US consular officials were given access on Wednesday to an American ex-Marine arrested in Moscow accused of espionage, the Russian foreign ministry said.
The consular visit took place five days after 48-year-old Paul Whelan was detained in the Russian capital last Friday.
"Russia has given America consular access to US citizen Paul Whelan," the foreign ministry said, according to news agency RIA Novosti.
Whelan faces up to 20 years in prison if found guilty, according to the ministry.
He was arrested "while carrying out an act of espionage", Russia's FSB domestic security service said.
His family has denied he is a spy, saying he was visiting Moscow to attend a wedding.
Born in Canada, Whelan is director of international security for BorgWarner, a car parts manufacturer headquartered near Detroit, his brother David Whelan has told several US media outlets.
His arrest came after President Vladimir Putin accused Western nations of using espionage cases to try to undermine an ...

Russia says US staff visit detained American accused of spying

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At least one person died and 10 others were missing after a freighter sank off China's eastern coast on Wednesday, the official Xinhua news agency reported.
The cargo ship had 15 people on board when it sank at around 4:30 am (2030 GMT Tuesday), 90 nautical miles (167 kilometres) east of Taizhou City in Zhejiang province, Xinhua said, citing local maritime authorities.
The 80-metre long freighter departed the Taiwanese port of Kaohsiung with 14 crew members from Myanmar and one Taiwanese national. Four people have been rescued so far, Xinhua said.
Taiwan's national rescue centre said in a statement that the authorities had dispatched coastguard vessels and aircraft to help with search and recovery operations for the Palau-registered ship.
An investigation is under way to determine the causes of the accident, Xinhua said.

One dead, 10 missing after cargo ship sinks off China

A 14-year-old boy who authorities say was driving an SUV that caused a fatal car accident has been arrested on a murder charge.
The Harris County Sheriff's Office says the SUV was filled with teens who were throwing eggs at other cars Tuesday afternoon when another driver began chasing them.
The department says the 14-year-old driver then ran a red light and crashed into a pickup truck, killing 45-year-old Silvia Zavala.
Sheriff Ed Gonzalez says Zavala had just been shopping and was "totally innocent."
Gonzalez said Wednesday the 14-year-old was booked in a juvenile detention centre on a murder charge. He says police will interview the driver of the car that chased the teens.

14-year-old boy arrested on murder charge after fatal crash

Uncertainty prevailed over the opposition structure in in the 300-member Bangladesh parliament as the BNP and its allies have won just seven seats, far less than the required number to become the formal Opposition party in the House.
According to legal and parliament experts, a party needs to win at least 10 per cent of the total seats to formally get the status of an Opposition party.
Jailed ex-premier Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) won five seats and its partners in the National Unity Front (NUF) got just two as compared to 288 seats of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League and its allies in the recently concluded general elections.
The BNP has rejected the elections results as "farcical and rigged" and demanded fresh polls under a non-partisan caretaker government. The party has also said its MPs-elect would not take oath as lawmakers on Thursday.
Former president HM Ershad's Jatiya Party, which is part of the Grand Alliance led by Hasina, on Wednesday ...

After poll results, uncertainty prevails in Bangladesh over opposition structure

The World Anti-Doping Agency should act now over Russia's failure to meet a December 31 deadline to hand over data from its anti-doping laboratory in Moscow, the National Anti-Doping Organisations (NADO) said on Wednesday.
WADA, whose underfire president Craig Reedie declared himself "bitterly disappointed" by Russia missing the deadline, have scheduled a Compliance and Review Committee (CRC) meeting in a fortnight's time, but NADO said in their statement it must be brought forward and dealt with immediately.
"NADO leaders now call on WADA to acknowledge the gravity of this missed deadline and call for an immediate review and recommendation from the CRC," it said in a statement which was supported by the National Anti-Doping organisations of 16 countries including France, the United States and Australia.
"After more than three years of review, indecision and compromise in response to the worst doping scandal in the history of sport, the time has come to demonstrate that no individual .

WADA must act now on Russia missing deadline: NADO

Justice Asif Saeed Khosa, the senior most judge of the Supreme Court, has been appointed new Chief Justice of Pakistan, according to a media report on Wednesday.
President Arif Alvi has approved the appointment of Justice Khosa, who will assume the charge of his office on January 18, The Express Tribune reported.
Incumbent Chief Justice Saqib Nisar will be retiring from service on January 17.
Justice Khosa, 64, has been a senior Justice of the Supreme Court since December 2016. He has also served as an advocate in the Lahore High Court and Supreme Court.

Justice Asif Khosa appointed new Chief Justice of Pakistan

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday that the US hopes to gain access soon to a former Marine who was arrested in Russia on espionage charges and that "if the detention is not appropriate we will demand his immediate return."
Paul Whelan, who is head of global security for a Michigan-based auto parts supplier, was arrested on Friday. In announcing the arrest three days later, the Russian Federal Security Service said he was caught "during an espionage operation," but it gave no details.
Whelan, 48, was in Moscow to attend a wedding when he suddenly disappeared, his brother David Whelan said Tuesday.
Pompeo, speaking in Brazil, said the US is "hopeful within the next hours we'll get consular access to see him and get a chance to learn more." The US has "made clear to the Russians our expectation that we will learn more about the charges and come to understand what it is he's been accused of and if the detention is not appropriate we will demand his immediate return," Pompeo 

US wants access to American held in Moscow on spying charges

Rafael Nadal on Wednesday withdrew from the season-opening Brisbane International after an MRI revealed a slight strain of his left thigh.
Nadal, who had a first round bye, was scheduled to play his second round match against Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on Thursday.
However, after conferring with his doctors he decided to withdraw to ensure he would be fit to play the Australian Open later this month.
Nadal, the current world number two, has not played a main tour event since a knee problem forced him to retire during his US Open semi-final against Juan Martin del Potro in September.
The 32-year-old had surgery on his ankle in November to remove a loose intra-articular body and only resumed training three weeks ago.
He played the opening round at an exhibition event in Abu Dhabi last week, where he lost to South African Kevin Anderson.
"I feel good, but after a long period of time without competing, I felt the leg tightening a little bit in Abu Dhabi in the first match," he ...

Thigh strain forces Nadal out of Brisbane tournament

Croatian police said Wednesday they have arrested a former member of a mafia group sought by Italy, where he was convicted for drugs trafficking.
The 72-year-old man was arrested in the capital Zagreb on Monday on a European arrest warrant issued by Italy, where he is to serve a 10-year jail term, an interior ministry statement said.
The man was convicted as a "member of a criminal organisation and ... for trafficking of larger quantities of heroine and cocaine." State-run HRT television identified the man arrested as Claudio D'Este, formerly a member of the powerful Venice-based Mala del Brenta mafia group.
He lived in Zagreb for more than a decade, HRT reported.

Croatia arrests ex-mafia member sought by Italy

British manufacturing output hit a six-month high in December as companies' stockpiling in preparation for possible border disruptions caused by Brexit gathers pace, data showed Wednesday.
The IHS Markit/CIPS UK manufacturing purchasing managers' index climbed to 54.2 last month, up from 53.6 in November.
A PMI figure above 50 indicates growth, while economists' consensus was for a drop to 52.5.
"Manufacturers linked increases in both domestic and overseas demand to clients purchasing to build up safety stocks to mitigate potential Brexit disruption," IHS said.
The UK government and Brussels have struck a withdrawal agreement that would prevent a no-deal Brexit.
However, it currently lacks majority support in the British parliament, being opposed by Brexiteer lawmakers and pro-EU MPs ahead of Britain's planned exit on March 29.
Wednesday's data "is the first real sign that stockbuilding is taking place as a precaution to mitigate the disruption that a no deal Brexit would cause", ...

Brexit stockpiling helps lift UK manufacturing

Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa cut short his annual vacation Wednesday to try to resolve an impasse with doctors who have been on strike for a month, a government spokesman said.
Hundreds of junior doctors in public hospitals across Zimbabwe withdrew their services in November demanding salaries in US dollars, an increase in on-call allowances and an improvement in drug supplies and provision of functional equipment.
Negotiations have so far hit a brick wall with the government insisting it has no capacity to pay salaries in US dollars.
Last week government said it had suspended 530 striking doctors but later made an about-turn to pave the way for fresh negotiations.
"The president has had to cut short his annual leave in order to play an oversight role in the negotiations," the information ministry permanent secretary Nick Mangwana told AFP.
He added that vice president Constantino Chiwenga, who has been acting as president while Mnangagwa was on leave, "is in constant ...

Zimbabwe president cuts short holiday over doctors' strike

A 25-year-old knife-wielding man arrested during a New Year's Eve terror attack in Manchester is being detained under the Mental Health Act after an assessment by medical experts, police said on Wednesday.
The man stabbed three people - including a police officer - at Manchester Victoria station before being arrested on Monday night.
Greater Manchester Police said the counter-terrorism investigation launched in the wake of the attack on Monday night remains ongoing, including a search of a property associated with the suspect in north Manchester.
"The 25-year-old man arrested following the incident at Manchester Victoria Station has been assessed by specialist medical staff and detained under the Mental Health Act. The Counter Terrorism investigation remains ongoing," Greater Manchester Police said in a statement.
"There is nothing to suggest the involvement of other people in this attack, but confirming this remains a main priority for the investigation," it said.
Footage of the ...

UK stabbing suspect held under mental health law

The Pakistan government Wednesday decided to send a no-fly list of 172 people, including former president Asif Ali Zardari, to a review committee following a directive by the Supreme Court.
Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry told reporters here after a meeting of the federal Cabinet that the move was in accordance with orders of the Supreme Court.
The apex court directed the Cabinet on Monday to reconsider its "hasty decision" of placing the names of 172 people, including Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, on the no-fly list.
It castigated the Exit Control List  (ECL) of the 172 persons who appeared in a report compiled by the joint investigation team (JIT) probing the fake accounts case.
Chaudhry said the Cabinet decided to follow the orders of the Supreme Court and the list of the 172 individuals will be sent to a review committee of Ministry of Interior.
"After looking at the material [submitted by the review committee], it will be decided how this matter goes forward," he .

Pak govt to send list of 172 persons on ECL to review committee

South African captain Faf du Plessis said on Wednesday that fast bowler Duanne Olivier would be used in an "enforcer" role as part of a pace barrage in the second Test against Pakistan starting at Newlands on Thursday.
Du Plessis said he wanted to keep the pressure on the Pakistan batsmen after Olivier took 11 wickets in South Africa's six-wicket win in the first Test in Centurion.  There had been speculation that Olivier might have to sit out at Newlands because of the return to fitness of Vernon Philander. But Du Plessis said he would definitely play.
"He brings variety to our attack," said Du Plessis, adding that Olivier provided a contrast to the skill and control of South Africa's other fast bowlers, Kagiso Rabada, Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander.
"Duanne is more of an enforcer who puts you on the back foot and can be a bit challenging for batters, especially when they come from the sub-continent where the ball doesn't bounce as high," said Du Plessis.
"He's a fit guy and he can .

'Enforcer' Olivier confirmed for second Test

British-Indian industrialist Sanjeev Gupta's GFG Alliance on Wednesday announced the purchase of Texas-based Keystone Consolidated Industries Inc. (KCI) from Contran Corporation.
London-headquartered GFG Alliance's group company Liberty Steel USA has acquired KCI, including all its subsidiaries, for USD 320 million.
The GFG Alliance said the addition of KCI to its group company Liberty Steel USA creates one of the country's largest producers of wire rod and provides a platform for GFG to grow its US GreenSteel capacity to 5 metric tons per annum by 2020.
"Today is an exciting milestone in our ambitious journey in the United States. I warmly welcome all Keystone employees to the global GFG family," said GFG Executive chairman Sanjeev Gupta.
"The long history, strong management, excellent work force and industry position of KCI will pair well with our existing Georgetown plant and will serve as a strong base for our continued expansion to 5mmtpa of steel capacity in the region," he ...

British Indian steel tycoon completes US acquisition

The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said it welcomes the clarity in the Afghan presidential election calendar and stressed that all stakeholders have a responsibility for the credibility and legitimacy of the elections process.
The Independent Election Commission Sunday said the highly-anticipated election, scheduled for the coming April, will be delayed by three months and held in July.
The mission "notes the announcement by Afghan electoral authorities for the presidential election to be held in July 2019 and welcomes the clarity in the electoral calendar," the UNAMA said in a statement on Monday.
It said the UN understands that the new date announced by the Afghan officials follows consultations with a broad range of political actors, civil society organisations, and the Government of Afghanistan, all of whom have expressed the strong desire for a credible and transparent presidential election.
"The UN maintains that the presidential election is critical to the future .

Afghanistan: UN mission welcomes new polling dates following election delays

Two days of fighting in rebel-held parts of northern Syria killed dozens of people as al-Qaida-linked militants press their offensive against Turkey-backed rebels, a war monitor and activists said Wednesday.
The new wave of fighting comes after President Donald Trump's abrupt announcement in mid-December that he was withdrawing 2,000 US troops from Syria and Turkish threats to carry out a military operation against Kurdish fighters.
With their offensive, the al-Qaida-linked fighters are trying to cut off Turkey-backed fighters in the northern enclave of Afrin from those in the northwestern province of Idlib, amid concerns that Turkey might make a deal with Russia at the expense of the extremists, said Rami Abdurrahman who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
"They are trying to say we are present and no one should ignore us," he said of the al-Qaida-linked fighters.
The al-Qaida-linked Levant Liberation Committee and the Turkey-backed Nour el-Din el-Zinki group 

Fighting among rebels in northern Syria kills dozens

A former Tennessee priest who was forced from the priesthood in 1989 has died in prison while serving time for a 1999 child rape conviction.
The Tennessean reports South Central Correctional Facility officials say 74-year-old Edward McKeown died Sunday of natural causes. He pleaded guilty to repeatedly abusing a 12-year-old boy and was sentenced to 25 years. Prosecutors said then that he had abuse dozens of boys over two decades. McKeown had been ordained in 1970.
Then-Bishop Edward U Kmiec has said he was removed from "direct or unsupervised contact with youth" when accused of molestation in 1986.
But court records unsealed in 2002 say McKeown was allowed to continue working with children. He was forced from the priesthood in 1989 and went to work at the county juvenile court.

Ex-Tennessee priest convicted of rape dies in prison

The British government came under fire on Wednesday after it emerged that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is charging victims of forced marriages to return home to the UK after their rescue overseas.
According to the latest statistics from the UK's Forced Marriage Unit (FMU), India ranks fourth among countries where victims are taken to be forced into marriage after Pakistan, Bangladesh and Somalia. In 2017, 82 male and female victims of forced marriage supported by the FMU were from India.
A Freedom of Information (FOI) request by 'The Times' found that any such victims must cover the cost of their plane ticket, food and shelter on being assisted by the government unit. If they are over 18, they can take out emergency loans from the government.
Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said he would "get to the bottom" of the issue to ensure his department was acting with "compassion and humanity".
I have asked officials to give me some proper advice on the whole issue on the basis of .

UK policy of charging forced marriage victims faces criticism

Search crews have pulled more bodies from a huge pile of rubble at a collapsed Russian apartment building, bringing the known death toll to 21.
The bodies found on Wednesday in the city of Magnitogorsk included a 3-year-old girl, Russian news agencies cited the emergencies ministry as saying.
An 11-month-old boy who was pulled alive from the wreckage on Tuesday, nearly 36 hours after the building collapsed, was in serious but stable condition in a children's hospital in Moscow. He was flown about 1,400 kilometers (870 miles) to the capital in a plane dispatched by the Health Ministry.
Health Minister Veronika Skvortsova said Wednesday that the boy suffered superficial head wounds but no apparent brain damage.
Authorities said 20 people who lived in the building remain unaccounted for, including five children.
But the prospects of finding any of them alive in the rubble appeared dim after two frigid nights in which temperatures fell to about minus 20 degrees Celsius (minus 4 degrees ...

Death toll in Russian apartment collapse rises to 21

The French government sought on Wednesday to downplay fears that workers will be left out of pocket as the country transitions to a pay-as-you-earn tax system that could fan the flames of a revolt over spending power.
After years of delays, France on January 1 ditched a system whereby residents file income tax returns based on the previous year's earnings, replacing it with a system where the state deducts the taxes directly from people's salaries or pensions each month.
Opinion polls show the French broadly supporting the change but the shift presents risks for President Emmanuel Macron, not least that workers may feel poorer when they receive their new net pay -- even if they will no longer have to save up to pay their taxes three times a year.
Any glitches in the new system which could see taxpayers pay more than they bargained for could further infuriate the "yellow vest" anti-government protesters who have been demonstrating around the country since mid-November over Macron's ...

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