Syrian air defence batteries on Friday intercepted projectiles coming from Israel and downed a number of them, the official news agency SANA reported.
"Our air defence systems intercepted luminous objects coming from the occupied territories (Israel) and downed several of them," SANA said quoting a military source, after earlier reporting a "loud explosion" around the capital Damascus.

Syria air defences intercept Israeli projectiles: state media

PTI Automatic

The Missouri House passed a bill on Friday banning abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected, making it the latest US state to pass restrictions on ending a pregnancy.
The bill, overwhelmingly approved by the Republican-led legislature and expected to be signed by the Midwestern state's Republican governor, would ban abortions from about eight weeks of pregnancy.
Doctors who perform abortions could be subject to prison sentences of between five and 15 years.
Republican-led legislatures in several US states have recently passed bills restricting abortion access in a bid to eventually challenge the 1973 US Supreme Court ruling legalizing the practice.
Abortion opponents are hoping the moves will prompt the nation's highest court, which now has a conservative majority, to overturn its landmark decision in the case known as Roe vs Wade.
The Republican-dominated legislature in the southern state of Alabama passed legislation this week that places a near-total ban on ending a pregnancy, .

Missouri, latest US state to restrict abortion

Russia's UN ambassador charged Friday that the UN's chemical weapons watchdog had been hijacked by politics and its mandate derailed after Moscow put forward a draft Security Council resolution on the OPCW.
Western diplomats fear the proposed Russian measure is aimed at weakening the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), which has been at the forefront of efforts to shed light on chemical attacks in Syria.
"We are trying to get the OPCW back on track because it (has) slided off the track and now it is so politicised," Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told reporters.
"It was always a technical organ where consensus prevailed, and now we see that it is completely politicised, with politicised agenda from various parties."
"We want the OPCW to get back to where it was before," he said.
The draft text, seen by AFP, notes "with concern the continuing politicisation of the work of the OPCW" which "significantly reduces the efficiency of the organisation's activities."
The .

Russia says UN chemical weapons watchog is 'off track'

Facebook chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg said Friday a breakup of big US technology would not address "underlying issues" facing the sector and suggested that such a move could help rivals in China.
Sandberg, interviewed on CNBC television, was asked about the latest calls to break up Facebook and other major Silicon Valley firms which dominate key sectors.
"You could break us up, you could break other tech companies up, but you actually don't address the underlying issues people are concerned about," Sandberg said in the interview.
Sandberg said the social network used by more than two billion people was working to address concerns about election security, online violence promotion and data protection, but that a breakup might only serve to help competitors from China.
"While people are concerned with the size and power of tech companies, there's also a concern in the United States with the size and power of Chinese companies, and the realisation that those companies are not .

Facebook breakup could boost China rivals: Sandberg

Boko Haram fighters in northeastern Nigeria massacred at least 14 people in separate attacks on Thursday, including farmers and fishermen beside a lake, locals said Friday.
The attacks in neighbouring Borno and Adamawa states are the latest in a long line of massacres by Boko Haram militants, who have intensified attacks in recent months.
In the first attack, which happened at noon on Thursday, jihadists on motorcycles attacked people beside a reservoir in Maichulmuri village, just outside Borno state capital Maiduguri.
"The insurgents fired on groups of irrigation farmers watering their crops, fishermen at the dam and herdsmen grazing their livestock," militia leader Babakura Kolo said.
"We have so far recovered nine dead bodies."
More were feared killed as the gunmen chased people as they fled into the bush, said villager Modu Alhaji Sheriff, who gave a similar death toll.
"We are afraid to venture further afield," Sheriff said. "Boko Haram may be lurking around."
The area has been .

Fourteen killed in Nigeria Boko Haram attacks

The European Union said Friday it is prepared to negotiate a limited trade deal, including on cars, with the US, after President Donald Trump held off imposing auto tariffs.
"We note that US postpones decision on car tariffs for 180 days," European trade commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom tweeted.
"The EU is prepared to negotiate a limited trade agreement including cars."
In another tweet, Malmstrom said she would discuss the issue with EU trade ministers next week before meeting on May 27 with US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer.
EU countries last month gave the green light for Brussels to open talks with Washington "limited to the elimination of tariffs for industrial goods only" and defuse trans-Atlantic tensions.
They did not explicitly mention talks on cars as the threat of US tariffs on autos loomed.
But Trump announced earlier Friday he will delay by six months a decision on imposing steep auto tariffs on imported autos, including those from the EU.
A Trump administration ...

EU ready to negotiate trade with US, including cars

Zambia's President Edgar Lungu on Friday told international mining companies to leave the copper-rich country if they opposed a new tax regime, as he ratched up a dispute over possible job losses.
Lungu has targeted the mining sector to generate revenue as the country struggles under growing debt, but businesses have warned that the tax proposals could trigger a mass withdrawal of investment and thousands of redundancies.
"Sales tax is here to stay... and those who don't want it, will leave," Lungu told cheering supporters in Ndola, around 300 kilometres (190 miles) north of the capital Lusaka, as he started a tour of Zambia's mining belt.
Piling on criticism of mining giants operating in Zambia such as Vedanta and Glencore, he added: "I am saying this without fear or favour -- they have externalised a lot of money.
"Enough is enough, people are tired and we are not scaring investors because others will come."
Lungu said he would meet union officials and industry representatives in ...

Zambia president threatens mining companies over tax

Pakistan failed to capitalise on Babar Azam's century as they were held to a total of 340 for seven by World Cup hosts England in the day.night fourth one-day international at Trent Bridge on Friday.
With tournament favourites England naming their final 15-man World Cup squad on Tuesday, Surrey paceman Tom Curran did his selection prospects no harm with four wickets for 75 runs in a maximum 10 overs.
England, seeking a win that would seal the five-match series at 3-0 up with one to play, were looking at a stiff chase when Pakistan were 178 for one off 30 overs.
But the innings fell away following century stand between Babar, who made 115, and Mohammad Hafeez (59).
It seemed the tourists were short of a truly competitive total because England have twice broken he record for the highest ODI total in three years at Trent Bridge. Last year's 481 for six against world champions Australia followed their 444 for three against Pakistan in 2016.
Pakistan's cause was not helped, when ...

Pakistan fail to build on Babar ton as Curran takes four

Hosts Brazil included injured defender Thiago Silva in their squad for the Copa America, coach Tite announced on Friday.
Paris Saint-Germain's Silva, 34, has been suffering from a knee issue since mid-April but Brazil's physio Fabio Mahseredjian said the former captain could be in a "good condition" by May 28.
The world's most expensive player Neymar was also included having returned from more than two months on the sidelines with a foot problem.
There was no space for Tottenham's Champions League hero Lucas Moura despite his hat-trick in last week's semi-final second leg against Ajax nor for Real Madrid youngster Vinicius Junior.
Everton winger Richarlison is included in the 23-man group after an impressive season in the English top flight.
The eight-time winners face Bolivia, Venezuela and Peru in the group stage, which start on June 14, after two friendlies against Qatar and Honduras.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool/ENG), Ederson (Manchester City/ENG), Cassio (Corinthians) ..

Injured Silva in Brazil Copa America squad

Thousands of civilians are fleeing fighting between the Democratic Republic of Congo's army and militia groups in the eastern South Kivu province, a local official told AFP on Friday.
Some 25,000 of them have gathered in Minwembe, the rural commune's deputy mayor Charles Sadiki told AFP.
"They are fleeing the fighting. Their homes have been burnt and pillaged. They have spent the night out of doors. They have no shelter. They have no food. No assistance," he said.
Sadiki said gunfire had been heard near Minembwe, where UN-funded Okapi radio reported that three militiamen were killed in combat with troops.
The United Nations said this week it had warded off several attacks on Minewemba.  Dozens of armed groups are active in the North and South Kivu provinces of DRC.
In the city of Beni in North Kivu, a local official said five civilians and a soldiers were killed Friday in an attack attributed to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).
"The civilians were surprised in the fields by the ...

Thousands flee deadly fighting in east DR Congo: Officials

Prince Harry's wife Meghan gave birth at a private hospital in London earlier this month, their son's birth certificate revealed, according to British media on Friday.
The arrival of the couple's first child Archie was shrouded in secrecy, with newspaper reports indicating the 37-year-old former US actress had wanted a home birth at their residence in Windsor, west of London.
However, the certificate confirmed the place of birth, in the early hours of May 6, as the Portland Hospital in central London, the Press Association news agency said.
The document listed the baby's full name as Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor.
It also detailed Meghan's occupation as "Princess of the United Kingdom".
The Portland facility claims to be the only private hospital in Britain dedicated to the healthcare of women and children, offering "world-class" maternity care.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex broke with recent royal tradition in the choice.
Harry's brother Prince William and his wife Kate had ...

Meghan gave birth in London hospital: certificate

Boko Haram jihadists have killed 13 villagers in eastern Chad, where they have become increasingly active, local authorities told AFP Friday.
Armed militants targeted the village of Ceilia early Thursday morning, killing the local chief and his family and setting fire to homes before killing another nine people on their way out, said Dimouya Soiapebe, a Lake Chad province official.
Soldiers did not arrive in time to stop the killings.
The attackers "came very early in the morning to surprise the villagers in their sleep", during the holy Muslim month of Ramadan," said Soiapebe.
Soldiers are sweeping the area, and the security presence in the area will be reinforced, a high official said.
Boko Haram's decade-long uprising to establish a hardline Islamic state in Nigeria's northeast has spilled into neighbouring Niger, Chad and Cameroon.
A regional military coalition is battling the radical Islamist group, but at least 27,000 people have been in killed in Nigeria alone, and some two ...

Boko Haram militants kill 13 villagers in east Chad: sources

The Netherlands and Russia on Friday settled a long-running dispute over the seizure of Greenpeace's Arctic Sunrise ship during an oil drilling protest in 2013, with Moscow expected to pay 2.7 million euros (USD 3 million) in compensation.
The settlement, reached after the Dutch dragged Moscow to various courts following the incident, was reached after talks between Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok and Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.
"The Russian Federation and the Kingdom of the Netherlands... have come to a full and final settlement of any and all mutual claims" arising from the incident, the Dutch Foreign Ministry said in a joint statement with Russia.
Russian commandos seized the Dutch-flagged ship in September 2013 and detained 30 Greenpeace activists and journalists on board after a protest at an offshore oil rig owned by Russian state oil giant Gazprom.
The Dutch government then started several arbitration procedures and in 2017 the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration 

Russia to pay 2.7 mln in Greenpeace ship settlement

Lawyers for a jailed Moroccan journalist Friday urged a UN special rapporteur to request that authorities release his phone, to retrieve an "exchange of messages" with murdered Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi.
"Arbitrarily detained Moroccan journalist Taoufik Bouachrine's defence urges Agnes Callamard, UN Special Rapporteur" to make a request to the Moroccan authorities for access to Bouachrine's phone, the detained journalist's lawyers said in a statement.
Khashoggi -- a contributor to the Washington Post and a critic of the Saudi government -- was killed and dismembered in October at the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul by a team of 15 agents sent from Riyadh.
His body has not been recovered.
Callamard, UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial killings, is conducting an independent inquiry into Khashoggi's grisly demise.
The statement said Bouachrine's counsel had sent a letter to Callamard urging her to request release of the phone, which it said had been confiscated by Moroccan ...

Lawyers for jailed Morocco journalist urge phone release to Khashoggi probe

A Vatican court has cleared a senior priest accused of making advances towards a German nun during confession, the Holy See said on Friday.
The five-member Supreme Court said in a statement that after careful examination the "serious" allegation could not be proved "with the required moral certitude".
Austrian Father Hermann Geissler proclaimed his innocence but resigned in January as one of three top officials at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which ensures Roman Catholic moral doctrine.
A Canonical disciplinary procedure in 2014 let Geissler off with a warning after former German nun Doris Wagner accused him of inappropriate behaviour during confession.
"He kept me for hours, kneeling before him, he told me that he loved me and that he knew that I loved him and that even if we couldn't marry, there were other ways," Wagner said.
"He tried to take me in his arms and kiss me. I panicked and ran," Wagner said in testimony she put on social media.
Wagner also accused ...

Vatican priest cleared of trying to kiss nun

Coach Massimiliano Allegri will leave Juventus at the end of the season after a reported fall-out with the club's directors, the newly-crowned Serie A champions said in a surprise statement on Friday.
"Massimiliano Allegri will not be on the Juventus bench for the 2019/2020 season," Juve announced in a shock development.
Allegri, 51, had rejected reports saying he was about to be dismissed last Saturday adding he had already been making plans for next year over the past six months.
He held meetings with the club's hierarchy this the week during which a clear disagreement between the two parties emerged.
Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport claimed they fell out over a variety of subjects including Allegri's desire for an increased salary and a differing vision of the side's future.
Juventus have already wrapped up their record eighth consecutive title, and Allegri's fifth in as many years and he lifted the Coppa Italia on four occasions since replacing Antonio Conte in 2014.
The ...

Allegri and Juventus in surprise split at end of season

Lloyd's of London insurance market on Friday widened its list of areas in and around the Gulf posing "enhanced risk for marine insurers" after attacks on ships off the UAE.
Lloyd's said that Oman, part of the Gulf of Oman, the United Arab Emirates and the Gulf had been added to the list.
Saudi Arabia's risk areas were meanwhile expanded.

Lloyd's raises Gulf insurance risks after ship attacks

London warned British-Iranian dual nationals against all travel to Iran on Friday due to Tehran's "continued arbitrary detention and mistreatment" of such citizens.
"Dual nationals face an intolerable risk of mistreatment if they visit Iran. Despite the UK providing repeated opportunities to resolve this issue, the Iranian regime's conduct has worsened," Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said in a statement.

UK warns British-Iranians against all travel to Iran

Several Afghan security forces have been killed in an American air strike targeting the Taliban, The US military said Friday, with local officials reporting the deaths of at least eight police officers.
Colonel Dave Butler, a spokesman for US Forces Afghanistan, said Afghan security forces had called for US air support during a firefight late Thursday in Lashkar Gah, in the southern province of Helmand.
The two parties had supposedly "deconflicted" their forces -- a military term for making sure neither side had troops in the strike zone.
The Afghan forces "confirmed the areas were clear of friendly forces", Butler said.
"Unfortunately, they were not and a tragic accident resulted. Afghan security forces as well as Taliban fighters were killed in the strikes."
Provincial government spokesman Omar Zwak told AFP that eight police officers had been killed in the strike, with 12 more wounded.
The death toll was confirmed by interior ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi on Facebook. He said 11 

Afghan security forces killed in US strike in Helmand

A Honeywell employee was among four people killed in a plane crash near Dubai airport, the US tech giant said on Friday, denying it owned the aircraft.
The UK-registered Diamond Aircraft plane went down Thursday five kilometres (three miles) south of the international hub, the United Arab Emirates state news agency WAM said, citing civil aviation authorities.
"The four-seat plane crashed while on a mission to calibrate terrestrial navigation systems at the airport, with all crew members, three British and one South African, killed," WAM said.
A statement from Honeywell received by AFP said one of those killed was a company employee, although it did not give the victim's nationality.
"We are deeply saddened by the news that a small, chartered plane crashed in Dubai yesterday evening and our heartfelt condolences are with the victims' families," it said.
"A Honeywell employee was among the four victims. The plane was not owned or operated by Honeywell but by a third party engaged by ...

Honeywell says employee among 4 killed in Dubai crash

China has developed an app that allows conservationists to identify individual pandas using facial recognition technology, state-run Xinhua news agency reported Friday.
Researchers have also built a database with over 120,000 images and 10,000 video clips of giant pandas that would allow them to correctly identify individual animals.
"The app and database will help us gather more precise and well-rounded data on the population, distribution, ages, gender ratio, birth and deaths of wild pandas, who live in deep mountains and are hard to track," Chen Peng, a researcher at the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas, told Xinhua.
China last year also announced plans to create a bastion for giant pandas three times the size of Yellowstone National Park to link up and encourage breeding among existing wild populations of the notoriously slow-reproducing animal, state media reported.
At least 10 billion yuan (USD 1.6 billion) had been budgeted for the Giant Panda National ...

AFP

AFP

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