US lawmakers in the House of Representatives on Thursday approved a new continental trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, a victory for President Donald Trump even as he faces impeachment.
A law to implement the new US-Mexico-Canada Agreement passed by an overwhelming bipartisan majority -- an unusual occurrence in the current political atmosphere -- with a vote tally of 385-41.
The bill now must be approved by the Senate, where the Republican majority leader has said it will have to wait until 2020.
Though the free trade pact was signed in 2018, House Democrats had held up the treaty's ratification for a year, demanding greater assurances that Mexico could be held to its commitments to labor reforms demanded by the treaty.
Last-minute agreements with Mexican authorities allowed a compromise deal amending the treaty.
USMCA replaces the 25-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement, changing rules on auto manufacturing, e-commerce, intellectual property protections and dispute ...

US House passes USMCA in key step toward ratification

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Two Australian firefighters were killed and three injured when their truck crashed as they battled out-of-control blazes in New South Wales state, officials said Friday.
The accident occurred when the truck crashed into a tree then rolled off the road during an operation late Thursday at Buxton, about 100 kilometres (62 miles) southwest of Sydney, the NSW Rural Fire Service said.
"This is an absolutely devastating event in what has already been an incredibly difficult day and fire season," the RFS said in a statement.  Prime Minister Scott Morrison paid tribute to the firefighters, saying their sacrifice would always be remembered.
"They were bravely defending their communities with an unmatched spirit and a dedication that will forever set them apart amongst our most courageous Australians," he said in a statement.
NSW has declared a state of emergency as an unprecedented heatwave fans bushfires that have destroyed homes and smothered huge areas with a toxic smoke, including ...

Two firefighters killed battling Australian bushfires

A Brussels court found a former Rwandan official guilty of genocide Thursday after hearing of his role in the 1994 massacres in his country.
Fabien Neretse, who protested his innocence, is the first person to be convicted in Belgium on such a charge and he now faces a possible life sentence.
The 71-year-old agricultural scientist was also convicted of "war crimes" for 11 killings in Rwanda, under Belgium's code of universal jurisdiction for the most serious offences.
Neretse remained passive in the dock during the sentencing. He and the families of his victims will learn of his fate after a separate sentencing hearing on Friday.
His defence hung on questioning the credibility of the multiple witnesses called against him -- but prosectors managed to prove that the exile has been living a lie for a quarter of a century.
During the trial, Neretse was accused of having ordered the murder of 11 identified civilians in Kigali and two in a rural area north of the capital in April and July ...

Belgian court convicts Rwandan official for genocide

Iraqi political leaders agreed Thursday to delay appointing a new prime minister, after the constitutional deadline expired in a country shaken by months of unprecedented protests that have left hundreds dead.
Parliament was due to propose a candidate before midnight to replace premier Adel Abdel Mahdi, who quit in November as the death toll mounted in massive demonstrations against official graft and lack of jobs.
But as no consensus emerged between parliamentary blocs, a source within the presidency told AFP authorities agreed to push the deadline back to Sunday, after Iraq's Friday-Saturday weekend.
Once a name is proposed, lawmakers then submit it to President Barham Saleh who will put it to a vote in parliament.
If the candidate does not gain the majority of votes, Saleh will have the right to put forward his own candidate.
If parliament does not accept this, the constitution stipulates that Saleh would become the de facto head of the resigned cabinet for 15 days.
The current ...

Iraq deadline to appoint PM looms, protesters unyielding

President Donald Trump held a triumphant White House meeting Thursday to show off a Democratic congressman defecting to his Republican party, portraying the switch as proof that his impeachment is "a hoax".
Representative Jeff Van Drew, from New Jersey, was one of a handful of Democrats who bucked the party line and opposed Trump's impeachment Wednesday on two counts.
Trump brought Van Drew to the Oval Office, seating him in one of the armchairs typically used for visiting foreign leaders, and told reporters "Jeff will now be joining the Republican party."
"It's a big deal," Trump said. "I can say I am endorsing him." Van Drew told Trump: "You have my undying support, always." Trump, clasping Van Drew's hand, returned the pledge, saying: "Same way."
For Trump, this stage-managed presentation of a political scalp underlined his Republican party's total loyalty during impeachment.
Democrats were able to pass the two articles -- abuse of office and obstruction of Congress -- thanks to a .

Trump shows off Democrat defecting to Republican party

Nigeria's anti-graft agency on Thursday arrested a former justice minister over one of the country's biggest ever corruption scandals after he flew back from detention in Dubai.
Mohammed Adoke, who also held the post of attorney general, was one of several high-profile ex-officials wanted over a graft case centred on a USD 1.3 billion oil deal involving international oil giants Eni and Shell.
He was detained in the United Arab Emirates in November on a Nigerian arrest warrant after spending years in hiding outside the West African nation.  "Former Attorney General of the federation and Minister of Justice,
Mohammed Adoke, has arrived Nigeria from Dubai," the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said on Twitter.
The agency said it had held a series of meetings with the Dubai authorities over the former minister and that he was "accompanied by Interpol officers" on the flight to Abuja.
"Officers of the EFCC were on ground at the airport when he arrived," the statement ...

Ex-minister detained over oil scandal after Nigeria return

Yemen rebels and pro-government forces on Thursday exchanged 135 prisoners in the hotly contested city of Taiz, loyalist military sources said.
The exchange in the southwest Yemen city, held by forces that back the government of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi but long surrounded by Huthi rebels, came after tribal mediation, one of the sources said.
The rebels freed 75 hostages in exchange for loyalist forces releasing 60 rebels, the source added.
The trade is the latest in a string of prisoner swaps and release deals since a 2018 United Nations-mediated agreement to exchange some 15,000 prisoners.
The landmark agreement signed in Sweden in December last year was hailed as Yemen's best chance so far to end a war that has pushed the country to the brink of famine and left tens of thousands dead, according to aid groups.
On Tuesday, 11 prisoners (five loyalist soldiers and six rebels) were exchanged in the northern governorate of Jawf following another tribal mediation, according to a .

Yemen rebels, loyalists free 135 in prisoner swap

- Libya's UN-recognised unity government on Thursday approved the implementation of a military deal with Ankara, paving the way for a bigger Turkish role in the war-torn country.
Turkey has already supported the Government of National Accord (GNA) in its fight against rival forces of east Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar, who launched an offensive in April to seize Tripoli from the GNA.
Mired in chaos since the NATO-backed uprising that toppled and killed dictator Moamer Kadhafi eight years ago, the North African country has become split between bitterly opposed administrations in the east and west.
Each side is backed by rival regional players, with the United Arab Emirates and Egypt assisting Haftar and both Turkey and Qatar openly supporting the GNA.
Haftar's push to seize Tripoli from "terrorists" backing the GNA stalled on the edges of the capital.
The two sides have since been locked in a bitter stalemate, with at least 200 civilians and more than 2,000 fighters killed since ...

Libya's GNA says ready to implement military deal with Turkey

Russia and Japan's foreign ministers met on Thursday to try and find a solution to a territorial dispute that has prevented them from signing a formal WWII peace treaty.
The Soviet Union seized the strategically located volcanic archipelago north of Japan's Hokkaido in the final days of World War II and has maintained a military presence there ever since.
It's the third time in four months that Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Japanese counterpart Toshimutsu Motegi have met.
"The talks were constructive and substantial," said Lavrov after a meeting with his Japanese counterpart in Moscow.
Atsushi Kaifu, a spokesman from Japan's foreign ministry, said the discussions lasted for about five hours and focused on the peace treaty.
"It was an intense and fruitful discussion," he said, adding the foreign ministers would meet again on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in February.
Called the Kuril islands by Russia and the Northern Territories by Japan, talks to ..

Russia, Japan meet to try to end WWII islands dispute

Russia and Ukraine have reached an agreement "in principle" on the transit of Russian gas to Europe, officials said on Thursday, ahead of a looming New Year deadline.
Some 18 per cent of the EU's annual natural gas consumption comes from Russia via Ukraine, putting additional pressure on EU officials to broker a deal.
"We reached an agreement in principle," said Maros Sefcovic, the European Commission vice president in charge of energy, after a full day of talks in Germany with the Russian and Ukrainian energy ministers.
Sefcovic gave no details on the content of the draft deal and said it would still have to go back to Moscow and Kiev to be finalised before it could be signed.
Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak, speaking alongside his Ukrainian counterpart Oleksiy Orzhel,  said he hoped the deal could be signed "very soon".
Orzhel said the two sides had come up with a text that "brings us closer to a solution".
The current gas transit contract between the two ex-Soviet countries 

Russia, Ukraine reach gas transit deal 'in principle'

Two French policemen were handed suspended jail sentences on Thursday for violence against "yellow vest" protesters on May 1, the first convictions of law enforcers since the anti-government revolt started more than a year ago.
One officer was given a two-month suspended sentence for hurling a paving stone at demonstrators.
The other policeman, who slapped a protester, received four months suspended.
Critics have regularly denounced heavy-handed policing tactics during the weekly protests over a perceived loss of spending power, which began in November 2018 and often spiralled into vandalism and running battles with police.
According to an official count, about 2,500 demonstrators and 1,800 security force members have been injured in the protests.
Two videos emerged of the incident in which an officer can be seen picking up a pavement stone and hurling it at demonstrators about eight metres (25 feet) away. It cannot be seen where the stone lands.
The court found the policeman filmed ..

Two French police get suspended jail terms for 'yellow vest' violence

A migrant rescue boat blocked in an Italian port for over five months after being seized by the government was released on Thursday, the German maritime rescue group said.
The Sea-Watch 3 was seized by Italy in June after the boat carrying 40 rescued migrants forced its way into port at the island of Lampedusa despite orders to stay away from Italian shores.
"After more than 5 months of blockade in the port of Licata, we are preparing to return at sea," Sea-Watch tweeted, citing a civil court decision it said had found no legal basis to continue to detain the ship at the Sicilian port of Licata.
In a statement, the non-profit group said it would return to the area north of the Libyan coast as soon as possible after necessary preparations.
The Sea-Watch's action in June sparked a public feud with then-Interior Minister Matteo Salvini, leader of the far-right League party, who takes a hard line against migrants.
The captain of the ship, Carola Rackete, was arrested but later released, ..

German migrant rescue boat to sail again

An officer in Russia's FSB security service was killed and five people were wounded Thursday when a gunman opened fire near its central Moscow headquarters.
The FSB, a successor to the KGB, said the lone attacker was "neutralised" after the attack outside its notorious headquarters on Lubyanka Square close to a busy shopping area in the heart of the Russian capital.
Footage shot by passers-by showed people running in panic while armed officers made their way towards the scene after the late evening incident, taking cover behind parked cars.
"An unknown individual opened fire near building... there are casualties. The identity of the criminal is being established. The criminal has been neutralised," the FSB said.
It added later that "one FSB officer has died," and denied some reports of multiple gunmen, insisting there was only one attacker.
AFP correspondents in the area however heard more gunfire in the area two hours later, as police cordons remained around the area.  Witness Andrei 

FSB agent killed, attacker 'neutralised' in Moscow shootout

Saudi Aramco shares extended a losing streak to a third day on Thursday, shedding much of their initial gains seen after a blockbuster initial public offering as investors take profits.
The share price of the world's largest publicly listed company dipped 3.3 per cent from Wednesday and ended the Sunday to Thursday trading week 3.5 per cent lower, as investors opted to collect profits.
The company share price closed Thursday at 35.50 riyals (USD 9.5), down from last week's closing of 36.80 riyals and way below its highest price of 38.00 riyals reached on Monday.
The energy giant was listed on the Saudi Stock Exchange Tadawul on December 11 following the largest ever initial public offering, in which the company raised USD 25.6 billion after selling 1.5 per cent of its stocks.
Aramco shares surged almost 19 per cent on the first four days of trading, with its valuation surpassing the USD 2 trillion mark sought by de facto Saudi ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman when he floated the 

Saudi Aramco shares dive to end the week lower

A member of the Russian FSB security service was killed on Thursday in a shootout with a gunman in central Moscow, state media said, quoting the FSB.
It confirmed that a single gunman had opened fire outside the headquarters of the security service on Lubyanka Square in central Moscow, before he was "neutralised" by the security services.

Russia security service member killed in Moscow shooting: state media

A gunman opened fire near an office of Russia's FSB security service in central Moscow on Thursday, causing casualties and prompting the security service to "neutralise" the shooter.
The gunfire broke out around 6:45 pm (1545 GMT) by the office, in an area close to the main headquarters of the FSB security service in Lubyanka Square, the heart of the Russian capital.
Footage shot by a passer by showing people running in panic while armed officers made their way towards the scene, taking cover behind parked cars.
The FSB security service said in a statement to Russian news agencies about 30 minutes later that the gunman has been "neutralised", without giving further details.
"An unknown individual opened fire near building number 12 on Bolshaya Lubyanka street, there are casualties. The identity of the criminal is being established. The criminal has been neutralised," the FSB said.
AFP correspondents in the area however heard more gunfire and were told to move back by police.
Witness ..

Casualties in Moscow shootout near FSB security service office

The United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on the Iranian judge who sentenced a recently freed American and vowed more punishment over the suppression of protests.
US officials said that Abdolghassem Salavati, a Revolutionary Court judge in Tehran, has sentenced more than 100 people to jail or death for political reasons and pointed to his role in the imprisonment of Xiyue Wang.
The Princeton scholar researching Iranian history was arrested in 2016 on espionage charges but freed earlier this month in a swap for an Iranian jailed in the United States.
"We're glad we won Xiyue's release but he should never have been sentenced or jailed in the first place," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told a forum on human rights dominated by Iranian exiles.
"He's a tool of the regime's suppression, not an impartial friend of justice," he said of Salavati.
The Treasury Department also targeted another Revolutionary Court judge, Mohammad Moghisseh, who it said has presided over trials of artists ..

US slaps sanctions on Iran judges, vows more punishment

In Malmo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic's hometown, his supporters felt the iconic footballer could do no wrong, but his decision to invest in a rival club was an unforgivable sin to many.
Since announcing a month ago that he was buying a stake in the football club Hammarby IF, based in Sweden's capital Stockholm, Ibrahimovic's bronze statue in Malmo has been regularly vandalised.
It was only unveiled in October, in the presence of thousands of fans, outside the stadium of Malmo FF -- the southern Swedish team where Ibrahimovic made his professional debut in 1999 and a rival of Hammarby.
A rope was placed around the statue's neck and the word "Judas" daubed across the front door of his residence in Stockholm.
"He's lost to Malmo, the relationship is over," Kaveh Hosseinpour, vice-president of the Malmo FF supporter club, told AFP.
The star himself has yet to truly address the controversy, only saying that he "didn't see it," when asked by celebrity news outlet TMZ.
The son of a Bosnian and a ...

'Lost to Malmo': Zlatan Ibrahimovic's image tarnished at home

South African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada on Thursday gave a ringing endorsement of the new coaching structure around the national team.
"It's amazing to have someone like Jacques Kallis in," Rabada said of South Africa's new batting consultant and the country's most-capped Test player.
"I've never worked with him, he's a great of the game. So is (new head coach) Mark Boucher."
Rabada said the experience of Kallis and Boucher, with a combined 313 Test caps, would be invaluable for the Proteas.
"Just to hear their knowledge... it doesn't even have to be skill-based, just mentally how you want to approach certain situations. It's great to have them around. They speed up the learning process."
At the age of 24, Rabada will have to play a key role for South Africa in a fast bowling attack hit by the retirements of Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel, injury to Lungi Ngidi and the decision of Duanne Olivier to commit to a Kolpak contract with Yorkshire in England.
A recently-leaked report into South 

Rabada hails involvement of Kallis, Boucher

Juventus on Friday applauded Cristiano Ronaldo after his incredible leap to score the winner against Sampdoria pushed the Italian champions top of Serie A.
Ronaldo, 34, defied his age and seemingly gravity on Wednesday when he met Alex Sandro's looping cross with what the club called "no ordinary header".
"As he rose up into the air, where he seemingly hung suspended for a split second of time, Ronaldo reached an impressive height of 2.56m (8 foot 4 inches) when his head connected to the ball," Juventus said on its website.
"He jumped 71cms off the ground to nod in his 11th headed goal since joining Juventus."
The incredible goal just before half-time put Juve on 42 points, three ahead of Inter ahead of their match with struggling Genoa on Saturday.
Fans on Twitter noted that Ronaldo has previously headed goals by jumping 2.93 metres against Manchester United in 2013 and 2.61 metres against Wales in 2016.

Juve hail Ronaldo's gravity-defying leap that lifted them top

Ariel Alvarado, a Panamanian who was a member of FIFA's ethics committee, has been banned from football for life, the governing body announced on Thursday.
FIFA's adjudicatory chamber said in a statement Alvarado was "guilty of bribery in violation of the FIFA Code of Ethics."
The charges stem from the sale of television rights for matches involving Pananama and other teams in the region. Alvarado is only the latest former FIFA official to be banned. Several have been jailed by US courts.
Alvarado who was president of his national federation and a member of the executive committee of the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean football (CONCACAF) was also fined 500,000 Swiss francs (459,000 euros or $511,000).
The statement said in calculating the fine "the Panel took into consideration the undue pecuniary advantages offered and accepted by Mr Alvarado as bribes ($230,000)" and decided the amount should both "have a preventative effect" and "be higher than the benefit Mr 

AFP

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