President Donald Trump renewed his offensive against the US security establishment on Tuesday with a broadside criticizing the "attitude" of FBI Director Christopher Wray.
Trump attacked Wray for defending a Justice Department inspector general report that said there was adequate evidence and no politics behind the FBI's opening of an investigation into Russian interference during Trump's victorious 2016 election campaign.
"With that kind of attitude, he will never be able to fix the FBI, which is badly broken," Trump tweeted.
The report, issued on Monday, found there had been numerous procedural errors but said there was no political bias against Trump by law enforcement.
Defending the FBI on Monday, Wray said the investigation had been underpinned by "adequate factual predication." The report starkly contradicted Trump's claims that the investigation -- which grew into a sprawling probe of multi-pronged Kremlin interference operations and Trump's business links with Russia -- was an 

Trump launches broadside against his FBI director

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US and Chinese officials are working on a deal to postpone tariffs set to hit Chinese imports in five days, according to a media report on Tuesday.
Delaying the new duties, which cover about $160 billion in imports from China, including consumer favorites like mobile phones, could help reassure markets the two sides are making progress towards ending their trade war.
Officials in Washington and Beijing say they now expect to continue talking beyond December 15, when the tariffs are due to kick in, according to The Wall Street Journal.  US officials have reiterated that any final decision on the tariffs belongs to President Donald Trump.
At a Wall Street Journal conference on Tuesday, top White House economic aide Larry Kudlow maintained that "those tariffs are still on the table," the newspaper reported.
Kudlow had said Friday a deal was "still close." For two months, the two sides have struggled to finalize a partial deal that Trump announced in October.
Statements by US officials ...

US, China working to delay Dec 15 tariffs: report

A fierce gun battle broke out Tuesday in the Somali capital Mogadishu near a major city centre hotel, security sources and witnesses said, as a jihadist group announced an "operation" there.
"There is heavy exchange of gunfire and grenade explosions," said security official Abdirahman Adan.
"I cannot confirm but the hotel seems to be under terrorist attack", he added, referring to the SYL hotel.
Several witnesses told AFP they had heard automatic weapons fire in that part of the city.
The SYL hotel has been targeted by the al-Shabaab Islamist group several times in the past.
On Tuesday, the group posted on a website sympathetic to their cause that it had carried out an operation "which happened as planned", without specifying details.  "I was close to the hotel when the gunfire broke out and we managed to turn our vehicle swiftly," one witness, Abdukadir Ahmed, told AFP.
"The security forces around the palace checkpoints were firing heavy machine guns but we don't exactly know who was 

Jihadists attack near hotel in Somali capital: official

The United States on Tuesday stiffened sanctions against Myanmar's army chief over the mass killings of Rohingya, as his country defended itself against genocide charges before the top UN court.
The United States in July banned military chief Min Aung Hlaing from visiting, but Tuesday's move goes further by freezing any US assets and criminalizing financial transactions with him by anyone in the United States.
The Treasury Department imposed the same sanctions on three other senior Myanmar commanders, as well as 14 individuals from other countries, to observe International Human Rights Day.
"The United States will not tolerate torture, kidnapping, sexual violence, murder or brutality against innocent civilians," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement.
"America is the world leader in combatting human rights abuse and we will hold perpetrators and enablers accountable wherever they operate." Myanmar's military is accused of leading a brutal campaign in 2017 in Rakhine ...

US tightens sanctions on Myanmar army chief

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday opened a visit to Washington in which he will meet Donald Trump, the very day when Democrats unveiled impeachment charges against the president.
The timing marks a redux of the veteran Russian diplomat's last visit to Washington in May 2017, when Trump was fighting off allegations that he cooperated with Russia and was accused of sharing classified information with Lavrov.
Lavrov began the day of talks by meeting with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who said the Trump administration was determined to pursue its work despite the politics at home.
"We didn't pick this date to coincide with the process on Capitol Hill, but we can't allow the zaniness that's taking place on Capitol Hill to impact our job," Pompeo told conservative broadcaster One America News on Monday.
Pompeo said that he would look to find ways to work with Russia including on improving business ties and on arms control.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for ...

Russia's top diplomat opens US talks amid impeachment

The United States, Mexico and Canada are expected to sign a deal Tuesday finalising their new trade agreement, capping more than two years of negotiations and paving the way to ratification.
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who will chair a meeting of officials from the three countries at 1800 GMT, said they had reached a deal sealing the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) after a flurry of last-ditch talks.
"There is an initial deal between the governments," the leftist leader told his daily news conference. "Today it will be signed by... the three countries' negotiators." US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi -- the key opposition Democrat needed to move the agreement forward -- and American labor unions on Tuesday gave their blessing to the deal, which they said now included improved labor standards.
Pelosi said the deal can now win Congressional approval, calling it "infinitely better than what was initially proposed by the administration." The main US labor ...

US, Mexico, Canada to sign deal finalising trade agreement

Didier Deschamps' contract as coach of world champions France has been extended through to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, a source said Tuesday.
Deschamps, a former France skipper who led the team to 1998 World Cup glory, has been at the coaching helm of Les Bleus since summer 2012.
The decision to extend his contract will be made official by the French football federation at a press conference later Tuesday, the source told AFP.
Federation president Noel Le Graet had previously said that a contract extension for the 51-year-old Deschamps was dependent on France qualifying for the 2020 European championships.
Deschamps duly guided France into the competition, where they have been drawn alongside 2014 world champions Germany, reigning European champions Portugal and one more team still to qualify through the play-offs.
Deschamps will shortly become the longest-serving France coach, overtaking the eight years and six months of service by Michel Hidalgo between January 1976-June 1984.

Deschamps' France contract extended to 2022 World Cup - source

One of Russia's top athletes, three-time world champion high jumper Mariya Lasitskene, on Tuesday called sports officials to account after her country was banned for four years from international competition.
In her open letter published by Championat.com sports website, Lasitskene, a longtime critic of Russian sports officials, demanded to know who has been punished over the country's doping scandal and the fact that she cannot compete under the Russian flag.
Lasitskene missed the 2016 Rio Olympics because of the doping crisis and had threatened to leave Russia so as not to miss the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.
"The Russian flag was taken from me at the end of 2015," the 26-year-old wrote, calling herself "an athlete who has a lot of questions".
"Have we done an internal investigation? Who was punished?" Lasitskene said.
"Why is our athletics still using banned substances, and coaches of athletes caught doping are still working while officials in charge are falsifying official ...

'I have questions': Russian high-jump star Lasitskene slams officials

Center-leftist Alberto Fernandez was sworn in as Argentina president on Tuesday, taking over from the market-friendly Mauricio Macri amid applause and singing by lawmakers and supporters in Buenos Aires.
Fernandez, whose vice president is controversial former leader Cristina Kirchner, will govern until 2023 in a country beset by recession, high inflation, rising unemployment and poverty.
In his inauguration speech, the Peronist leader promised a "new, fraternal and caring social contract." Since winning October's election, the 60-year-old Fernandez has pledged to put Argentina "back on its feet" following 18 months of economic woes triggered by a currency crisis.
Speaking in a televized address, Fernandez said Argentina needed to "overcome the rancor and hate" that has become a feature of its increasingly polarized political landscape.
He twice hugged Macri tightly during the ceremony.
The new head of state will host an inauguration lunch for fellow presidents from across Latin ...

Fernandez promises 'caring' Argentina as he assumes presidency

Democrats unveiled two articles of impeachment Tuesday against US President Donald Trump after weeks of arguing there is overwhelming evidence that the US leader abused his office and deserves to be removed.
If the charges -- abuse of power and obstruction of Congress -- are approved by the full House of Representatives in a vote expected next week, it would put Trump in the historic position of being the third US leader ever impeached and placed on trial in the Senate.
"Our president holds the ultimate public trust," said House Judiciary Committee Jerry Nadler.
"When he betrays that trust and puts himself before country, he endangers the constitution, he endangers our democracy and he endangers our national security."
Nadler, in a solemn and deeply serious moment for the nation, was joined by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in the US Capitol to lay out the charges facing Trump.
The president is alleged to have wielded the power of the presidency for personal and political gain by ...

Democrats announce two impeachment charges against Trump

The United States, Mexico and Canada are expected to sign an "initial deal" on Tuesday finalizing the USMCA trade agreement, said Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.
"There is an initial deal between the governments," the leftist leader told his daily news conference as negotiators from the three countries prepared to meet in Mexico City. "Today it will be signed by ... the three countries' negotiators.

US, Mexico, Canada to sign deal finalizing trade agreement

Rescue planes and ships on Tuesday searched the open sea between the southern tip of South America and Antarctica for a Chilean Air Force plane that went missing with 38 people aboard.
The C-130 Hercules cargo plane vanished after departing an airbase in the southern city of Punta Arenas Monday at 4:55 pm (19:55 GMT) en route to Chile's Antarctic base of Eduardo Frei, officials said.
Contact was lost with the plane at 6:13 pm (2130 GMT), the Chilean Air Force said, adding that the plane had enough fuel to remain in the air for several hours beyond that time.
But seven hours after losing communication officials declared that the plane had crashed.
The airplane pilot may have carried out an emergency ocean landing, said Eduardo Mosqueira, commander of the Fourth Brigade based in Punta Arenas, early Tuesday.
"All national and international air and maritime means available in the area are continuing the search" for survivors, the air force said in a statement Tuesday.
Airplanes and ships .

Rescuers search for Chilean plane missing near Antarctica

The United States and Saudi Arabia are among major polluters showing "hardly any signs" of reducing their greenhouse gas production, a global assessment of countries' emissions trajectories said Tuesday at United Nations climate talks.
The Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) measures the emissions, renewable energy share and climate policies of 57 countries and the European Union.
It found the US ranks last, followed by Saudi Arabia and Australia, although several countries did report falls in emissions last year, largely due to an industry-wide fade out of coal.
While climate performance varied greatly -- even within the EU, with Sweden leading the way -- the report found that none of the countries surveyed were currently on a path compatible with the Paris climate goals.
The 2015 accord saw nations agree to work towards limiting global temperature rises to "well below" two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
US President Donald Trump says he plans to withdraw from the ..

US, Saudi rank bottom of climate class: report

The lead singer of Swedish pop duo Roxette, Marie Fredriksson, who shot to global fame in the 1990s with hits like "It must have been love", has died aged 61 after a long fight with cancer, her manager said Tuesday.
Fredriksson had been diagnosed in 2002 with a severe brain tumour but went into remission and returned to the studio in 2010.
Six years later, however, her doctors advised her to stop touring and rest.
"It is with great sadness we have to announce that Marie Fredriksson of Roxette has passed away in the morning of December 9, following a 17-year long battle with cancer," Dimberg Jernberg Management said in a statement.
Roxette, formed in 1986 by Fredriksson and the guitarist Per Gessle, sold more than 80 million albums worldwide.
"You were an outstanding musician, a master of the voice, an amazing performer. Thanks for painting my black and white songs in the most beautiful colours," Gessle said after her death.
Roxette's hits included "Listen to your heart" and "The ...

'It must have been love' Roxette singer dies aged 61

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed collected the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo on Tuesday, appealing for unity as ethnic violence flares in his country and reconciliation efforts with neighbouring former foe Eritrea have stalled.
Abiy, 43, won the Nobel for his efforts to resolve the long-running conflict with Eritrea. Announced back in October, the prize also honoured his mediation efforts in eastern Africa and the democratic reforms he has undertaken in his country, long ruled by authoritarian leaders.
Ethiopia saw spectacular progress in the months after he took power in April 2018, but the winds have since shifted: in addition to the stalled peace process with Eritrea, his reforms aimed at opening up Ethiopia have paradoxically given rise to a flare-up of ethnic tensions.
Faced with these challenges, Africa's youngest leader called for unity as he picked up his award at Oslo's flower-bedecked City Hall, in a formal ceremony attended by the Norwegian royal family and ...

Ethiopia PM collects Nobel Peace Prize, urges unity against hatred

A Russian court on Tuesday sentenced 11 people to terms including life in prison after finding them guilty of a deadly bomb attack on the Saint Petersburg metro in 2017.
Abror Azimov, a 29-year-old from Kyrgyzstan, was sentenced by a military court in Russia's second biggest city to life in prison for organising and participating in a terrorist group.
Ten other people who are also from Central Asia were sentenced to between 19 and 28 years in prison.
All had denied the charges, and said they were tortured.
Shokhista Karimova, 48, pounded the glass of the courtroom cage and cried "let me go" after she was handed a 20-year term.
The bomb blast in April 2017 killed 15 people in the Saint Petersburg metro and wounded dozens more.
The alleged perpetrator, Akbarjon Djalilov, a 22-year-old from Kyrgyzstan, died in the attack.
Ten of the defendants were accused of acting as accomplices, notably by providing Djalilov with explosives and false documents.
The charges ranged from organising a ...

Russian court sentences 11 for Saint Petersburg bombing

An Algerian court sentenced two former prime ministers to long jail terms on Tuesday in the first of a series of high-profile corruption trials launched after longtime president Abdelaziz Bouteflika resigned in the face of mass protests in April.
The verdicts come just two days before Algeria is due to elect a president to replace Bouteflika in a vote bitterly opposed by the country's nine-month-old protest movement, which sees it as a regime ploy to cling to power.
Former prime ministers Ahmed Ouyahia and Abdelmalek Sellal, who were both close to the ousted president, were sentenced to 15 years and 12 years respectively.
It was the first time since Algeria's independence from France in 1962 that former prime ministers have been put on trial.
The state prosecutor had sought 20-year prison sentences for the two ex-premiers.
In all, 19 defendants were tried on charges ranging from money laundering to abuse of office and granting undue privileges in the vehicle assembly industry.
The ...

2 Algeria ex-PMs get heavy jail terms in graft trial

Already facing the threat of habitat destruction, hundreds of plant and animal species are now under further pressure from manmade climate change, the IUCN said Tuesday in its updated "Red List of Threatened Species".
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature added 1,840 new species to its catalogue of plants and animals that risk extinction.
The list now contains more than 30,000 species under threat of disappearing.  "Climate change is adding to the multiple threats species face, and we need to act urgently and decisively to curb the crisis," said IUCN acting director general Grethel Aguilar.
"This update reveals the ever-increasing impacts of human activities on wildlife." The IUCN said it had witnessed genuine declines in 73 species since its last assessment.  The group earlier this year released a devastating look at the state of wildlife on Earth, which made for alarming reading.
More than one million species are now at risk of vanishing as insatiable human demand ..

Species under increasing threat from climate change: IUCN

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Tuesday denounced the "evangelists of hate" stoking ethnic violence in his country as he accepted the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo.
"The evangelists of hate and division are wreaking havoc in our society using social media," Abiy said in his acceptance speech at a formal ceremony.
"Together we must neutralise the toxin of hatred."
Since Abiy came to power in April 2018, his reforms aimed at opening up the country have paradoxically given rise to ethnic tensions.

PM denounces 'evangelists of hate' in ethnically divided Ethiopia

Europe's top rights court on Tuesday urged Turkey to release businessman and philanthropist Osman Kavala, ruling his rights had been violated by more than two years in detention and rubbishing the charges against him.
Kavala, who funded civil society projects across the country and notably pushed for reconciliation between Turkey and its neighbour Armenia, was detained in 2017 on charges of seeking to overthrow the government.
His supporters have denounced the charges as politically motivated and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has personally attacked Kavala, calling him the agent in Turkey of US financier George Soros.
The Strasbourg-based European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) found that Turkey was unable to demonstrate that Kavala's "initial and continued pre-trial detention had been justified by reasonable suspicions based on an objective assessment of the acts attributed to him."
Turkey must now "take every measure to put an end to the applicant's detention and to secure his ...

Top Europe court calls for immediate release of Turkish philanthropist

The Bangladeshi military has started erecting fences around camps housing hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees despite complaints from community leaders and rights groups.
An AFP correspondent on Tuesday saw troops in military fatigues erecting pillars for barbed-wire fences around one large camp at Balukhali in the southeastern border district Cox's Bazar.
Bangladesh's refugee commissioner Mahhbub Alam Talukder confirmed to AFP that construction had begun but declined to comment further.
Army chief General Aziz Ahmed said late last month that army engineers had begun erecting the pillars and that the military has "placed orders" for barbed wire.
The camps house nearly a million members of the mostly Muslim Rohingya minority, around 750,000 of whom fled a military offensive in neighbouring Myanmar in August 2017.
Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi was due to defend Myanmar at the International Court of Justice in The Hague on Tuesday against charges of genocide.
Frustration ..

AFP

AFP

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