British Prime Minister Theresa May was scrambling Thursday to avoid another defeat on her Brexit plans amid opposition from members of her own party who claim she is moving in the wrong direction in efforts to overcome the impasse blocking a deal.
Hard-line pro-Brexit lawmakers in May's Conservative Party said a motion to be voted on in Parliament later effectively rules out the threat of Britain leaving the European Union without an agreement on departure terms and future relations, a move they say undermines Britain's bargaining position.
"Conservative MPs (members of Parliament) really ought not to be associated with anything, express or implied, which seems to take 'no deal' off the table," said Brexit-backing Conservative lawmaker Steve Baker in a tweet.
Baker and other Brexiteers are threatening to rebel against the government, or abstain, in a vote intended to buy the government more time to seek changes from the EU to a Brexit divorce agreement.
International Trade Secretary ..

UK's May fights to avoid another defeat on Brexit strategy

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Prince Philip, the 97-year-old husband of Queen Elizabeth II, has escaped prosecution over his nasty car crash as authorities announced on Thursday that it would not be in the "public interest" to proceed further.
The Duke of Edinburgh escaped injury after his Land Rover Freelander collided with another vehicle on January 17 on a road near the Queen's Sandringham country estate in Norfolk. Two women in the Kia car were injured but a nine-month-old baby boy escaped unhurt.
UK's Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said Prince Philip will not be charged with any offence in connection with a crash involving a car he was driving last month.
The prince, who is four months short of his 98th birthday, had voluntarily surrendered his driving licence on Saturday.
"We took into account all of the circumstances in this case, including the level of culpability, the age of the driver and the surrender of the driving licence," said Chris Long, Chief Crown Prosecutor from CPS East of England.
"We have ...

Britain's Prince Philip escapes prosecution over horrific car crash

Could Meghan Markle really face the same fate as Princess Diana? Britain's newspapers on Wednesday angrily challenged US actor George Clooney's claim that their treatment of Prince Harry's wife resembled the hounding of his late mother.
Clooney, who attended the couple's wedding last year, on Tuesday stirred up a hornet's nest of discontent by accusing the London tabloids of giving the new Duchess of Sussex "a raw deal".
"She's a woman who is seven months pregnant and she is being pursued and vilified and chased in the same way that Diana was," the Hollywood superstar told Australian magazine WHO during an interview in Los Angeles.
"It's history repeating itself," Clooney warned. "And we've seen how that ends." The ending Clooney referred to was the 1997 car crash in Paris in which Diana died along with Dodi Al-Fayed as they fled the paparazzi.
The tragedy triggered mass public mourning in the UK and soul searching on the part of the press.
It turned royal reporters into villains and .

Meghan Markle hounded like Diana? Hardly, British papers say

Forty-three people, most of them from Benin, are missing after a boat accident in the Niger River, a local official said Thursday.
The accident happened early Wednesday in Sambera, southwestern Niger, near the border with Benin, Sambera Mayor Oumarou Hassane told AFP.
"Sixty-two people were saved and 43 others are missing, judging from the number of shoes that have been recovered," he said.

Dozens feared dead in Niger boat accident

European plane maker Airbus said Thursday it will stop making its superjumbo A380 in 2021 for lack of customers, abandoning the world's biggest passenger jet and one of the aviation industry's most ambitious and most troubled endeavors.
Barely a decade after the double-deck, 500-plus-seat plane started carrying passengers, Airbus said that key client Emirates is cutting back its orders, and as a result, "we have no substantial A380 backlog and hence no basis to sustain production." The decision could affect up to 3,500 jobs and already cost plane maker 463 million euros (about $523 million) in losses in 2018, Airbus said.
The company, a European economic powerhouse, is also girding for serious disruption to its cross-continental manufacturing from a likely chaotic British exit from the EU next month. CEO Tom Enders, however, said Thursday that "We are getting signals that make me a little more optimistic that we'll see a more orderly Brexit." He wouldn't elaborate.
The end of the ...

Airbus abandons iconic A380 superjumbo, lacking clients

An Iraqi security official says a roadside bomb has exploded north of Baghdad, killing eight fighters from a militia headed by an influential Shiite Muslim cleric.
Thursday's ambush was confirmed by a spokesman with the Peace Brigades, or Saraya al-Salam militia, which is commanded by Muqtada al-Sadr. They both spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media. The militia spokesman said among those killed was a militia commander, Hussein Attiyeh.
The ambush occurred west of the holy city of Samarra, some 60 miles (96 kilometers) north of the capital Baghdad.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. Al-Sadr's political coalition came first in last year's May elections.

Roadside bomb kills 8 militia fighters north of Baghdad

Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock and chief executive Ken Choo will attend Argentine footballer Emiliano Sala's funeral in his home town on Saturday, the English Premier league club that signed him shortly before his death told AFP.
Their attendance was confirmed by club spokesman Mark Denham in an email on Thursday.
The 28-year-old had signed for Cardiff City and was flying to his new team from his old club Nantes in France when his light aircraft went missing over the Channel on January 21.
The striker's body was recovered last week but pilot David Ibbotson is still missing. The plane remains under the sea.
Sala's body is due to be returned to Argentina on Friday, the mayor of his hometown of Progreso had earlier told AFP.
An inquest in England concluded that the footballer died of "head and trunk injuries" and an investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Cardiff City manager to attend Sala funeral: club

Sweden's ambassador to Beijing has been recalled after claims she brokered an unauthorised meeting over the fate of detained Chinese-Swedish bookseller Gui Minhai, Stockholm said Thursday.
The Hong Kong-based dissident -- known for publishing gossipy titles about Chinese political leaders -- disappeared in 2015 before resurfacing in mainland China. He was arrested on a train to Beijing in January last year while travelling with two Swedish diplomats.
In an online post this week, Britain-based Angela Gui said ambassador Anna Lindstedt had arranged for her to travel to Stockholm to meet businessmen "with connections to the Chinese Communist Party", who claimed they could help negotiate her father's release.
The Swedish foreign ministry admitted Thursday it knew nothing about the meetings until after they had taken place -- and was not even aware Lindstedt was in Sweden at the time.
She was now subject to an internal investigation "due to the information we've received concerning ...

Swedish ambassador to Beijing recalled over Gui meetings

President Hassan Rouhani vowed revenge Thursday against the "mercenary group" behind a suicide bombing which killed 27 people in southeastern Iran and accused the US and Israel of supporting "terrorism".
"We will certainly make this mercenary group pay for the blood of our martyrs," the official IRNA news agency quoted the Iranian president as saying in response to Wednesday's attack.
"The main root of terrorism in the region is America and Zionists, and some oil-producing countries in the region also financially support the terrorists," he added.
Rouhani was speaking at Tehran's Mehrabad Airport before leaving for the Russian resort of Sochi for a summit with his Russian and Turkish counterparts Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the future of war-battered Syria.
Wednesday's attack, which targeted a busload of Revolutionary Guards in the volatile southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchistan, was one of the deadliest on Iranian security forces in years.
The bomber struck as the 

Iran vows revenge on 'mercenaries' behind suicide attack

Fast bowler Dale Steyn took four wickets as South Africa claimed a 44-run first innings lead at tea on the second day of the first Test against Sri Lanka at Kingsmead on Thursday.
Sri Lanka were bowled out for 191 with an early tea taken when the last wicket fell.
Steyn took four for 48. He was denied a 27th Test five-wicket haul during a 10-over post-lunch spell when tailender Kasun Rajitha gloved him to gully but Dean Elgar spilled a simple chance.
Steyn took his career tally to 437 Test wickets, passing India's Kapil Dev (434) and drawing level with Stuart Broad of England in joint seventh place on the all-time list.
Kusal Perera top-scored for Sri Lanka with an aggressive 51 off 63 balls. When he was caught at deep cover off Steyn an early end to the innings seemed likely.
But Lasith Embuldeniya and Rajitha defied the bowlers for 55 minutes, adding 32 for the ninth wicket despite being subjected to numerous short-pitched deliveries.
The stand was eventually ended when Rajitha was .

Steyn takes four as South Africa lead in Durban

US Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday demanded that European Union allies leave the Iran nuclear deal and warned of further US sanctions on Tehran.
Speaking at a conference in Poland attended by Israel and senior Arab leaders, Pence denounced Iran as the "greatest threat to peace and security in the Middle East" and accused the clerical regime of plotting a "new Holocaust" with its regional ambitions.
Pence denounced a new initiative by France, Germany and Britain to let European businesses keep operating in Iran despite renewed US sanctions.
"It's an ill-advised step that will only strengthen Iran, weaken the EU and creates still more distance between Europe and the United States," Pence said.
"The time has come for our European partners to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal and join with us as we bring the economic and diplomatic pressure necessary to give the Iranian people, the region and the world the peace, security and freedom they deserve," he said.
As Iran's clerical ...

Pence demands EU allies leave Iran nuclear deal

Egypt parliament has overwhelmingly approved constitutional changes to remove term limits for President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, allowing him to stay on power possibly until 2034.
The changes are part of a package of amendments that will be further examined before final approval in the chamber and a national referendum.
On Thursday, 485 lawmakers in the 596-seat body backed the amendments.  Parliament Speaker Ali Abdel-Al said they would now be discussed by the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee for 60 days before being put to a referendum.
The national referendum will likely take place before early May, the start of the Muslim Holy Month of Ramadan.

Egypt parliament extends president's term limits

Britain's Prince Philip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth II, is not to be charged with any offence in connection with a crash involving a car he was driving last month, the UK's Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said on Thursday.
The 97-year-old prince had voluntarily surrendered his driving licence on Saturday after his Land Rover Freelander collided with another vehicle near the Queen's Sandringham estate in Norfolk last month.
"We took into account all of the circumstances in this case, including the level of culpability, the age of the driver and the surrender of the driving licence," said Chris Long, Chief Crown Prosecutor from CPS East of England.
"We have decided that it would not be in the public interest to prosecute. All those involved in the collision have been informed and provided with a full explanation in writing," he said.
The CPS said the decision was made after considering all the evidence submitted by the police and in accordance with its codes.
"The CPS assessment of .

Britain's Prince Philip will not be prosecuted over car crash: CPS

Police in Pakistan's Punjab province have arrested over 3,700 people as part of a crackdown against those involved in kite flying, which has been  banned due to deaths caused by the sharp thread used in the activity.
The Punjab police launched the clampdown on kite flyers after the provincial  government decided not to restore the Basant festival, traditionally associated with kite flying.
Deaths caused by the string of stray kites is the reason mentioned by the government for not observing Basant.
"Police in their action against the people involved in kite flying have arrested more than 3,700 during the last one week from different cities including Lahore, Fasialabad, Gujranwala and Sheikhupura," Punjab police spokesperson Nabila Ghazanfar said in a statement issued here on Thursday.
She said the police have intensified the action against the kite flying on the order of Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar. She said the crackdown will continue throughout the spring as more people tend .

Over 3700 people arrested in Pakistan's Punjab province for flying kites

India's SSP Chawrasia turned in a bogey-free round after a long time as he carded four-under 68 to be placed tied fifth at the end of the first day of the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth golf tournament here on Thursday.
Chawrasia, who has missed the cut in the last two events he played in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, started from the back nine and bogeyed twice in each of the halves at the Lake Karrinyup Country Club.
Chawrasia was the best Indian from among the six who have teed off this week at this unique event, which combines stroke play with matchplay.
Ajeetesh Sandhu (71) was tied 36th while Shiv Kapur, Khalin Joshi and S Chikkarangappa were all tied at 76th spot with scores of 73 each. Viraj Madappa trailed further with 74.
Kapur had seven birdies, but he also had four bogeys and two double bogeys in the round, where he parred only five of the 18 holes.
Chawrasia was three shots behind Philippines' Miguel Tabuena, who went on an amazing seven-hole birdie blitz to set the early pace ...

Bogey-free Chawrasia starts of well in Perth, placed tied fifth after Day 1

A pregnant Bangladeshi-British teenager, who fled London in 2015 to join the Islamic State terror group in Syria, says she is not the same "silly" girl now, but wants to return to the UK as she is worried about the health of her unborn child.
Shamima Begum, 15, was one of three British schoolgirls who ran away from their homes in the UK in 2015 to be jihadi brides, causing much concern in the country on the impact of online radicalisation, especially among the youth.
Speaking from a refugee camp in Syria, Begum, now 19, has lost two children, told the Times newspaper that she was nine months pregnant and wanted to return to the UK for her baby.
She said she remained scared her unborn baby would become ill in the refugee camp after she fled the jihadists' last remaining enclave in Baghuz, eastern Syria.
"That's why I really want to get back to Britain because I know it will be taken care of - health-wise, at least," she said.
She said she should be giving birth "any day now".
"I'll do .

Pregnant Bangladeshi-British schoolgirl who joined ISIS in Syria now wants to return to UK

Valentine's Day wasn't getting much love in the world's biggest Muslim majority nation Thursday as Indonesian authorities urged amorous couples to call it quits and carried out raids to quash any wayward gift-giving.
About 100 students in the second-biggest city, Surabaya, demonstrated against the chocolates-and-flowers celebration, saying it promoted Western decadence and casual sex.
"Say no to Valentine's now!" chanted the high schoolers, most of them teenaged girls in hijab head coverings. Some held placards with phrases like "Sorry Valentine's Day, I am Muslim".
School principal Arief Himawan warned that couples giving each other chocolates or other treats can quickly lead to sin.
"We want to remind our young generation not to be caught up in Western culture," he told AFP.
Authorities conducted raids in Surabaya, and Makassar city on Sulawesi island to snuff out any celebrations.
In conservative Aceh province -- the only place in Indonesia that imposes Islamic law -- a fresh ...

Valentine's Day not feeling the love in Indonesia

At least 23 illegal gold miners were feared dead in Zimbabwe on Thursday after water flooded two disused shafts in a mining town 145 kilometres south-west of the capital Harare.
Rescuers were trying to use pumps to extract water in the search for survivors and bodies at the site near the town of Kadoma.
"We heard from their colleagues that at least 23 people are trapped in the mine shaft which was flooded by water from a dam wall which burst due to heavy rains on Tuesday night," Wilson Gwatiringa, spokesman for mining company RioZim, owners of one of the mines, told AFP.
"One of them is our mine which was no longer in operation. We are assisting on humanitarian grounds." The state-owned Herald newspaper said the other mine was privately owned.
District administrator Fortunate Muzulu told the paper at least 23 people were trapped underground and that the "chances of rescuing any survivors are very slim".
"The illegal miners entered the shafts at night to evade the owners," Muzulu said. 

23 feared dead in flood at disused Zimbabwe gold mine

The founders of a new global athletes' body including Olympic gold medal-winning cyclist Callum Skinner said Thursday they will ensure their concerns are no longer brushed aside by the International Olympic Committee and the World Anti-Doping Agency.
Skinner, the Briton who is one of the leading figures behind Global Athlete, told AFP there was a "disconnect" between the wishes of sports governing bodies and athletes in how their sports are run.
"It seems to be a constant issue that there is a disconnect between what the administrators want and what athletes want.
"Our aim is definitely to have voting rights on sports bodies and we are throwing the net wide." Global Athlete, a non-profit organisation funded by donations, aims to give a greater voice to competitors in Olympic and Paralympic sports.
Skinner, a member of Britain's victorious team pursuit trio at the 2016 Rio Olympics, spoke last year at an emergency summit at the White House to attack the IOC, accusing it of letting ...

New global body aims to give athletes a voice

A top court Thursday granted bail to Shehbaz Sharif in two corruption cases, in a major relief to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief and Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly who is currently in a jail.
A two-member bench of the Lahore High Court headed by Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmed accepted Sharif's plea and granted him bail in the Rs 1400 crore Ashiyana Housing and Ramzan Sugar Mills scams.
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had taken 67-year-old Sharif, the younger brother of jailed prime minister Nawaz Sharif, into custody on October 5. He is accused of allegedly cancelling the contract of a successful bidder in the scheme and awarding the same to his favourite firm.
Sharif, who has been in the Kot Lakhpat jail Lahore, declared the verdict "a victory of truth".
He said false cases were instituted against him on "political grounds". He said if a corruption of a penny is proved against him, he will quit politics.
In both cases the NAB prosecutor failed to .

Pak court grants bail to PML-N chief Shehbaz Sharif

Scientists have discovered a new dinosaur species in Tanzania with a heart-shaped tail that provides new clues to how ecosystems evolved on the African continent during the Cretaceous period.
The dinosaur discovered in Southwestern Tanzania is yet another member of the large, long-necked titanosaur sauropods, said researchers at the Ohio University in the US.
The partial skeleton was recovered from Cretaceous-age --  145.5 million to 65.5 million years ago -- rocks exposed in a cliff surface in the western branch of the great East African Rift System, according to the study published in the journal PLOS ONE.
The dinosaur is called Mnyamawamtuka moyowamkia in reference to the name of the riverbed (Mtuka) in which it was discovered and due to the unique shape of its tail bones.
The initial discovery of Mnyamawamtuka took place in 2004, when part of the skeleton was found high in a cliff wall overlooking the seasonally dry Mtuka riverbed, with annual excavations continuing through ...

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