Bernie Sanders is calling on his Democratic presidential rivals and the rest of the party to reject donations from pharmaceutical and health-insurance industry political action committees, executives and lobbyists.Sanders’s campaign says he will argue in a speech he’s set to deliver Wednesday
- Associated Press
Israeli education minister apologizes for remarks on gays
Israel's education minister has apologized for controversial remarks about homosexual "conversion therapy" and intermarriage among Diaspora Jews that drew widespread criticism in Israel and the U.S. Peretz's comment at a Cabinet meeting was leaked to the press last week.
- Associated Press
Turkey acquits 3 rights activists of terror-related charges
A court in Istanbul has acquitted the Turkey representative for Reporters Without Borders and two other human rights activists of charges of engaging in terrorist propaganda. The paper was accused of being a mouthpiece for the banned Kurdish Workers' Party, or PKK.
- Bloomberg
Kremlin Opens Door to Changing Constitution as Succession Looms
(Bloomberg) -- The Kremlin raised the possibility of changing Russia’s constitution after a top lawmaker proposed bolstering parliament’s powers, in a move that could help to extend President Vladimir Putin’s rule.The idea of constitutional amendments, including allowing parliament a say in forming the
- Associated Press
British-Iranian woman held in Iran moved to psychiatric ward
A British-Iranian woman imprisoned in Iran has been transferred to a hospital mental health facility, her husband said Wednesday. Richard Ratcliffe said in Britain that his wife, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, has been moved to the mental health ward of Iman Khomeini hospital under the control of the Iranian
- Reuters
Path to power or poisoned chalice: Merkel protegee takes defence job
Chancellor Angela Merkel's protegee, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, took over as defence minister on Wednesday, entering the cabinet in a move likely to make or break her chances of succeeding her mentor as Germany's leader by 2021. Ursula von der Leyen's promotion to European Commission president
- Bloomberg
First Bout With Putin Puts Ukraine’s New Leader Under Spotlight
(Bloomberg) -- President Volodymyr Zelenskiy rose to lead his nation as a political novice and questions still surround his plans, especially regarding Ukraine‘s relations with Russia. As he closes in on solidifying his control at home, some answers are starting to emerge.With less than a week to go
- Associated Press
Iran's top diplomat walks back from remark on missile talks
Iran's foreign minister said Wednesday that his country has no choice but to manufacture missiles for defense purposes — comments that reflect more backtracking after a remark by the top diplomat suggesting the missiles could be up for negotiations. Iran has long rejected negotiations over its ballistic
- The Telegraph
Boris Johnson lines up hardline eurosceptic Daniel Moylan to run his Brexit policy
Boris Johnson has appointed a combative eurosceptic to run his EU divorce policy, the Telegraph can reveal, in a sign that supporters of a clean-break Brexit with infrastructure on the Irish border are now in the ascendancy on his leadership team. Daniel Moylan, a former senior Johnson lieutenant during
- Bloomberg
Why American Jews Mostly Shrugged Off the Ultimate Insult
(Bloomberg Opinion) -- When news broke last week that a right-wing member of Israel’s government, Rafi Peretz, had remarked that assimilation of American Jews is a “second Holocaust,” a column in the left-leaning Haaretz newspaper braced for the worst reaction, proclaiming, “Israel’s Education Minister
- Bloomberg
Merkel’s Would-Be Successor Rolls Dice on High-Risk Cabinet Post
(Bloomberg) -- Angela Merkel’s would-be successor is gambling that one of Germany’s riskier cabinet jobs will help get her chances of becoming chancellor back on track.In an unexpected about-face, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer will take command of Germany’s military as defense minister. It’s a position
- Bloomberg
If You're Poor in America, You Can Be Both Overweight and Hungry
(Bloomberg Opinion) -- The U.S. is notorious for its weight problem. With just 5% of the world’s population, it’s home to 13% of the world’s overweight and obese people. Roughly two-thirds of adults in the U.S. are overweight or obese and, even more alarming, 38% of boys and girls ages 10 to 14 are.On
- Associated Press
Germany introducing mandatory measles vaccination for kids
The German government is proposing a measure to make measles vaccinations mandatory for children and employees of kindergartens and schools. Chancellor Angela Merkel's Cabinet approved the plan Wednesday, noting the number of measles infections has risen significantly in recent years. In the phased-in
