South Korean prosecutors plan to question President Park Geun-Hye this week over a corruption scandal that has engulfed her and triggered massive protests calling for her resignation, a report said today.
	"We need to question the president Tuesday, or Wednesday at the latest," Yonhap news agency quoted an official with the Seoul prosecutors' office as saying, adding they had sent a notice to her office and were waiting for a response.
	If Park agrees, she will be the first South Korean president to be questioned by prosecutors while in office.
	The scandal centres on Park's shadowy confidant, Choi Soon-Sil, who is accused of using her ties with the president to strong-arm local firms into donating millions of dollars to two non-profit foundations Choi then used for personal gain.
	Park faces allegations that she helped Choi raise funds for the dubious foundations and allowed her to meddle in state affairs even though the 60-year-old has no official title.
	The scandal that emerged ...

S Korea prosecutors bid to question Park over scandal

PTI Automatic

US Secretary of State John Kerry made an impassioned plea today for America to maintain action on global warming, despite the election of climate-change denier Donald Trump.
	While US President-elect Trump has labelled climate change a hoax and threatened to pull out of the Paris emissions deal, Kerry said most Americans wanted the problem addressed.
	"We will wait to see how the next administration addresses this but I believe we're on the right track and this is a track that the American people are committed to," Kerry told reporters on a trip to New Zealand.
	"The majority of the American people believe that climate change is in fact happening and want to see us address it."
	Trump has pledged to ditch Washington's climate change policies, causing consternation among diplomats leading global efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions.
	Kerry was hopeful Trump would not follow through on his fiery campaign rhetoric.
	"Everybody knows that there's sometimes a divide between a campaign .

Kerry tells Trump that Americans want climate action

US Secretary of State John Kerry refused to call last rites on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) today, expressing hope President-elect Donald Trump will drop his opposition to the contentious free trade deal.
	The 12-nation TPP became a hot-button issue during the US election campaign, with critics including Trump saying it would cost American jobs.
	Kerry said international trade was critical to US interests and the TPP could help grow the economy.
	"I think as people examine it and begin to get beyond the campaign and begin to dig into it, my hope is it can summon the support that it needs," he told reporters during a trip to New Zealand.
	The TPP includes a dozen Asia-Pacific nations that together account for 40 per cent of the global economy.
	They are the United States, Japan, Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.
	It has been signed but is yet to be ratified by lawmakers in the US.
	Kerry said he and President Barack ...

Kerry hopes to revive TPP trade deal

Colombia's government and Marxist FARC rebels oday announced a revised peace deal to end 52 years of armed conflict, after voters rejected a prior peace accord in a referendum.
	"We have reached a new final agreement to end the armed conflict, which incorporates changes, clarifications and some new contributions from various social groups, which we have gone through one by one," said a joint statement read out by diplomats from Cuba and Norway, the peace process guarantors.
	"Building a stable, lasting peace must be the shared commitment of all Colombians, and one that helps polarization be overcome while including all social and political voices," the statement added.
	Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos stressed that the new peace deal "is a better agreement."
	"We made adjustments, tweaks and changes in 56 of the 57 issues that were addressed," Santos said, so "we can build a deeper and broader peace."
	The modified agreement leaves intact the accord's major tenets, including ..

FARC, Colombian government strike new peace deal

Bulgarians voted today in a high-stakes presidential run-off that could see centre-right Prime Minister Boyko Borisov's government fall if his handpicked candidate fails to defeat a Socialist-backed general.
	The tough-talking premier has vowed to throw in the towel if his pro-EU protegee, parliamentary speaker Tsetska Tsacheva, loses to former airforce chief Rumen Radev, seen as friendly to Moscow.
	A political novice, the 53-year-old fighter pilot stunned pollsters by sweeping 25.44 per cent of the vote to Tsacheva's 21.96 per cent in the first round of the election on November 6.
	The latest polls show Radev is still the favourite as voters seek to punish the government over its perceived failure to tackle rampant corruption and poverty in the European Union's poorest member state.
	Observers say the general's victory might tilt ex-communist and Soviet ally Bulgaria, which has long walked a tightrope between Moscow and Brussels, towards Russia's orbit -- a trend seen across eastern 

Bulgarian government at stake in presidential poll

Hundreds of buildings in Rohingya villages in western Myanmar have been torched, according to new satellite images released today as fresh fighting flared in the strife-torn region.
	Northern Rakhine, which is home to the Muslim Rohingya minority and borders Bangladesh, has been under military lockdown ever since surprise raids on border posts left nine police dead last month.
	Soldiers have killed several dozen people and arrested scores in their hunt for the attackers, who the government says are radicalised Rohingya militants with links to overseas Islamists.
	Fresh fighting flared yesterday with two soldiers and six attackers killed, according to the military who said they brought in helicopter gunships to repel an ambush.
	The crisis and reports of grave rights abuses being carried out in tandem with the security crackdown have piled international pressure on Myanmar's new civilian government and raised questions about its ability to control its military.
	Authorities have ...

Satellite images show Myanmar Rohingya villages torched

Companies that drill black gold are going a little bit green-taking stakes in renewable energies that are growing rapidly, enabling oil firms to diversify revenue and show commitment to fighting climate change.
	In the past, such swings have been written off by environmental campaigners as greenwash, and just as likely to be reversed once low oil prices go up again.
	But analysts say that, even though only a tiny percent of oil majors' investment goes into renewables, the interest this time seems to be sustained, and underpinned by solid profit.
	"It is not a purely economic trend" driven by low crude prices, said Francis Perrin, president of SPE, which publishes a number of energy-related publications.
	"It's more profound- it's the adaption of certain oil industry majors to a certain number of energy and economic upheavals."
	Perrin suggested oil companies were more cognisant of the threat posed by climate change and the potential that renewable energy will become big ...

Oil taking on green sheen

Australian cricket chief Pat Howard today urged the embattled national team and organisation to show resilience in their fight for credibility.
     Steve Smith's team, facing a fifth straight Test defeat this year, was rolled for a record-low total of 85 against South Africa in Hobart yesterday, intensifying pressure on the players, coaching staff and selectors.
     It was the fifth time in the past six years Australia had been bowled out for fewer than 100.
     The latest debacle also followed the stunning first innings collapse of 10 for 86 in the first Test in Perth, which the Aussies lost by 177 runs.
     Under-fire coach Darren Lehmann, whose contract was recently extended until 2019, has admitted Australia's batting was in crisis.
     Howard, whose position is also under scrutiny, fielded questions at a news conference at the Bellerive ground during the washed-out second day's play.
     "If you are looking for the players to have resilience you want the people around them .

Show resilience, team chief tells besieged Aussies

Pace spearhead Mitchell Starc said today that Australia's embattled batsmen have been told to score "ugly runs" amid the fallout over yet another batting collapse in the Hobart Test.
     Starc, who gave the home side a glimmer of hope by taking three wickets in 10 balls in South Africa's 171 for five on Saturday after the Aussies were routed for 85, said his team-mates had to curb their natural attacking tendencies.
     The Australian team has been heavily criticised during the current series against the Proteas for their inability to bat to the circumstances.
     Starc said captain Steve Smith's message to the Australian batsmen during the Hobart Test had been clear.
     "One thing he said was you've got to be happy to score ugly runs sometimes," Starc told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
     "Whether it's inside-edging a few runs to fine leg to get off strike or something like that, you've just got to find a way to score runs.
     "You don't have to look good doing ...

Aussies urged to score 'ugly runs' - Starc

Play was abandoned on the second day of the second Test between Australia and South Africa without a ball being bowled following incessant rain in Hobart today.
     The umpires made a ground inspection at 2:00 pm local time (0300 GMT) and decided to call off the day's play, with the start scheduled 30 minutes earlier for each of the remaining three days.
     South Africa hold an 86-run lead after routing Australia for 85 and reaching stumps on the first day at 171 for five.
     Temba Bavuma will resume tomorrow on 38 with Quinton de Kock not out 28.
     Extensive covers protected the Bellerive pitch and surrounds amid continual rain throughout Sunday with only a few hardy souls in the stands.
     The Proteas are in a strong position to claim victory and clinch their third consecutive series in Australia after rolling the home team in just 32.5 overs.
     Vernon Philander powered the Proteas with five for 21 and was supported by recalled paceman Kyle Abbott who took three for ...

Rain washes out second day in Hobart Test

Rock star Sting reopened the Bataclan, the Paris concert hall where jihadists massacred 90 people, at a symbolic and emotional show to mark the first anniversary of France's bloodiest terror attack.
	In a sensational turn of events, the concert hall's co-director said he had prevented two members of the US group Eagles of Death Metal, who were on stage when the bloodshed started on November 13, 2015, from entering.
	"They came, I threw them out - there are things you can't forgive," Bataclan co-director Jules Frutos told AFP, furious  at Eagles frontman Jesse Hughes for his claims that some of the venue's Muslim security men were complicit in the attack.
	"He makes these incredibly false declarations every two months. It is madness, accusing our security of being complicit with the terrorists... Enough. Zero. This has to stop," Frutos added.
	Hughes, a rare right-wing rocker and supporter of US president-elect Donald Trump, has also said without evidence that Muslims were celebrating .

Sting reopens Paris Bataclan amid tears,cheers & controversy

Lewis Hamilton enhanced his hopes of taking the title fight down to the wire when he outpaced Mercedes team-mate and championship leader Nico Rosberg to grab pole position for the Brazilian Grand Prix.
     The defending world champion Hamilton, who was suffering with a cold, must stop the German from winning on Sunday to take the title race to the final grand prix of the season, at Abu Dhabi in two weeks.
     It was the perfect moment for the Briton to become only the third driver ever to secure 60 Formula One pole positions, behind Hamilton's hero Ayrton Senna (65 poles) and Michael Schumacher (68).
     The three-time world champion clocked a best lap in one minute and 10.736 seconds to pip Rosberg by 0.102 seconds as the pair duelled in the final seconds of a tense session.
     "Honestly, I felt quite comfortable all through qualifying as I have all weekend," said a cool and calm Hamilton, despite suffering from a cold.
     "Nico's been going quicker and quicker, but I've ...

Hamilton edges Rosberg for Brazilian pole

France will today hold a series of sombre ceremonies to mark a year to the day since gunmen and suicide bombers from the Islamic State group killed 130 people in Paris.
	President Francois Hollande will unveil plaques commemorating the victims at six sites targeted on November 13, 2015.
	The first will be outside the Stade de France national stadium where three suicide bombers detonated their explosives during an international football match, killing a man and starting the series of devastating attacks.
	Hollande and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo will then unveil plaques at bars and restaurants in the trendy neighbourhood where gunmen sprayed bullets at revellers enjoying a Friday evening out.
	The final ceremony will take place at the Bataclan, the concert hall where 90 people were killed by three attackers during a rock gig in the culmination of the carnage.
	Rock superstar Sting reopened the refurbished Bataclan with a hugely symbolic show yesterday.
	"We will not forget them," the ...

France to mark first anniversary of Paris attacks

Darren Bravo was axed by the West Indies after the key batsman blasted the team's top official as "a big idiot" in row over contracts.
     Bravo, 27, was dropped from the squad for the forthcoming tri-nations one-day series in Zimbabwe after he hit out at the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) for their offer of a C-category contract.
     In a Twitter outburst, the Trinidadian told WICB president Dave Cameron to quit over the handling of new deals offered to the leading stars of the sport's fallen giants.
     "You have been failing 4 d last 4yrs. Y don't u resign and FYI I've neva been given an A contract. Big idiot @davec51," tweeted Bravo.
     A WICB spokesman said Bravo had been replaced in the squad by Jason Mohammed "due to inappropriate and unacceptable behaviour, which is contrary to his contractual obligations to the WICB".
     Bravo's exit leaves the West Indies short of a player who has made 95 ODI appearances and 2,595 runs.
     The 30-year old all-rounder Mohammed ...

Bravo axed by Windies over 'big idiot' blast

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg issued a stark warning that "going it alone is not an option", in a pointed article in Britain's Observer newspaper today following Donald Trump's US election win.
	"We face the greatest challenges to our security in a generation," Stoltenberg wrote as he outlined NATO's strengths, amid concerns over the president-elect's position on the US-led alliance.
	"This is no time to question the partnership between Europe and the United States."
	Trump caused alarm during his election campaign when he suggested Washington would think twice about coming to the aid of an endangered NATO ally if it had not paid its dues, casting doubt on the alliance's core collective defence commitment.
	In an apparent response to these remarks, Stoltenberg noted that the only time NATO's self-defence clause -- "an attack on one is an attack on all" -- has been invoked was after the 9/11 terror attacks on the United States,
	More than 1,000 European soldiers serving in Afghanistan ...

NATO chief warns against 'going it alone'

Members of Eagles of Death Metal, the US group who were playing when jihadists attacked Paris' Bataclan concert hall last year, were turned away from the venue's reopening show over controversial remarks by their lead singer.
	"They came, I threw them out -- there are things you can't forgive," Bataclan co-director Jules Frutos told AFP yesterday, as Sting was wrapping up an emotional reopening show to mark a year since 90 people were massacred there during a gig by the Californian band.
	Eagles frontman Jesse Hughes -- one of the two band members denied entry to the Sting concert -- caused dismay in France earlier this year by suggesting Muslim staff at the Bataclan were involved in the gun and suicide bomb attack there on November 13, 2015.
	Before the concert Frutos said that he was sick of listening to Hughes' conspiracy theories.
	"He makes these incredibly false declarations every two months. It is madness, accusing our security of being complicit with the terrorists... Enough. .

Bataclan bars Eagles of Death Metal from reopening show

A Peruvian judge has ordered former president Ollanta Humala to report to court every 30 days as a money laundering case in which he is a defendant is litigated.
	Judge Richard Concepcion's ruling late Friday also states that the ex-president cannot change addresses and must post a $15,000 bail.
	Prosecutors fear that Humala -- whose five year presidency ended in July -- might flee the country as the case winds through the courts.
	Humala and his wife Nadine Heredia are accused of laundering some $1.5 million allegedly sent from Brazil and Venezuela to help fund his 2006 and 2011 presidential campaigns.
	In both cases Humala was candidate for the leftist Nationalist Party, which he co-founded with his wife Nadine.
	The hearing on Friday lasted 10 hours. Humala, who was not in the courtroom, denies all charges.
	If found guilty he and his wife could face between eight and ten years prison.
	Prosecutors believe the Venezuelan funds came directly from the government of then-president ...

Peru ex-president Humala ensnared in money laundering case

Hillary Clinton has blamed FBI director James Comey for her loss in the US presidential race, claiming that re-opening the probe into her email use broke the momentum towards victory.
	Clinton yesterday told fundraisers and donors in a conference call that Comey's two letters to Congress on the probe had tilted crucial states towards Republican Donald Trump, US media including Quartz and CNN reported.
	"There are lots of reasons why an election like this is not successful," Democrat Clinton told her national finance committee, a person on the call told online magazine Quartz.
	"But our analysis is that Jim Comey's letter raising doubts that were groundless (and) baseless -- and proven to be -- stopped our momentum."
	On October 28 -- less than two weeks before Election Day -- Comey dropped a bombshell by informing Congress the FBI was looking once more into Clinton's controversial email practices as secretary of state after new messages were uncovered.
	His second letter, on November .

Clinton blames FBI director Comey for loss: reports

Rock star Sting today reopened the Bataclan, the Paris concert hall where jihadists massacred 90 people, with a hugely symbolic show to mark the first anniversary of France's bloodiest terror attacks.
	"We will not forget them," the British singer told the crowd in French after a minute's silence for the victims.
	"Tonight we have two tasks to achieve - first to remember those who lost their lives in the attack, and then to celebrate life and music in this historic place."
	He began the emotionally charged concert with his song "Fragile", singing: "Nothing comes from violence and nothing will."
	Many in the crowd at the popular rock venue -- where jihadists armed with guns and suicide bombs struck on November 13, 2015 -- wept during the first song.
	But Sting, appearing on stage with French-Lebanese trumpet star Ibrahim Maalouf, then got the place on its feet clapping and stamping with "Message In a Bottle".
	"I'll send an SOS to the world," he sang. "Only hope can keep us alive.

Sting reopens Bataclan one year after Paris attacks

Several hundred citizens of Venice rallied today to draw attention to an exodus of residents that they fear is sucking the life out of the fabled Italian city.
	Venetians of all ages took part in the "Venexodus" demonstration, clutching signs bearing slogans such as "Farewell, Venice," and "I won't go, I will stay and resist," as well as suitcases to symbolise the constant departures.
	A man dressed in the historic costume of a doge -- the leaders of Venice for more than a thousand years -- boarded a gondola for a symbolic farewell trip.
	More than 60,000 tourists arrive in Italy's Adriatic jewel each day -- a tally that outstrips the number of full-time residents.
	"Venice is losing 1,000 residents each year. It now has less than 55,000 people, compared to 100,000 40 years ago -- the danger is very great," said Matteo Secchi, head of the association venessia.Com which organised the rally.	Secchi drew a comparison with Pompeii -- the preserved Roman town that the volcano Vesuvius ...

Venetians rally to fight city exodus

Around 1,400 migrants were today rescued in the Mediterranean, as thousands of people continue to risk the dangerous crossing despite the arrival of winter.
	The migrants were onboard seven different vessels including six rubber dinghies, said the Italian coastguard, which coordinated the rescue operations.
	One of the boats, whose passengers were rescued by a ship operated by the charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF), was crammed with 800 people including nearly two dozen children, the aid group said.
	The charities SOS Mediterranee, Migrant Offshore Aid Station and Jugend Rettet also took part in the rescues.
	Since the start of November -- when attempts to cross the Mediterranean tend to drop as the winter chill sets in -- nearly 5,400 migrants have landed in Italy, hoping to start new lives in Europe.
	This compares to slightly over 3,200 for the whole of November last year.
	More than 4,000 men, women and children have died in the Mediterranean this year, according to ...

AFP

AFP

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