San Francisco has banned the use of facial recognition by police and government agencies, the first US city to take such a step as privacy fears mount in the country's technology capital.
Backers of the legislation argued that using software and cameras to positively identify people is, as city councillor Aaron Peskin put it, "not ready for prime time." All but one of the nine members of San Francisco's board of supervisors endorsed the legislation, which will be voted on again next week in a procedural step not expected to change the outcome.
"The propensity for facial recognition technology to endanger civil rights and civil liberties substantially outweighs its purported benefits," read the legislation passed Tuesday.
Facial recognition could "exacerbate racial injustice and threaten our ability to live free of continuous government monitoring," it added.
The ban was part of broader legislation setting use and auditing policy for surveillance systems, creating high hurdles and ...

San Francisco bans facial recognition use by police and govt

PTI Automatic

Sudanese army rulers and protest leaders Wednesday agreed on a three-year transition period for transferring power to a full civilian administration even as negotiations over a new sovereign ruling body remain unfinished.
The protest movement is demanding a civilian-led transition following 30 years of iron-fisted rule by now deposed president Omar al-Bashir, but the generals who toppled him have been holding onto a leadership role.
Talks between the two sides resumed earlier in the week but were marred by violence when an army major and five protesters were killed by unidentified gunmen at a long-running sit-in outside military headquarters in Khartoum.
The two sides announced early Wednesday that they had reached an agreement on the transition period.
"We agreed on a transitional period of three years," Lieutenant General Yasser al-Atta, a member of the military council told reporters.
Atta said a final agreement on the sharing of power, including the forming of the next ruling body 

Sudan army rulers, protesters agree on 3-year transition period

The world's oil supply fell last month, the International Energy Agency said Wednesday, amid rising global tensions as US sanctions on Iran tightened and OPEC+ members produced less crude in line with their pact.
In its latest monthly report on the global oil market, the Paris-based IEA said that while geopolitics and industry disruptions were clouding the outlook it believes that the market balance is set to flip from surplus into deficit, a development that would favour efforts by oil producing nations to keep prices high.
Tensions have been mounting in recent days after the mysterious sabotage of several tankers in the Gulf and drone attacks claimed by Iran-aligned Yemen rebels shut down one of Saudi Arabia's major oil pipelines.
Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih called the pipeline attacks, which did not halt exports despite the temporary shutdown of the pipeline, an "act of terrorism... that not only targets the kingdom but also the security of oil supplies to the world and ..

Oil supply drops as Iran sanctions bite: IEA

Saudi Arabia said Wednesday that attacks on two of its oil tankers and a major pipeline targeted not only its own security but that of the world's supplies.
Drone attacks claimed by Iran-aligned Yemeni rebels shut down one of the kingdom's main oil pipelines on Tuesday, further ratcheting up Gulf tensions after the mysterious sabotage of four ships, two of them Saudi tankers, just outside the Gulf on Sunday.
"The cabinet affirms that these acts of terrorism and sabotage ... do not only target the kingdom but also the security of world oil supplies and the global economy," it said after a meeting chaired by King Salman in the Red Sea city of Jeddah on Tuesday evening.
Tuesday's drone strikes hit two pumping stations on the kingdom's east-west pipeline, which can carry five million barrels of crude per day and provides a strategic alternative route for Saudi exports if the shipping lane from the Gulf through the Stait of Hormuz is closed.
Yemen's Huthi rebels claimed responsibility for .

Riyadh says oil facility attacks target world supplies

The US State Department on Wednesday ordered all non-emergency staff to leave its embassy in Baghdad and consulate in Erbil, as tensions mount between the United States and Iraq's neighbour Iran.
Washington has ramped up pressure on Tehran in recent days, accusing Iran of planning "imminent" attacks in the region, and bolstering the American military presence in the Gulf.

US orders non-emergency embassy staff to leave Baghdad, Erbil

The home of the American ambassador to Greece was vandalised with paint on Wednesday, police and the ambassador said, a move likely carried out by domestic radical anarchists.
"I woke up to more childish vandalism this morning outside the residence and will continue to work with Greek authorities to punish the culprits according to law," ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt said in a tweet.
"Destruction of property is not peaceful protest," he said.
Police said a group of ten persons on motorcycles approached the ambassador's residence and threw paint.
Radical anarchists and domestic far-left outfits regularly carry out acts of violence against diplomatic missions in Greece.
Anarchists in recent days have carried out vandalism attacks in support of a jailed prominent member of the far-left Greek extremist organisation November 17.
Dimitris Koufodinas, the organisation's main hitman who is serving multiple life sentences, went on hunger strike this month after a furlough request was ...

Paint thrown at US ambassador's home in Greece

At the cake shop they run in Taipei, Shane Lin and Marc Yuan are planning their upcoming wedding as they expectantly await Asia's first gay marriage law -- but a last-minute push by conservatives could scupper their dreams.
The pair, who met and fell in love at college, are among hundreds of same-sex couples who have made reservations to register with government agencies on May 24 for what they hope will be a marriage.
That is the deadline set by Taiwan's top court to allow same-sex couples to legally wed.
In a landmark 2017 ruling, judges said denying gay couples the right to marry violated the island's constitution.
The court gave lawmakers two years to make marriage equality happen or see it enacted automatically if they failed -- a move that promises a new milestone for Asia.
For gay couples like Lin, 31, and Yuan, 30 -- who decided to tie the knot as they celebrated their tenth anniversary -- the ruling allowed them to start planning for their big day.
"Taiwan may often be ...

Taiwan gay couples plan weddings even as opponents fight back

Six Catholic dioceses in the United States rolled out a "compensation program" Tuesday as an alternative to court proceedings for minors sexually abused by clergy.
The program by the dioceses, all of which are located in California, will be managed by two independent monitors who have handled similar programs in New York and Pennsylvania, the Catholic archbishop of Los Angeles Jose Gomez said in a letter to worshippers.
"We are joining with five other dioceses in California in a new initiative to provide pastoral care and financial support to any person who has been sexually abused as a minor by a diocesan priest," Gomez wrote.
"We also understand that some victim-survivors are reluctant to come to the church for assistance. Our hope with this new program is to give these people a chance to seek redress and healing through an independent program."
According to California church officials, the program will be open to anybody who was abused by a priest as a minor, including people ...

US Catholic dioceses announce abuse 'compensation program'

French President Emmanuel Macron and New Zealand's premier Jacinda Ardern will Wednesday host other world leaders and leading tech chiefs to launch an ambitious new initiative aimed at curbing extremism online.
The initiative, known as the "Christchurch call", was pushed by Ardern after a self-described white supremacist gunned down 51 people in a massacre at two mosques in the New Zealand city in March, the country's worst atrocity of recent times.
Participants will be asked to commit to pledges to eliminate terrorist and violent extremist content on social media and other online platforms.
The political meeting will run in parallel to an initiative launched by Macron called Tech for Good which will bring together 80 tech chiefs in Paris to find a way for new technologies to work for the common good.
The summit comes as there is a growing realisation that the current abuse of social media by extremists must be countered, after the Christchurch attacker broadcast live footage on ...

Macron, Ardern host Paris summit against online extremism

The Mexican government said Tuesday that its embassy in Venezuela has taken in opposition lawmaker Franco Manuel Casella to provide him "protection and safety," even as Mexico City insists it is not meddling in the Venezuelan crisis.
"In line with its diplomatic tradition, the government of Mexico received National Assembly deputy Franco Manuel Casella today at its diplomatic residence in Caracas to provide him protection and safety," the Mexican Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The foreign ministry added that Mexico "reiterates its commitment to respect, protect and promote the human rights of all people, regardless of their political affinity."
The Mexican government reiterated the position of non-intervention in the Venezuelan conflict that the government of leftist President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has maintained since he took office on December 1.
"The government reaffirms its position of non-intervention, its openness to dialogue and its firm commitment to collaborate ..

Mexico gives 'protection' to Venezuelan opposition lawmaker

After a deadly crash in Indonesia, American Airlines pilots called a meeting to press Boeing executives for safety changes to the 737 MAX aircraft, US media reported Tuesday.
The call for changes, which could have required the best-selling aircraft model to be temporarily grounded, were reported by The New York Times and CBS News after they obtained an audio recording of the November 27 meeting between the American Airlines pilots union and officials from the aircraft manufacturer.
The 737 MAX 8 is currently grounded worldwide after the March crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 that killed all 157 people onboard and drew scrutiny to the new Boeing model's anti-stall system, which investigators believe may have brought the jet down.
But the meeting shows that pilots were already worried about the safety of the model following the October 2018 crash in Indonesia of a Lion Air 737 MAX 8 that left no survivors of the 189 people onboard.
According to the reports, the pilots were ...

Pilots pushed Boeing to act after Lion Air crash: reports

French striker Antoine Griezmann has told  Atletico Madrid he will leave them in the close season, the Spanish club said on Twitter.
The 28-year-old Griezmann has a contract until 2023 with Atletico, but has a buy out clause of 120 million euros (USD 134 million) and has been the target of several approaches from La Liga rivals Barcelona.
"Antoine Griezmann has told the club he will not continue as a Rojiblanco (red and white, the club's colours) next season," the club said on Tuesday.
Within a few moments the player then posted a video explaining himself.
"After speaking with Cholo (club coach Diego Simeone), then with Miguel Angel and the people in the hierarchy of the club I wanted to speak with you, the fans, who have always given me a lot of love," said Griezmann, wearing a plain black t-shirt in front of a simple white background behind him.
"I wanted to tell you I have taken the decision to leave," said the French 2018 World Cup winner.
"I have had five wonderful seasons here ..

'I have taken the decision to leave Atletico' - Griezmann

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola edged out Jurgen Klopp to a trophy for the second time in three days as the Catalan claimed the League Managers' Association manager of the year.
Guardiola's City retained the Premier League title on Sunday, beating Klopp's Liverpool by a single point at the end of a thrilling title race.
Having also won the League Cup earlier in the campaign, Guardiola's side could complete a first ever domestic treble in English football when they face Watford in the FA Cup final at Wembley on Saturday.
Guardiola topped the vote ahead of Jurgen Klopp, Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino, who has led Spurs to their first ever Champions League final, and Nuno Espirito Santo of Wolves, who finished seventh in their first season back in the top flight.

Guardiola beats Klopp to manager of the year award

Papua New Guinea dispatched assessment teams Wednesday to get a full picture of the damage caused by a violent 7.5 magnitude earthquake that struck an island chain off the north coast overnight.
An AFP reporter and residents on New Britain said electricity was still out and radio stations off air some 12 hours after the quake, but there appeared to be no major structural damage or loss of life.
"We didn't really have that much damage thank goodness, just ornaments falling down and that kind of thing," said Ellen Morgan, a manager at Kokopo Beach Bungalows.
Officials at the nearby port of Rabaul said there was no major damage to the facility, which was operating as normal.
Papua New Guinea's poor communications infrastructure, lack of roads and difficult terrain mean that sometimes it can be days before the full impact of a natural disaster is known.
A spokesman for the National Disaster Centre in Port Moresby told AFP they had dispatched a team to uncover the full extent of the ...

Assessment teams deployed after massive Papua New Guinea quake

Masters winner Tiger Woods, chasing a 16th major title, and defending champion Brooks Koepka lead a powerhouse field into Thursday's opening round of the PGA Championship at rain-drenched Bethpage Black.
Woods, who ended an 11-year major title drought last month at Augusta National, and Koepka, who held off Woods to win last year's PGA crown, join reigning British Open champion Francesco Molinari of Italy in the feature group of the first two days.
"I'm just looking forward to playing with him," Koepka said of Woods.
"I don't think we've really been paired together too much, especially over the last couple years. It'll definitely be interesting."
It's the same layout where Woods won the 2002 US Open and shared sixth behind winner Lucas Glover at a rain-hit 2009 US Open, both times with the vocal support of New York crowds who made the Long Island trek.
"This week is going to be a lot of fun with the crowds, the excitement that we've had here," Woods said.
"The pairing I'm involved in, 

Tiger, Koepka hunt more major glory in PGA at Bethpage

Aston Villa progressed to within one game of a return to the Premier League after edging West Midlands rivals West Bromwich Albion 4-3 on penalties in the Championship playoff semi-finals.
West Brom won 1-0 on the night at the Hawthorns to level the tie at 2-2 on aggregate thanks to Craig Dawson's first-half header.
However, the Baggies' hopes of an immediate return to the top-flight were dented when captain Chris Brunt was sent off 10 minutes from the end of normal time.
The hosts held out manfully during extra-time, but Villa goalkeeper Jed Steer saved West Brom's first two penalties of the shootout from Mason Holgate and Ahmed Hegazi.
"There's obviously a lot of luck involved but wow," Steer told Sky Sports.
"We practise penalties, so I think I must've faced a 100 a day the last few days."
Conor Hourihane, Mile Jedinak, Jack Grealish and Tammy Abraham kept their cool from the spot as Villa set up a May 27 Wembley meeting with Leeds or Derby for a lucrative place in the Premier ...

Aston Villa beat West Brom on penalties to reach playoff final

Facebook announced Wednesday it is tightening access to livestreaming to prevent the rampant sharing of graphic video as took place with the Christchurch massacre.
People who have broken certain rules, including those against "dangerous organisations and individuals," will be restricted from using the Facebook Live streaming feature, said vice president of integrity Guy Rosen.
"Following the horrific recent terrorist attacks in New Zealand, we've been reviewing what more we can do to limit our services from being used to cause harm or spread hate," Rosen said in a statement.
A "one-strike" policy at Facebook Live will be applied to a broader range of offenses, with those who violate serious policies suspended from using the feature after a single offence.
Such offenses would include sharing a link to a statement from a terrorist group with no context, according to Rosen.
"We plan on extending these restrictions to other areas over the coming weeks, beginning with preventing those same 

Facebook tightens live-streaming in crackdown on violence

When gunmen killed former journalist Mena Mangal on a busy Kabul street, observers first wondered if she had been murdered by the Taliban, the Islamist extremists who have long marginalised women.
But police quickly said they were looking at Mangal's broad-daylight killing as the result of a family dispute, saying her ex-husband had "probably" played a role.
The brazen attack last weekend sparked global outrage over the plight of Afghan women, who still suffer rampant levels of physical and mental abuse, sexual violence and discrimination.
Authorities say Mangal's death came amid the type of suffocating marital dispute that is common for many women in Afghanistan, a country where domestic abuse can seem like the norm and women are often seen as little more than household chattel.
Her killing has garnered broad condemnation - including from the US and from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
In Kabul, the attorney general's office said Mangal had filed a complaint saying she was ...

Kabul murder highlights Afghan women's plight

A series of tweets by Donald Trump playing up the chances of a trade deal with China provided a much-needed boost to Asian equities Wednesday but investors trod cautiously as analysts warned of more volatility to come.
After more than doubling tariffs on USD 200 billion of Chinese goods last week -- sparking a retaliation from Beijing -- Trump has threatened to hit a further USD 300 billion with more levies if he does not get his way in high-stakes talks.
However, in a series of tweets Tuesday the president gave markets some hope that a deal between the economic titans will eventually be struck with his counterpart Xi Jinping.
"When the time is right we will make a deal with China", he wrote, adding that his "respect and friendship with President Xi is unlimited".
He went on to say: "We can make a deal with China tomorrow, before their companies start leaving so as not to lose USA business" and called on the Federal Reserve to "match" whatever the Chinese central bank does to support .

Asian markets tick up after Trump tweets but uncertainty remains

The United States and Russia share the same goals on North Korea as Washington tries to negotiate a nuclear deal, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said after talks with President Vladimir Putin.
"I think we share the same objective and I hope that we can find ways that we can work together," Pompeo told reporters after the talks late Tuesday in the Russian resort of Sochi.
"He understands that the US is going to be in the lead, but I think there are places we can work together," Pompeo said.
During their nearly two-hour talk in Putin's summer home, Pompeo said they spoke at length about North Korea, weeks after Putin held a summit with leader Kim Jong Un in the Far Eastern port city of Vladivostok.
Kim used the occasion to accuse the United States of acting in "bad faith" after his second summit with President Donald Trump ended in stalemate in Hanoi.
Pompeo, who visited Pyongyang four times last year, has taken a leading role in seeking to negotiate an accord with North Korea under ...

US, Russia 'share same objective' on N.Korea: Pompeo

President Donald Trump's son Donald Jr has agreed to testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee investigating Russian election meddling, US media have reported.
The agreement resolved a looming fight between the Congress and the White House after Donald Jr was subpoenaed by the Republican-led committee last week.  According to reports, he had initially agreed to testify behind closed doors and then backed out for unclear reasons.
But President Trump is battling any cooperation with Congress in the Russia meddling investigation, claiming that he has already been "totally exonerated" of collusion and obstruction of justice by Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report completed in late March.
The Senate panel has interviewed Donald Jr once before, and is believed to be seeking clarification on his knowledge of contacts between the 2016 Trump presidential campaign and Russians.
Some Democrats suspect he may have lied about what he and his father knew of a June 2016 meeting in Trump ...

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