Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts from October, 2016

Clinton’s unpopularity reaches new high, equals Trump’s: Poll

US Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton’s unpopularity among American voters has reached a new high, according to a new poll, putting her on par with her Republican rival Donald Trump. The latest findings by the ABC News/Washington Post Tracking Poll, released on Monday, show that 59 percent of registered voters have an unfavorable view of Clinton, and an identical percentage of voters dislike Trump. In addition, nearly half of registered voters, 47 percent exactly, have a "strongly unfavorable" impression of both presidential candidates. The former first lady’s growing unpopularity follows renewed focus on her use of a private email server while she served as secretary of state from 2009 to 2013. On Friday, just days ahead of the November 8 election, FBI Director James Comey dropped a bombshell on the Clinton campaign by announcing the revival of an investigation into thousands of new emails sent by Clinton as secretary of state. The bureau is set t

Pakistan police arrest 1,500 supporters of Imran Khan

Pakistani police have arrested at least 1,500 supporters of opposition leader Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party ahead of a massive rally planned later this week in the capital Islamabad. Security sources said on Monday that the number of those arrested overnight during a nationwide crackdown against PTI supporters ranges between 1,500 and 1,800. Zaeem Qadri, a government spokesman said police conducted raids based on information and tips about planned violence. Qadri also added that those who pledge not to take part in violent actions are released. The official however noted that while those considered a threat remain in custody pending charges. Meanwhile, police firing tear gas,clashed Monday with thousands of stick-wielding party workers travelling from northwest Pakistan towards Islamabad. The fierce clashes took place on the Peshawar-Islamabad motorway, more than 50 kilometers (30 miles) from the capital, as nearly 5,000 PTI supporters tried to re

Mariano Rajoy sworn in as Spain's Prime Minister

Mariano Rajoy   has taken the oath of office as Spain’s Prime Minister to begin forming a new minority government. Rajoy was sworn in at the royal palace in Madrid on Monday, returning to office after 10 months of political limbo which had caused Spain to grapple with increasing economic uncertainty. The deadlock ended when Rajoy won a confidence vote from lawmakers at the weekend. The swearing-in ceremony was presided by King Felipe VI. Last week, the monarch asked Rajoy to form a new cabinet after Spain’s Socialists, who had opposed the 61-year-old and his Popular Party(PP)’s return to power, accepted to abstain in the final vote of confidence in parliament and therefore enable Rajoy to form a government with cross-party support.   However, Rajoy, who will name his conservative cabinet on Thursday, is expected to face an array of challenges, including a weak mandate which would make it hard for him to pass laws in parliament. The most daunting of all tasks would be to find

Deadly clashes in CAR as France ends military mission

France has formally announced an end to its military mission in the Central African Republic amid flared tensions in the country affected by ethnic violence. French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian announced the end of the "Sangaris Operation" in a speech to the parliament in Bangui on Monday. Le Drian noted, however, that Paris will still retain its military sway over its former colony.  "This does not mean the end of military relations between France and the Central African Republic," he said. "The French army will indeed be less visible but it will be present, active and vigilant. We're proud of Operation Sangaris, so it's out of the question to allow the gains to be put at risk," Le Drian said. He said the French government will keep a "tactical reserve force of 350 soldiers" in the country. Many residents have voiced concern to see the French troops exit. Earlier this month Le Drian told the French parliament th

Six civilians killed in bombing attack in east Afghanistan

At least six people have lost their lives and several others sustained injuries in a bombing attack in eastern Afghanistan. The causalities occurred on Monday, when a bomber detonated his explosives in a gathering of tribal elders in the Afghan city of Jalalabad in the eastern province of Nangarhar. "Six civilians were killed and six others were wounded in the suicide attack on a gathering of elders in Jalalabad," said Attaullah Khogyani, the spokesman for the provincial governor. At the time of explosion, the tribal elders were discussing security issues and trying to resolve their internal disputes to form a front against the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group, according to the spokesman. A police spokesman also confirmed the death toll, adding that the injured had been taken to hospital and that some of them were in critical conditions. No group or individual has claimed responsibility for the deadly attack yet, but such incidents are mostly blamed on Taliban mil

Kuwait to sack expats from public sector

Kuwait is reportedly preparing to launch a plan to give nationals a wider involvement in public sector jobs as concerns are rising over the impacts of a large expatriate workforce in the country.  Kuwait’s Al-Rai newspaper said in a report that the government plans to keep expats only in specialized jobs that cannot be filled by nationals.  Al-Rai also echoed concerns as expressed by officials that the number of domestic workers in the Persian Gulf state is already decreasing because of the growing percentage of expats.     The newspaper added that a dozen recommendations have been devised for the government to enable locals to have a stronger involvement in the country’s job market.  The recommendations include one that envisages the building of 'labor cities' to control the number of expats entering and exiting Kuwait, it reported. Security authorities would also be able to better monitor foreigners’ actions once they are confined to specified locations, Al-Rai

At least five Shias killed in terror attack in Karachi, Pakistan

At least five Shia Muslims have been killed in Pakistan and several more injured as terrorists opened fire on a religious gathering held in memory of Imam Hussein (Peace be upon him). Local police said the attack was carried out by armed men on motorcycles in Karachi’s North Nazimabad neighborhood on Saturday. At least six people were wounded in the attack, two of whom are in a serious condition. Most of the attendants at the ceremony were women.   A notorious terrorist group known as Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) has claimed responsibility for the attack, Reuters reported. "Lashkar-e-Jhangvi Al Alami accepts responsibility for those killed in this attack, and we announce that there is no room for the enemies of the companions of the Prophet Muhammad in Pakistan," said the group's spokesperson, Ali bin Sufyan. The anti-Shia terrorist group also claimed responsibility for a last week attack on a police training academy in the restive Balochistan province that lef

Pakistan police clash with supporters of Imran Khan

Pakistani police have clashed with supporters of popular opposition leader Imran Khan, firing tear gas at protesters who defied a ban on public gatherings. Imran Khan on Friday accused the government of placing him under virtual house arrest in Islamabad as his supporters in nearby Rawalpindi fought running battles with the police. Khan, a former cricket hero, told reporters outside his home that he had been placed "under almost house arrest" by scores of police officers stationed around the residence in the capital. "To all my activists, you have to prepare for November 2, you have to escape capture," he said. Khan called for nationwide protests on Friday after 38 activists from his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party were arrested a day earlier during a raid by baton-wielding police on an indoor youth rally in Islamabad. Police teargassed and baton-charged the rock-throwing protesters in Rawalpindi, located about 20 kilometers from Islamabad, as bo

Pakistan minister resigns for suspected role in leaking info to daily

A key Pakistani minister “has been directed to step down”​ for his suspected role in leaking government information to media that implicates the country’s powerful military in acts of extremism overseas. Information Minister Pervez Rasheed resigned on Saturday at the direction of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s office, which has said an inquiry will determine whether he is really to blame for leaking information to leading newspaper  Dawn . Rasheed is believed to have told  Dawn  that the military had been asked by civilian officials to stop supporting extremist militants abroad. According to the report by  Dawn , the civilian Pakistani government had told the military leadership during a high-level security meeting that the latter’s support for militants overseas had led to “a growing international isolation of Pakistan.” Certain decisions had been made during the meeting to stop such sponsorship, according to the report. Pakistan has long been denying support for militan

Turkey shuts down Kurdish media, fires civil servants

Turkey has closed down 15 media outlets and dismissed over 10,000 civil servants as the Ankara government widens its crackdown on opposition following the abortive July 15 military coup. The closures and dismissals were ordered in two new decrees issued under a state of emergency on Saturday, Turkish media reported on Saturday. Academics, teachers and health workers were among those removed over their suspected links with US-based opposition cleric Fethullah Gulen, blamed by Ankara for orchestrating the failed putsch. Gulen denies the accusation. This is while almost all of the 15 media outlets, which were shut down, reported from Turkey’s largely Kurdish southeast. Additionally, the decrees ordered restrictions on lawyers’ ability to privately meet with their clients. They further stipulate restructuring the appointment of university rectors through abolishing elections and allowing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to directly appoint the rectors from the candidates

Erdogan warns Hashd al-Shaabi over entering Tal Afar

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Turkey will increase its military presence in town of Silopi located on the border with Iraq, while issuing a warning to Iraq’s Hashd al-Shaabi forces, also known as  Popular Mobilization Forces . While speaking to reporters at a reception marking the country’s Republic Day in Ankara on Saturday, Erdogan said that Turkey “would not look favorably" if the Hashd al-Shaabi entered the ethnic Turkmen town of Tal Afar, located close to Mosul. He went on to vow "a different response" if the Popular Mobilization Units entered the town, which was overran by Daesh in 2014 and has become a key base for linking Takfiri terrorists in Syria’s Raqqah and Mosul. Earlier, Hashd al-Shaabi spokesman, Ahmad al-Assadi, announced that their forces have begun operations aimed at cutting supply routes between Mosul and Raqqah by freeing Tal Afar.     Meanwhile, they have liberated ten villages located around Mosul; however, they have ann

FBI, Justice Department on collision over Clinton email probe

The FBI director acted against the wishes of the top US justice official when he sent a letter to Congress, notifying lawmakers about the review of newly-discovered emails “pertinent” to the probe of presidential nominee Hillary Clinton’s private email server, a new report says. Citing a government official who requested anonymity, Washington-based news outlet  The Hill  reported Saturday that James Comey ignored the advice of Attorney General (AG) Loretta Lynch when he wrote to US congressional leaders on Friday about reopening an investigation into the Democratic nominee’s email communications. “The Justice Department’s stance was to abstain from taking any actions that could impact the presidential race,” said the unnamed official. “The AG’s position is consistent with the department’s position not to take investigative steps that would influence an election so close to an election and not to comment on ongoing investigations. Director Comey decided to operate independently

Russian UN mission: 16k killed by so-called moderate militants in Syria

Russia's Permanent Mission to the United Nations says more than 16,000 people were killed by US-backed militants between February and September in Syria. “From February to September the opposition groups that are supposed to be under the US control committed 2,031 violations of the [cessation of hostilities], which claimed lives of 3,532 military personnel and 12,800 civilians,” said a statement released by the mission on Saturday. While noting that Russia has completely carried out all its obligations -- including negotiations with the Syrian government -- towards launching a ceasefire in the war-torn country, the mission states that the US has failed to uphold its end of the bargain and carry out negotiations with the so-called moderate opposition groups. “Russia guaranteed the implementation of the [cessation of hostilities] by the Syrian government. The US on the other hand was not capable to insure the implementation of the [cessation of hostilities] by the armed gr

US Army: two-star major general committed suicide at Alabama base

Recent death of a two-star US general at an army base has been officially ruled as suicide, pointing to the growing concerns about persistently high rate of suicide in the ranks of the US military. The 55-year-old major general, identified as John Rossi from New York, was the incoming commander of Redstone Arsenal in the southern US state of Alabama, when he was found dead on July 31 at the military installation, which has served as the Army’s center for missile and rocket programs for over 50 years, but an unnamed Army spokesman said in a Friday statement that “the official cause of [his] death was suicide.” "This is a tremendous loss for the Rossi family and, indeed, our entire Army family," the spokesman added, as cited in an AP report, without elaborating on potential reasons for his suicide. The death is also "a painful reminder of the tragedy of suicide as we continue to better understand its causes and warning signs," the spokesman proclaimed. &q

Clinton campaign remains ahead of Trump in fundraising, spending

The monthly filings of the US campaign finance disclosures have again highlighted continued advantage of Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton over her billionaire Republican rival Donald Trump in the days running up to the November 8 election. Trump has registered only $16 million in cash on hand after taking in $30.5 million in donations and spending more than $49 million,  The Hill reported Saturday. The figure marks the lowest by a presidential candidate at this point since 1996. According to the report, over $19 million of that spending went to media advertising buys as Trump has increased his lackluster television ad spending in the race’s final full month while providing another $14 million to the digital firm running his online fundraising and digital advertising. The campaign of the Republican candidate further disclosed $2 million in new debt to vendors that has not yet been paid off. Absent from the filings, however, were unknown cash donations from Tr

Explosion kills 6 in Libya’s Benghazi

A car has exploded in Libya’s eastern city of Benghazi, killing at least six people, including an individual who outspokenly supported a renegade general in the country. The explosion occurred in the al-Kesh district of Benghazi late Saturday, killing TV host Mohammed Bougages, who was close to controversial General Khalifa Haftar. Local officials said at least 10 people were also injured in the incident. Some reports say the explosion was caused by a bomb that had been planted in the car. Even if confirmed, it would be hard to know whether it was targeted specifically against Bougages. He hosted a daily talk show aired on state TV, during which he voiced views supportive of Haftar; but it is not clear how much weight he carried and whether he could constitute enough of a threat to Haftar’s opponents for them to plan his assassination. Haftar and a faction of loyalist army personnel have taken it upon themselves to fight extremist militants in Benghazi. In so doing, they h

Irregular refugees face permanent ban from Australia under proposed law

Australia is planning to bar the refugees who arrive in the country illegally by boat from ever being able to apply for asylum. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said on Sunday it was necessary to send an “absolutely, unflinching, unequivocal message” that the irregular refugees will never be allowed in Australia. The government proposal seeking amendments to the Australian migration act is to be put to a vote in the parliament. “This is a battle of will between the Australian people, represented by its government, and the criminal gangs of people-smugglers… They have a multi-billion-dollar business. We have to be very determined to say no to their criminal plans,” Turnbull said. The Australian prime minister claimed that despite the harsh restrictions, the country would remain hospitable to hapless refugees and asylum seekers. “We have one of the most generous humanitarian programs in the world,” he claimed, even as Australia’s practice of detaining refugees on far-off is

EPL: Liverpool 4-2 Crystal Palace

Liverpool remain locked with Arsenal and Manchester City at the top of the table with 23 points, following an entertaining 4-2 victory at Crystal Palace. Liverpool went ahead in the 16th minute with Emre Can sweeping home from close range, but James McArthur headed-in the equalizer two minutes later, following a sliced clearance from Dejan Lovren. Jurgen Klopp's men took the lead once again in the 21st minute, when Lovren scored with a thumping header, but another defensive mistake allowed McArthur to tie it once more. Joel Matip headed Liverpool in front just before halftime, making it 3-2 before Brazilian sensation Firmino secured the win, with a brilliants chipped effort in the 71st minute.

Lewis Hamilton takes pole position at Mexican GP

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton has claimed pole position for the upcoming Mexican Grand Prix. Hamilton posted a best time of 1 minute 18.704 seconds to clinch his 59th career pole on Saturday. His teammate and title favorite Nico Rosberg was slower than the Red Bull's Max Verstappen throughout qualifying, until the final lap, when he produced a last gasp effort to move ahead of Verstappen and join Hamilton on the front row. Rosberg has a 26 point lead in the championship and will take the title on Sunday if he wins, and Hamilton fails to finish in the top nine.

Yemeni tribes joind hands to counter Saudi aggression

Yemeni tribes in different provinces have joined forces to counter the deadly Saudi aggression against their country, vowing revenge for the blood of the innocent. In the northwestern province of Hajjah, the tribes of the Sharafein district expressed their readiness to deploy forces to the battleground in response to a call issued by the tribes of Khulan and Sanhan, Yemen’s al-Masirah television reported on Saturday. Bani Sara tribe in al-Shaqadreh also said that it was prepared to team up with Khulan al-Tayal tribe to score a victory against the Riyadh regime and take revenge for the recent Saudi carnage in the capital, Sana’a, which was denounced by rights groups as a war crime. Sana’a saw one of the deadliest Saudi attacks on October 8, when the regime’s warplanes bombarded a funeral hall packed with mourners in the capital city, killing more than 140 people and injuring at least 525 others. The tribe of Sanhan in Sana’a put 300 troops equipped with arms on alert. Els

Iraq denies US claim of ‘pause’ in Mosul operations

Iraq has denied a recent claim made by the US-led coalition supposedly targeting Daesh in the Arab country that there was going to be a “pause” in Iraqi military operations to liberate the northern city of Mosul. Coalition spokesman Colonel John Dorian had alleged on Saturday that the suspension was aimed at helping the forces to “regroup.” “We believe that [regrouping] will take two days before continuing the advance towards Mosul,” he had said in Baghdad. Later in the day, however, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said via the country’s al-Iraqiya television network that, “Since the beginning of the operation to date, Iraqi forces have liberated a large number of districts, villages, and towns [in Nineveh Province, of which Mosul is the capital], and this trend is to continue as scheduled.” The operation, he said, would last until the liberation of the province in its entirety. The Iraqi premier said obstructive efforts by infiltrators and ill-wishers would not ham