Russia won’t cancel Navalny’s ‘terrorist’ status even though he’s dead, widow says
London, UK Reuters Russia’s financial watchdog has rejected a request to remove late opposition leader Alexei Navalny from its list of “terrorists and extremists” even though he is dead, his widow Yulia Navalnaya said on Friday. She published a 16th December letter from the watchdog, Rosfinmonitoring, that said Navalny was the subject of a criminal […]
Sudan changes banknotes, boosting coffers but drawing criticism
Port Sudan, Sudan Reuters A move by the Sudanese Government to introduce new banknotes and compel people to open bank accounts has boosted bank deposits and with them the army’s war effort, finance minister Jibril Ibrahim said, though some critics say it has excluded millions from the financial system. The army’s two-year war against the […]
Spain begins events marking 50 years since dictator Franco’s death
Madrid, Spain Reuters Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez last week presided over the first in a year-long series of events to mark 50 years since the death of dictator Francisco Franco, with a warning that the far-right is once again ascending in Europe. Under the slogan “Spain at Liberty”, the centre-left government commemorated the country’s […]
Israel to use withheld Palestinian tax income to pay electric co debt
Jerusalem Reuters Israel plans to use tax revenue it collects on behalf of the Palestinian Authority to pay the PA’s nearly two billion shekel ($US544 million) debt to state-run Israel Electric Co (IEC), Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said on Sunday. Israel collects tax on goods that pass through Israel into the occupied West Bank on […]
Tens of thousands protest in Belgrade
Belgrade, Serbia Reuters Tens of thousands of anti-government protesters in Belgrade on Sunday switched on the lights on their mobile phones and stood in silence for 15 minutes to commemorate victims of a railway station roof collapse for which they blame authorities. The protest was organised and led by students of the Belgrade state university […]
Los Angeles races to contain wildfires as severe winds return, 24 killed
Updated: 1:15pm (AEDT) Los Angeles, US Reuters Firefighters raced to contain the frontiers of two Los Angeles wildfires that burned for the sixth straight day on Sunday, taking advantage of a brief respite in hazardous conditions before high winds were expected to fan the flames anew. At least 24 people have died in what California […]
Croatia’s Milanovic to win presidential vote, preliminary result shows
Zagreb, Croatia Reuters Croatian President Zoran Milanovic won a second term in the largely ceremonial post, a preliminary result based on vote count in 98.65 per cent of the polling stations showed. Milanovic of the opposition Social Democratic Party was on track to win Sunday’s presidential election with 74.58 per cent of votes, according to […]
Chad ruling party wins parliamentary majority, provisional results show
N’Djamena, Chad Reuters Chad’s ruling party won two-thirds of the seats in the legislative election which was boycotted by many in the opposition last month, provisional results showed on Sunday, reinforcing President Mahamat Idriss Deby’s hold on power. Results of the 29th December election seal the oil-producing Central African nation’s transition to constitutional rule more […]
“Scary”: Los Angeles wildfires spark insurance anxiety among victims
JOE BROCK and CHAD TERHUNE, of Reuters, report on concerns that insurance policies may not cover the rebuild costs in the aftermath of the wildfires which have devastated communities…
Animal rescuers care for LA fire evacuees – dogs, donkeys, horses
Pasadena, California Reuters The pitbull mix arrived at Pasadena Humane covered in ash, his paw pads ulcerated from walking on fire debris, his lungs choked with smoke. A good Samaritan found the dog lying in rubble in Altadena, wrapped him in a blanket and brought him to the shelter. Still too weak to walk Saturday, […]