Timeline 2019 January - March
Return to home
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, US authorities
fired tear gas into Mexico during the first hours of the new year to
repel about 150 migrants who tried to breach the border fence in
Tijuana.
   (AP, 1/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, An American air
strike in Yemen killed Jamal al-Badawi, an al-Qaida operative
accused of involvement in the 2000 attack on the US Navy ship Cole.
   (SFC, 1/7/19, p.A2)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, The US and Israel
officially quit UNESCO, the UN's educational, scientific and
cultural agency at the stroke of midnight, the culmination of a
process triggered more than a year ago amid concerns that the
organization fosters anti-Israel bias. Since 2011 the US has accrued
$600 million in unpaid dues, which was one of the reasons for Pres.
Donald Trump's decision to withdraw. Israel owed an estimated $10
million.
   (AP, 1/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, A US excise tax on
mined coal that funds the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund was
reduced to $0.50 per ton for coal from subsurface mines and $0.25
per ton for surface mines. The cut was expected to cost taxpayers at
least $15 billion by 2050.
  Â
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Lung_Benefits_Act_of_1973)(SFC,
12/11/19, p.A5)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, NASA rang in the
New Year with a historic flyby of the farthest, and quite possibly
the oldest, cosmic body ever explored by humankind -- a tiny,
distant world called Ultima Thule -- in the hopes of learning more
about how planets took shape.
   (AFP, 1/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, Washington state
joined a handful of other states banning those under 21 from buying
assault rifles.
   (SFC, 1/2/19, p.A4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, Pegi Young
(b.1952), the ex-wife of Neil Young and co-founder of the Bridge
School (1986), died in California after a year long battle with
cancer.
   (SFC, 1/5/19, p.E1)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, Two Austrian women
became the first same-sex couple to officially tie the knot in the
predominantly Catholic country, following years of legal challenges
from gay rights groups.
   (AP, 1/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, Former Brazilian
army captain Jair Bolsonaro took office as president promising to
overhaul many aspects of life in Latin America's largest nation.
   (AP, 1/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, In Burkina Faso
local villagers of the Mossi ethnic group attacked a nearby camp of
herders from the nomadic Fulani group. Seven Fulani herders were
lynched and their homes were burned down. Yirgou residents killed 39
people in Fulani herding communities across the region in
retaliation for attacks a day earlier.
   (AFP, 1/2/19)(Reuters, 1/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, Democratic Republic
of Congo's government cut internet connections and SMS services
across the country for a second straight day as the country
nervously awaited results from the weekend's chaotic presidential
election.
   (Reuters, 1/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, France 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.
   (AFP, 1/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, In Hong Kong
thousands of demonstrators marched to demand full democracy,
fundamental rights, and even independence from China in the face of
what many see as a marked clampdown by the Communist Party on local
freedoms.
   (Reuters, 1/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, In Japan a minivan
slammed into pedestrians early today on a street where people had
gathered for New Year's festivities in downtown Tokyo. A ninth
person was injured after the suspect got out of the car and punched
him. Kazuhiro Kusakabe (21) was arrested.
   (AP, 1/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, In western Germany
a man (50) ploughed his car into a crowd of people in early today,
injuring at least four in Bottrop and Essen before being arrested by
police on suspicion of attempted homicide. This appeared to have
been an intentional attack against foreigners.
   (AP, 1/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, In southern India
millions of women stood should to shoulder along highways in Kerala
state creating a human wall 300 miles long standing fast against
sexism and oppression.
   (SFC, 1/3/19, p.A4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, Israel's
center-left opposition dramatically split ahead of an April 9
election, with leader Avi Gabbay announcing he would no longer
partner with veteran politician Tzipi Livni as she sat stone-faced
next to him. The announcement meant the end of their Zionist Union
alliance, which secured the second most seats in the last general
election in 2015, but has since tumbled far in opinion polls.
   (AFP, 1/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, In Malawi Yasin
Phiri, an albino, was killed in front of his young son. Local media
said the man's arms were hacked off, his teeth pulled and his
private parts removed, prompting calls by local and international
civil society groups for government action. On March 1 Malawi said
it will offer cash rewards of up $7,000 for information about
abductions and killing of people with albinism as anger over
government inaction grew ahead of national elections.
   (Reuters, 3/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, In Mali armed men
reportedly attacked a central village, killing 37 civilians, in what
appeared to be ethnic violence. Those killed were from the Fulani
ethnic group and included the village chief.
   (AP, 1/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, Myanmar police
clashed with insurgents in the troubled western state of Rakhine.
One policeman was critically injured when border guard police were
attacked by about 30 men carrying "small and heavy arms" near
Saytaung, a village in the Buthidaung area.
   (Reuters, 1/2/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, In Pakistan four
Taliban militants stormed a security forces facility in the
southwestern town of Loralai, triggering a battle that left four
security forces and the attackers dead.
   (AP, 1/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, Romania took over
the EU's rotating presidency at a tumultuous time for the bloc and
just days after European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker
voiced doubts about the country's ability to do the job.
   (AFP, 1/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, Somalia's
government ordered the UN top envoy to the troubled country to
leave, accusing him of "deliberately interfering with the country's
sovereignty." Nicholas Haysom had raised concerns at the action of
Somalia's UN-backed security services in recent violence that left
several people dead.
   (AFP, 1/2/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, Taiwanese
immigration authorities found 24 Vietnamese and are searched for 124
others who left their tour groups after arriving in December on
tourist visas.
   (AP, 1/2/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, Thailand police
said Sucheep Sornsung (41) shot and killed six family members,
including his two young children, before killing himself after a New
Year's party in southern Chumphon province.
   (Reuters, 1/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, In Turkmenistan a
law took effect forbidding the sale of alcoholic drinks including
beer on trains, airplanes and ferries and at sports facilities. It
also banned the sale of alcohol on holidays when workers get the day
off. The law called for alcohol sales to be banned on Saturdays and
Sundays beginning in 2021, except at bars and restaurants.
   (AP, 1/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, Pope Francis
ushered in the New Year with an ode to motherhood, reminding the
faithful that a mother's example and embrace is the best antidote to
today's disjointed world of solitude and misery.
   (AP, 1/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 2, Pres. Donald Trump
said the United States would get out of Syria slowly "over a period
of time" and would protect the US-backed Kurdish fighters in the
country as Washington draws down troops. US-backed Syrian Democratic
Forces, which include Kurdish fighters, captured the Syrian town of
Kashmah.
   (AP, 1/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 2, The first of about
80 US military personnel arrived in Gabon in case they are needed to
protect US citizens and diplomatic facilities in Congo's capital
Kinshasa.
   (Reuters, 1/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 2, The US military
carried out an airstrike in southwestern Somalia that killed 10
members of the al-Shabab extremist group. The US carried out at
least 47 such strikes last year in the Horn of Africa nation.
   (AP, 1/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 2, US soldier Peter
Lian (21) was charged with murder in the death of his estranged
wife, Khuang Par, whose body was discovered in a suitcase in an
Indianapolis dumpster on Dec. 23. Lian was accused of flying to
Indianapolis from Colorado to kill his estranged wife, then dumping
her body in a trash bin and fleeing to Thailand.
   (AP, 1/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 2, US Apple CEO Tim
Cook said in a letter to shareholders that demand for iPhones is
waning and revenue for the last quarter of 2018 will fall well below
projections, a decrease he traced mainly to China.
   (AP, 1/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 2, It was reported
that Netflix has removed an episode of a satirical comedy show from
its service in Saudi Arabia over its criticism of the kingdom,
following a legal request by officials in Riyadh.
   (AFP, 1/2/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 2, New Brazilian
President Jair Bolsonaro issued an executive order making the
Agriculture Ministry responsible for deciding on lands claimed by
indigenous peoples, in a victory for agribusiness that will likely
enrage environmentalists. The temporary decree will expire unless it
is ratified within 120 days by Congress. It strips power over land
claim decisions from indigenous affairs agency FUNAI.
   (Reuters, 1/2/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 2, Chinese President
Xi Jinping, declaring that independence is not an option for Taiwan,
urged both sides to reach an early consensus on unification and not
leave the issue for future generations.
   (AP, 1/2/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 2, DR Congo said it
had pulled accreditation for Florence Morice, a French radio
journalist, and cut off the broadcasts of Radio France
Internationale (RFI) amid tensions over the counting of votes in
crucial elections.
   (AFP, 1/2/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 2, A Red Cross
official said hundreds of refugees have crossed into Uganda from
Congo in the aftermath of that country's presidential election,
heightening concerns about the possible cross-border spread of
Ebola.
   (AP, 1/2/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 2, In Denmark eight
people were killed and 16 injured on the Great Belt Bridge linking
Zealand and Funen when a passenger train hit a trailer that had
blown off a freight wagon coming the other way. The victims were all
on the passenger train.
   (Reuters, 1/2/19)(AP, 3/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 2, In France Eric
Drouet, of the leaders of the "yellow vest" demonstrations, was
arrested late today for organizing an unauthorized protest on the
Champs-Elysees avenue. He was released the following afternoon.
Drouet already faced a trial for carrying a weapon at a previous
protest.
   (AP, 1/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 2, In India two women
entered the Sabarimala temple in Kerala state, one of the country's
largest Hindu pilgrimage sites that had been forbidden to females
between the ages of 10 and 50, sparking protests across the state.
   (AP, 1/2/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 2, In India Hindu
nationalists linked to PM Narendra Modi’s ruling party urged him to
push through laws to allow the building of a temple on the ruins of
a 16th century mosque in Ayodhya.
   (Reuters, 1/2/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 2, In Italy temporary
administrators were appointed to lead the country's 10th largest
lender, the struggling Carige, as part of a plan to avoid yet
another bank bailout.
   (AP, 1/2/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 2, Madagascan security
forces fired tear gas to break up a protest by supporters of losing
presidential candidate Marc Ravalomanana, who claims he was denied
victory in last month's election because of fraud.
   (AFP, 1/2/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 2, The Dutch Coast
Guard said up to 270 containers had fallen off the
Panamanian-flagged MSC ZOE, one of the world's biggest container
ships, in rough weather near the German island of Borkum and floated
southwest toward Dutch waters. Three missing containers contained an
organic peroxide, a flammable and highly toxic compound. In Feb. the
estimate of fallen containers was raised to 345.
   (Reuters, 1/2/19)(AP, 1/3/19)(AP, 2/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 2, A Nigerian Air
Force helicopter crashed in combat at Damasak in northern Borno
state, killing five crew members.
   (AP, 1/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 2, In Norway avalanche
occurred in the northern region of Troms in an area popular with
skiers. Three Finns and a Swede were skiing in the area and were
reported to police as missing.
   (Reuters, 1/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 2, Qatar Airways said
it now holds a 5 percent share in China Southern Airlines, helping
expand the Gulf carrier's reach in one of the world's fastest
growing aviation markets.
   (AP, 1/2/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 2, Philippine
officials said the death toll from weekend landslides and
devastating floods triggered by a tropical depression in the Bicol
and eastern Visayas regions has climbed to 85.
   (AP, 1/2/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 2, Saudi Arabia
announced plans to build an entertainment complex in the capital
Riyadh, the latest in a series of state-backed efforts to encourage
public leisure activities after decades of tight social
restrictions.
   (Reuters, 1/2/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 2, Sudan's largest
opposition bloc joined calls by a wide array of political groups for
President Omar al-Bashir to step down, turning up the pressure on
the longtime autocrat after two weeks of street protests.
   (AP, 1/2/19)
 2019      Jan 2, The Syrian
Observatory for Human /Rights said two days of fighting in the
provinces of Aleppo and Idlib have killed 31 people, including five
civilians. 17 Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) fighters and 16 combatants
from the Turkish-backed National Liberation Front rebel alliance
were killed in Idlib province.. The al-Qaida-linked Levant
Liberation Committee and the Turkey-backed Nour el-Din el-Zinki
group blamed each other for triggering the fighting.
   (AP, 1/2/19)(AFP, 1/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 2, In Thailand tens of
thousands of tourists fled popular islands and resort areas as
Tropical Storm Pabuk closed in and threatened to batter the southern
part of the kingdom with heavy rains, winds and seven-meter
(22-foot) waves.
   (AFP, 1/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 3, The United States
issued a pre-emptive warning to Iran against pursuing three planned
space rocket launches that it said would violate a UN Security
Council resolution because they use ballistic missile technology.
   (Reuters, 1/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 3, Democrats took over
the US House of Representatives, ushering in a new era of divided
government in Washington with the goal of checking Donald Trump's
turbulent presidency.
   (AP, 1/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 3, In Florida two big
rigs and two passenger vehicles collided and spilled diesel fuel
across I-75 sparking a massive fire that killed 7 people, including
five children riding in a church van.
   (SFC, 1/4/19, p.A4)(SFC, 1/5/19, p.A6)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 3, Michigan's
Democratic congresswoman Rashida Tlaib kicked off her term with an
expletive-laced vow to impeach Donald Trump, testing her party's
discipline and earning a chiding the next day from the president.
   (AP, 1/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 3, In Texas three
children were found killed and their mother Kimaria Nelson (24)
beaten and severely wounded by a pellet gun in Texas City. Junaid
Hashim Mehmood, the father of one of the children was soon arrested
and charged with murder.
   (http://tinyurl.com/yb43d96j)(SFC, 1/5/19, p.A6)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 3, Stocks went into a
steep slide after Apple reported a slowdown in iPhone sales over the
holidays in China, a hugely important market for the company.
   (AP, 1/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 3, Texas lawyer Herb
Kelleher (b.1931), co-founder of Southwest Airlines, died. He became
chairman of the airline in 1978 and CEO in 1982.
   (SFC, 1/4/19, p.D2)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 3, In Afghanistan the
Taliban killed eight police in an attack on their post in the
provincial capital of the northern Baghlan province.
   (AP, 1/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 3, The new government
of Brazil's far-right President Jair Bolsonaro hit the ground
running on its first day of business, rushing through changes to put
a conservative stamp on the country by trashing progressive
achievements of past administrations.
   (AFP, 1/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 3, Canada said that 13
of its citizens have been detained in China since Huawei
Technologies Co Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou was arrested
last month in Vancouver at the request of the United States.
   (Reuters, 1/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 3, A Chinese space
probe successfully touched down on the far side of the moon. The
Chang'e-4 lunar probe, launched in December, made the "soft landing"
and transmitted the first-ever "close range" image of the far side
of the moon.
   (Reuters, 1/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 3, Croatia threatened
to cancel its purchase of F-16 fighter jets from Israel after months
of stalling due to a lack of US approval. Washington has objected to
the sale because it wants the removal of electronic system upgrades
that Israel added in a rare defence dispute between the close
allies.
   (AFP, 1/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 3, In El Salvador
transgender woman Camila Diaz Cordova (29), who sought asylum in the
United States, died after being kidnapped and beaten. This was weeks
after she was deported, underscoring the dangers of the Trump
administration's hardening policy on asylum seekers.
   (Reuters, 2/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 3, In Greece two men,
67 and 64 years old, along with the older man's wife, went missing
after setting out from Keratea in a pouring rain. Their bodies were
later found separately in a creek that had turned into a raging
river southeast of Athens.
   (AP, 1/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 3, India deported a
second small group of Rohingya Muslims, five members of a family, to
Myanmar after ordering the expulsion of members of the Myanmar
minority group and others who entered the country illegally.
   (AP, 1/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 3, In southern India
Hindu hard-liners shut shops and businesses and clashed with police
in Kerala state to protest the entry of two women into the
Sabarimala hill temple, one of India's largest Hindu pilgrimage
sites.
   (AP, 1/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 3, In Iran prominent
human rights activist Narges Mohammadi and British-Iranian detainee
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe announced plans to go on hunger strike in
Tehran's Evin Prison to protest against the denial of medical
treatment.
   (AFP, 1/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 3, Israeli far-right
activists clashed with police as authorities moved in to clear away
two mobile homes illegally set up on a hilltop near Ramallah in the
occupied West Bank.
   (AFP, 1/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 3, Italy's deputy PM
Matteo Salvini demanded the resignations of the rebellious leaders
of Florence, Palermo and Naples for refusing to obey a controversial
anti-immigration law.
   (AFP, 1/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 3, Mexico's government
said construction on a partly-built $13 billion new Mexico City
airport which the new president wants to cancel has been officially
suspended.
   (Reuters, 1/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 3, Niger's defense
ministry said several days of raids have killed more than 280 Boko
Haram extremists near the border with Nigeria.
   (AP, 1/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 3, Nigeria's President
Muhammadu Buhari appointed his niece, Amina Zakari, to the election
commission ahead of presidential elections in February, when he will
seek a second term. The opposition quickly objected to the
appointment.
   (AFP, 1/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 3, Saudi Arabia
announced that it will seek the death penalty against five suspects
in the slaying of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, a
killing that has seen members of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's
entourage implicated in the writer's assassination.
   (AP, 1/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 3, In Spain workers at
Amazon's biggest local warehouse started a two-day strike just ahead
of a gift-giving feast day, as part of a long-running campaign for
better pay and conditions.
   (Reuters, 1/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 3, Sudanese security
forces fired tear gas to disperse some 200 protesters who were
trying to deliver an anti-government petition to the local
headquarters of President Omar al-Bashir's ruling party in Port
Sudan.
   (Reuters, 1/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 3, In Syria clashes
between jihadists and rebels raged inside the last major opposition
bastion for a third day, as the death toll mounted to more than 70
fighters.
   (AP, 1/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 3, In Tunisia two
alleged jihadists blew themselves up during an early morning raid by
security forces on a house in the central region of Sidi Bouzid.
   (AFP, 1/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 3, Turkey's President
Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Ankara and Baghdad would deepen
cooperation against terrorism after tensions last month over Turkish
air strikes against Kurdish militants in Iraq.
   (AFP, 1/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 4, In southern
California three men were killed and four others injured during a
brawl at the Gable House Bowl in Torrence.
   (SFC, 1/7/19, p.A4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 4, In the SF Bay Area
police found three people dead following gunfire at the 1000 block
of Center Street in Oakland. Antonio Malike Durant (26) was arrested
on Jan. 18 and soon charged with three counts of murder.
   (SFC, 1/24/19, p.C6)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 4, In Texas Jenna
Scott and her friend Michael Swearingin disappeared. Their bodies
were later found in a shallow grave in Clearview, Oklahoma. Cedric
Marks (44) was arrested this month in Michigan on a burglary charged
related to Scott's house in Temple, Texas.
   (http://tinyurl.com/y7986eun)(SFC, 2/4/19, p.A4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 4, Twitter suspended
an account that posted links to sensitive personal data and
documents stolen by hackers from hundreds of German public figures
and politicians — from every political party but the far-right
Alternative for Germany. The breach, discovered by journalists a day
earlier, affected politicians at all levels.
   (AP, 1/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 4, Afghan officials
said Taliban fighters are threatening major oil wells near the
northern city of Sar-e Pul following days of fighting in which
dozens of members of the security forces have been killed and
wounded. At least seven border police officers were killed late
today when their checkpoint came under attack by insurgents in
southern Kandahar province. 16 insurgents were killed and 11 others
wounded in an ensuing battle.
   (Reuters, 1/4/19)(AP, 1/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 4, An Australian man
(24) rammed his four-wheel drive into a Sydney police car, hijacked
a supermarket delivery truck and taxi, rammed other cars and stabbed
and wounded a passerby before killing himself in front of police.
   (Reuters, 1/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 4, It was reported
that Bolivia's bee population is being decimated by massive and
intensive use of chemical pesticides to protect coca plants, the
region's biggest cash crop.
   (AFP, 1/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 4, The People's Bank
of China said it would cut the amount of cash that banks must hold
as reserves by one percentage point essentially freeing up about
$218 billion to ease lending.
   (SFC, 1/5/19, p.D4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 4, The China Academy
of Social Sciences said in a research report that the country's
population is set to reach a peak of 1.442 billion in 2029 and start
a long period of "unstoppable" decline in 2030.
   (Reuters, 1/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 4, China's Jade Rabbit
2 space rover explored the lunar terrain in the world's first
mission on the surface of the far side of the moon.
   (AP, 1/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 4, Colombia's
government said it has asked Venezuela to verify whether certain
members of the ELN rebel group are living in the country and to
detain them under Interpol red notices if they are.
   (Reuters, 1/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 4, The French
government dismissed 'yellow vest' protesters as agitators whose
only goal was to topple it, signaling a toughening stance against a
movement that has shaken Emmanuel Macron's presidency.
   (Reuters, 1/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 4, In Germany an
Interior Ministry spokesman said personal data and documents from
hundreds of German politicians and public figures have been
published online, in what appears one of the most far-reaching
cyber-attacks in a country that has become a target of choice for
hackers.
   (Reuters, 1/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 4, Ghanaian religious
leaders said angry young Muslims have attacked a charismatic church
in Accra a day after its pastor predicted the country’s chief imam
would die this year in a New Year's eve sermon.
   (AFP, 1/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 4, In India the office
of the chief minister of Kerala state said a woman (46) has become
the third to enter the Sabarimala Hindu temple in defiance of an
ancient ban on females of menstruating age. Temple management denied
that the Sri Lankan woman had in fact entered. Only small protests
were reported from across the state.
   (Reuters, 1/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 4, In Iraq a fire at a
women's shelter in Baghdad killed several lodgers. A police chief
called it a "group suicide" caused by women rioting in the shelter.
Two women died from stab wounds and seven perished in the fire.
   (AP, 1/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 4, Parts of Lebanon's
public and private sectors went on a union-organized strike to
protest worsening economic conditions and months of delay in the
formation of a new government.
   (AP, 1/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 4, Mexican federal
police took steps to close a migrant shelter in Tijuana, sparking
protests from some of the dozens of US-bound people who had been
staying there after traveling in a caravan from Central America.
   (Reuters, 1/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 4, In Myanmar thirteen
policemen were killed and nine injured in early morning attacks on
police outposts in Rakhine state by the insurgent Arakan Army, as
the country celebrated Independence Day.
   (AP, 1/4/19)(Reuters, 1/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 4, Dutch authorities
said they will hold Swiss shipping line MSC liable for the cost of
cleaning up debris from more than 270 cargo containers that fell off
one of its vessels and washed up on shore. Roughly 35 containers
have been located and the remainder were lost at sea.
   (Reuters, 1/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 4, In Nigeria the
Koluama Seven Brothers militant group carried out an unconfirmed
warning strike on an oil facility owned by local energy firm Conoil
in the southern state of Bayelsa. The group soon threatened a
production shut-down and demanded action from Conoil and a
traditional ruler called King Solomon Eddy on issues such as job
creation.
   (Reuters, 1/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 4, A Palestinian
broadcasting corporation said masked gunmen have raided its studios
in the Gaza Strip.
   (AP, 1/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 4, In Peru foreign
ministers from 12 Latin American countries and Canada said their
governments would not accept Nicolas Maduro as Venezuela's president
when he is sworn in for a second six-year term next week. The
14-member Lima Group -- with the exception of Mexico -- said it
would not grant recognition to Maduro's hardline socialist
government.
   (AFP, 1/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 4, In the Philippines
Talib Abo, a former mayor of the town of Parang, was killed in a
shootout with police. His brother, Bobby Abo, was also killed in a
separate raid. In 2016 Pres. Duterte had accused them of being
involved the drug trade. Police reportedly found guns and
methamphetamine at both of the brothers' homes.
   (SFC, 1/5/19, p.A4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 4, A Philippine court
ordered the arrest of Japanese pachinko billionaire Kazuo Okada,
about a month after the country's Department of Justice recommended
the filing of charges against him over three counts of fraud. The
warrant of arrest was made public on Dec. 6.
   (Reuters, 1/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 4, Poland accused
France of breaching European Union laws by exceeding spending
limits. Paris last month forecast a 2019 deficit of 3.2 percent,
which would violate the EU-mandated limit of 3.0 percent of GDP.
   (AFP, 1/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 4, In Poland five
teenage girls were killed by a fire in an "escape room" attraction
in Koszalin. In "escape rooms", participants are locked in a room
and race against the clock to solve puzzles and challenges to open a
way out.
   (Reuters, 1/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 4, In Portugal a court
in Lisbon said it was not proven that former Interior Minister
Miguel Macedo had favored Chinese and Angolan investors in
administrative procedures granting the so-called "golden visas." Two
other senior Portuguese officials were found guilty of corruption
while two Chinese citizens were convicted of influence-peddling.
Another Chinese citizen and an Angolan were acquitted.
   (AP, 1/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 4, In Romania Eugeniu
Iordachescu (89), a civil engineer who devised an ingenious way to
save 12 churches and many other historic buildings from being
destroyed by the country's former Communist strongman, died.
   (AP, 1/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 4, In Sudan dozens of
protesters chanted anti-government slogans as they left a major
mosque following Friday prayers in Omdurman, near Khartoum. Security
forces fired teargas and the crowd quickly dispersed.
   (Reuters, 1/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 4, In Syria an air
strike by the US-led coalition on a village held by the Islamic
State killed at least ten people.
   (SFC, 1/5/19, p.A2)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 4, In southern
Thailand one person was reported dead and another missing as rain,
wind and surging seawater as Tropical Storm Pabuk buffeted coastal
villages and world-famous tourist resorts, knocking down trees and
utility poles and flooding roads.
   (AP, 1/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 4, The UN human rights
office called on Bahrain to release activist Nabeel Rajab, saying
that the upholding of his five-year jail sentence by the top court
this week showed "continued suppression of government critics".
   (Reuters, 1/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 4, Zimbabwe's
government said it has begun laying off 3,365 workers from its youth
ministry, as it tries to make good on its promise to cut the bloated
civil service and sort out the country's finances.
   (Reuters, 1/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 5, Afghan government
employee Javid Noori, who also worked as a part-time journalist in
the Farah region was kidnapped and killed by Taliban militants. His
body was found three days later. Noori was abducted from a bus along
with 30 other passengers in a remote part of the province.
   (Reuters, 1/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 5, In CongoDRC the
country's powerful Catholic church warned of a popular "uprising" if
untrue results are announced.
   (AP, 1/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 5, Heavy snow caused
travel chaos in parts of Austria and Germany as authorities closed
roads and train routes because of avalanche danger and airports
reported weather-related cancelations. A 20-year-old skier died in
an avalanche on Mount Teisen, near the Austrian border.
   (AP, 1/5/19)(AP, 1/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 5, In Brazil a special
deployment of troops began fanning out in the northern city of
Fortaleza with orders to stop a spike in violent attacks by criminal
gangs against banks, buses and shops. Intelligence reports published
by media suggested gangs were revolting against tough new measures
recently imposed in the state's prisons.
   (AFP, 1/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 5, French "yellow
vests" marched through Paris and other cities in protest against
high living costs and the perceived indifference of Pres. Emmanuel
Macron, whose government this week hardened its stance against them.
Former light heavyweight boxer Christophe Dettinger (37) was filmed
beating up police officers in Paris during the protests. Dettinger
turned himself in to investigators on Jan. 7. On February 13
Dettinger was convicted of assault and given a one-year prison
sentence.
   (Reuters, 1/5/19)(AP, 1/7/19)(AP, 2/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 5, In Hungary
thousands marched through Budapest's city center to protest against
a new law that allows employers to ask staff to work up to 400 hours
per year of overtime.
   (Reuters, 1/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 5, In southern India
twin arson and bomb attacks rocked Kerala state, continuing a
violent backlash that followed the entry of two women into the
Sabarimala Hindu temple that forbids female devotees.
   (AFP, 1/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 5, An Indian court
declared tycoon Vijay Mallya (62) a "fugitive economic offender," a
ruling that empowers authorities to confiscate his properties and
other assets. Mallya, who left India in 2016, is accused of money
laundering and cheating Indian banks out of hundreds of millions of
dollars.
   (AP, 1/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 5, In Japan a
612-pound (278-kg) bluefin tuna sold for a record 333.6 million yen
($3 million) at the first auction of 2019, after Tokyo's famed
Tsukiji market was moved to a new site on the city's waterfront.
   (AP, 1/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 5, Madagascar police
fired teargas to disperse some 500 supporters of the losing
candidate in last month's presidential election, in the fifth such
protest this week.
   (AFP, 1/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 5, Mexico's Pres.
Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador announced a plan to stimulate economic
activity for 43 municipalities in six states just south of the US
border.
   (SSFC, 1/6/19, p.A6)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 5, In Pakistan a car
bomb exploded in a Peshawar neighborhood wounding three people and
damaging several shops.
   (AP, 1/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 5, Gaza authorities
arrested five Palestinians on suspicion of ransacking the offices of
President Mahmoud Abbas's official Palestine Television station.
   (Reuters, 1/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 5, In northeastern
Spain four people died and a baby girl in a critical condition was
among the injured, in two separate tower block fires.
   (AFP, 1/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 5, Switzerland-based
shipping company MSC said that it was committed to finding and
retrieving the containers that went overboard on Jan. 2 in a North
Sea storm until the last one is found.
   (AP, 1/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 5, The Istanbul-based
Orthodox patriarch signed the formal decree confirming the creation
of an independent Ukrainian church, marking a break with the Russian
church that has angered Moscow.
   (AFP, 1/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 5, In Vanuatu Mungau
Dain (24), a star in the Oscar-nominated film "Tanna," died in the
capital Port Vila, after contracting a leg infection that wasn't
quickly treated.
   (http://tinyurl.com/yclcz2ww)(AP, 1/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 5, The National
Society of Film Critics chose Chloe Zhao's low-budget debut feature,
"The Rider," as best picture of 2018. The society voted for Olivia
Colman as best actress in "The Favourite," and Ethan Hawke as best
actor in "First Reformed." The top accolade for best supporting
actor went to Steve Yeun of "Burning," while Regina King of "If
Beale Street Could Talk" nabbed best supporting actress.
   (AP, 1/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 5, In Egypt a
policeman was killed late today as he was trying to defuse an
explosive device near a church in a residential Cairo district.
   (AP, 1/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 5, The Kurdish-led
Syrian Democratic Forces handed over IS fighters and civilians from
Kazakhstan to their country. This included five fighters, 11 women
and 30 children.
   (AP, 1/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 5, In northern India
six schoolchildren and their bus driver were killed as the vehicle
rolled down a gorge on a hilly road in Himachal Pradesh state.
   (AP, 1/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 5, In eastern Syria a
missile attack by the Islamic State group killed at least one
Kurdish fighter and wounded two British soldiers embedded with them.
   (AP, 1/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 5, Venezuela's
opposition-controlled but toothless National Assembly declared
Nicolas Maduro's presidency illegitimate, calling on the military to
support efforts to restore democracy.
   (AFP, 1/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 6, A US airstrike in
Somalia killed six al-Shabab members near Dheerow Sanle in Lower
Shabelle region.
   (AP, 1/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 6, The film "Bohemian
Rhapsody" was the top winner in the 76th Golden Globe Awards. Glenn
Close won the best actress award for her role in "The Wife." Rami
Malek won the best actor award for his role in "Bohemian Rhapsody".
   (SFC, 1/7/19, p.D1)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 6, In Kentucky a
drunken driver heading the wrong way on a highway hit a family
vehicle in Lexington killing all five people from Northville, Mi.
Pickup driver Joey Lee Bailey (41) was also killed.
   (SFC, 1/8/19, p.A5)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 6, At least 30 Afghan
villagers searching for gold in a riverbed perished in a flash flood
in northeastern Badakhshan province.
   (AP, 1/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 6, In Austria two
German skiers were killed in avalanches in the western region of
Vorarlberg, while a Slovenian skier also died in the region of
Salzburg. Four snowshoe-hikers went missing after heavy snowfall
plunged large parts of the country into chaos. Heavy snowfall in
recent days created dangerous conditions across parts of southern
Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
   (AP, 1/6/19)(AFP, 1/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 6, A new British
survey said more Britons want to remain a member of the European
Union than leave. The survey also showed voters want to make the
final decision themselves.
   (Reuters, 1/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 6, In Bulgaria
thousands of Orthodox Christian worshippers plunged into icy rivers
and lakes across the country to recover crucifixes cast by priests
in ceremonies commemorating the baptism of Jesus Christ.
   (AP, 1/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 6, China's state media
reported that Chen Gang, executive secretary of the China
Association for Science and Technology, was being probed by the
ruling Communist Party's anti-graft watchdog on suspicion of
breaking the law and violating discipline.
   (Reuters, 1/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 6, In France hundreds
of women marched in Paris to reclaim France's "yellow vest" movement
from violent activists, a day after protesters smashed their way
into a government ministry.
   (AFP, 1/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 6, In western Iran a
magnitude 5.5 earthquake hit an area near the Iraqi border, injuring
about 31 people.
   (Reuters, 1/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 6, Israel's army
struck two Hamas posts in the Gaza Strip after balloons carried an
explosive device over the border fence. No injuries were reported.
   (AFP, 1/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 6, Malaysian King
Sultan Muhammad V (49) abdicated in an unexpected move, after just
two years on the throne.
   (AP, 1/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 6, In Mexico seven men
were killed in a shooting attack at the "Las Virginias" bar in the
Caribbean coast resort city of Playa del Carmen.
   (AP, 1/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 6, In Nigeria two
journalists of the Daily Trust were arrested in Maiduguri. They had
written a critical report of the army's performance fighting against
Boko Haram extremists.
   (SFC, 1/8/19, p.A2)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 6, In Pakistan
government talks with the United Arab Emirates on setting up an oil
refinery in Pakistan "reached their final stage" during the visit of
the crown prince of Abu Dhabi.
   (AP, 1/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 6, Pakistani officials
said two roadside bombs blasts have wounded eight people in the
country's southwestern Baluchistan province.
   (AP, 1/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 6, The Palestinian
Authority (PA) announced its pullout from the Rafah border crossing,
accusing Hamas of undermining its operations and detaining some of
its workers.
   (AP, 1/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 6, Dozens of
Palestinians protested the arrival of Patriarch Theophilos III, the
Greek Orthodox patriarch of the Holy Land, at an Orthodox Christmas
celebration in Bethlehem. Palestinians have been demanding his
resignation for allegedly selling church land to Israelis.
   (AP, 1/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 6, In Saudi Arabia a
new regulation that took effect aimed at curbing seemingly rampant
cases of men secretly ending marriages without informing their
wives. Saudi courts will now notify women by text message when they
get divorced.
   (AFP, 1/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 6, In Thailand Rahaf
Mohammed M Alqunun, a Saudi woman held at Bangkok airport, said she
would be killed if she was repatriated by Thai immigration
officials, who confirmed the 18-year-old was denied entry to the
country.
   (AFP, 1/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 6, In Sudan thousands
took to the streets in Khartoum to call for President Omar al-Bashir
to step down, the latest in nearly three weeks of demonstrations
against his 29-year autocratic rule. security authorities arrested
several faculty members from Khartoum University.
   (AP, 1/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 6, In Syria Islamist
Tahrir al Sham, formerly affiliated to al Qaeda, entered the town of
Atareb, days after capturing from their mainstream rivals the
strategic town of Darat Izza, both in the western Aleppo
countryside, in a military campaign that has since spread across
Idlib and areas near the Turkish border. The offensive by Tahrir al
Sham has alarmed the National Army, the main Turkish-backed rebel
force aimed at unifying disparate factions in the northwest.
   (Reuters, 1/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 7, President Donald
Trump said the fight in Syria against the Islamic State group was
not over and that withdrawal would be done in a "prudent" manner.
   (AFP, 1/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 7, The United States
military carried out two airstrikes in Somalia that killed four
al-Shabab extremists.
   (AP, 1/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 7, In Alabama the
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute received withering criticism on
social media after rescinding its decision to honor political
activist and scholar Angela Davis with the Fred Shuttlesworth Human
Rights Award.
   (AP, 1/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 7, In San Francisco
Tom Guido (58), the former manager of the Purple Onion Club, was
killed in a building on the 900 block of Post Street. A man who
jumped from the building was in critical condition.
   (SFC, 1/10/19, p.C1)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 7, It was reported
that injury has forced Australian activist Mina Guli (48) to stop
her effort to complete 100 marathons in 100 days as a way to
highlight the importance of conserving water. Guli had run and
walked 62 marathons on several continents, but in South Africa she
was diagnosed with multiple stress fractures in her right femur.
   (AP, 1/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 7, Brazil's President
Jair Bolsonaro said funding of nongovernmental organizations working
in Brazil will be rigidly controlled, reflecting increased oversight
by his new right-wing administration over such groups.
   (Reuters, 1/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 7, Suely de Araujo,
the head of Brazil's environmental protection agency Ibama, resigned
after far-right President Jair Bolsonaro criticized the amount of
money the unit spends to rent vehicles in his latest attack on the
agency. Ibama is tasked with policing the Amazon rainforest to stop
deforestation and illegal mining.
   (Reuters, 1/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 7, Chinese and
American officials began talks in Beijing aimed at ending a bruising
trade battle between the world's two biggest economies.
   (AP, 1/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 7, Tesla Inc. broke
ground for a factory in Shanghai, its first outside the United
States.
   (AP, 1/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 7, Ethiopian PM Abiy
Ahmed and Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki reopened a border
crossing between their countries as part of an ongoing
reconciliation between the former foes.
   (AFP, 1/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 7, In France Jeanne
Augier (95), the millionaire owner of Hotel Negresco in Nice, died.
She took over the luxury French Riviera hotel in 1957 she took over
the hotel in 1957 and worked to extend its influence throughout
France and the world.
   (AP, 1/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 7, Gabon foiled an
attempted coup after a group of soldiers called for a popular
uprising as President Ali Bongo remained in Morocco after suffering
a stroke last year. The chief military rebel who led the failed coup
was arrested and two of his commandos killed after they stormed a
public radio station in Libreville.
   (AFP, 1/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 7, In Gambia a truth
commission began hearing witness testimony as it set about
investigating rights violations committed by the regime of Yahya
Jammeh.
   (AFP, 1/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 7, In Germany lawmaker
Frank Magnitz (66), a local leader of the far-right Alternative for
Germany (AfD) party, was attacked and seriously wounded by several
men in the northwestern city of Bremen.
   (AP, 1/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 7, In India a small
regional party quit PM Narendra Modi's ruling coalition, protesting
against his bid to give citizenship to hundreds of thousands of
non-Muslims from neighboring countries such as Bangladesh. The Asom
Gana Parishad (AGP), based in the border state of Assam in the
northeast, has become the fourth ally to quit the ruling National
Democratic Alliance in the past year.
   (Reuters, 1/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 7, Moshe Arens (93), a
former Israeli defense minister, foreign minister and an early
political mentor to PM Benjamin Netanyahu, died.
   (AP, 1/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 7, The two leaders of
Italy's ruling populist coalition threw their support behind the
"yellow vest" protesters roiling neighboring France.
   (AFP, 1/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 7, Italy's populist
government stepped in to help guarantee struggling Banca Carige SpA,
bending to pressure despite the ruling 5-Star Movement's longtime
anti-bank bailout rhetoric.
   (AP, 1/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 7, Latvia's President
Raimonds Vejonis nominated Krisjanis Karins of the center-right New
Unity party for the post of prime minister in the country's third
attempt to form a new government in the wake of a general election
in October.
   (Reuters, 1/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 7, It was reported
that Amnesty International has called on Poland not to deport Tumsu
Abdurakhmanov, a Chechen video blogger and critic of Chechen
authorities, who is being sought by Russia.
   (AP, 1/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 7, In Saudi Arabia six
people were killed and others arrested in a "preemptive" security
operation in al-Qatif, a predominantly Shiite region in the Eastern
Province of the kingdom.
   (Reuters, 1/8/19)(AP, 1/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 7, In Sudan hundreds
gathered at a rally backing President Omar al-Bashir. A minister
said more than 800 protesters have been arrested in anti-government
demonstrations held across Sudan since last month.
   (AFP, 1/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 7, In Syria an IS
fighter blew himself up near an SDF checkpoint in Raqqa. A war
monitor said the suicide attacker first opened fire at an SDF force
outside a local department before going inside and blowing himself
up killing five, including four civilians, and wounding eight.
   (AP, 1/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 7, The head of
Thailand's immigration police said that Saudi woman Rahaf Mohammed
Alqunun (18), who was stopped in Bangkok as she was trying to travel
to Australia for asylum to escape alleged abuse by her family, will
not be sent anywhere against her wishes.
   (AP, 1/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 7, A Turkish court
ordered the release on bail of Eren Erdem, a former opposition
lawmaker, while he is being tried on terrorism-related charges.
   (Reuters, 1/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 7, A cargo ship sank
in rough waters off Turkey's Black Sea coast, killing six crew
members including its captain. Seven other crew members were
rescued.
   (AP, 1/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 7, The Vatican
appointed a retired China-friendly cardinal to head the Catholic
Diocese of Hong Kong, effectively blocking the succession of the
highest-ranking serving bishop known to be critical of the Chinese
government.
   (AP, 1/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 8, Pres. Donald Trump
gave a nine-minute prime-time address to make the case for a
southern border wall, his signature domestic policy idea, but made
no concessions to opposition Democrats, who have rejected funding
for the project.
   (AFP, 1/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 8, The United States
imposed sanctions on seven Venezuelans including the owner of news
network Globovision for allegedly plundering billions of dollars
from the crisis-hit country through black-market currency exchanges.
   (AFP, 1/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 8, In Michigan a
Livonia doctor and seven other people were charged in a prescription
drug conspiracy. Dr. Zongli Chang (52) later admitted running an $18
million prescription drug scheme. In April he was sentenced to more
than 11 years in prison.
   (http://tinyurl.com/y27gnh6a)(SFC, 4/19/19, p.A4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 8, In Brazil groups of
criminals in the northeastern state of Ceara carried out fresh
attacks for a seventh day on public infrastructure and businesses.
At least four buses and a construction site were torched overnight
in Fortaleza.
   (AP, 1/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 8, In China a man (49)
injured 20 children with a hammer inside a primary school in
Beijing. A suspect, surnamed Jia, was employed through a labor
service company to perform daily maintenance work at the school. His
contract was set to expire this month and had not been renewed.
   (AP, 1/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 8, Congo-based SYMOCEL
said 16 percent of vote counting centers it had observed relied on
tallies transmitted by voting machines instead of hand-counted
tallies as required by law. The observer mission said it had
witnessed 52 "major" irregularities in the 101 vote-counting centers
it observed, including people tampering with results.
   (Reuters, 1/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 8, Egypt blocked
Palestinians from entering the country from Gaza after Palestinian
Authority (PA) personnel pulled out of the Rafah border crossing and
Hamas officers took their place. Cairo decided to open Rafah
crossing only to Palestinians returning to Gaza, after the PA
personnel withdrew.
   (Reuters, 1/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 8, The European Union
froze the assets of an Iranian intelligence unit and two of its
staff, as the Netherlands accused Iran of two killings on its soil
and joined France and Denmark in alleging Tehran plotted other
attacks in Europe.
   (Reuters, 1/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 8, Deadly winter
weather blasted Europe for yet another day, trapping hundreds of
people in Alpine regions. At least 13 people have been killed in
weather-related accidents in Europe over the last week.
   (AP, 1/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 8, French officials
slammed a fundraising drive that brought in more than 100,000 euros
for Christophe Dettinger, a former boxer filmed punching police
officers during the latest "yellow vest" anti-government protests in
Paris over the weekend.
   (AP, 1/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 8, German authorities
said a local student (20) in Hesse state has admitted obtaining and
publishing the personal data of hundreds of politicians and
celebrities and told investigators he acted alone.
   (AP, 1/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 8, Off Hong Kong one
man was killed and two others declared missing after a
Vietnamese-listed oil tanker caught fire while it was being
refueled.
   (AFP, 1/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 8, India's lower house
of Parliament approved a bill that would grant residency and
citizenship rights to non-Muslims who entered India illegally,
allegedly after fleeing persecution in several neighboring nations,
despite protests against the legislation in the populous northeast
that brought the region to a near standstill.
   (AP, 1/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 8, India's Supreme
Court cleared the way for Vedanta to reopen its south Indian copper
smelter by refusing to stay an order from the country's
environmental court.
   (Reuters, 1/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 8, In Iraq a car bomb
killed two police officers in the city of Tikrit. The wounded
included two soldiers, a police officer and three civilians.
   (Reuters, 1/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 8, Authorities in
Latvia confiscated two tons of cocaine with a street value of a
billion euros ($1.15 billion), the largest seizure ever in the
Baltic country. The drug originated from Ecuador. Five Latvian
citizens were detained, including one with a previous conviction for
smuggling and money laundering.
   (AP, 1/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 8, In Lebanon winter
storms packing heavy rain and snow turned streets into rivers of
water and mud and paralyzed parts of the country. The storms have
flooded Syrian refugee camps, ruining tents, mattresses and food and
compounding the misery of people enduring powerful winter winds and
biting cold.
   (Reuters, 1/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 8, Madagascar's
Constitutional Court confirmed Andry Rajoelina as the winner of the
country's Dec. 19 presidential election after his opponent lodged a
complaint alleging fraud.
   (AFP, 1/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 8, In western Mexico
motorists lined up for a fourth straight day at gas stations as the
government continued to restrict pipeline deliveries to combat
illegal fuel taps.
   (AP, 1/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 8, North Korean leader
Kim Jong Un arrived on an unannounced visit to Beijing for his
fourth summit with President Xi Jinping.
   (AP, 1/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 8, Poland arrested a
Chinese manager at tech giant Huawei in Poland and one of its own
former counter-espionage officers and charged them with spying on
Poland for China.
   (AP, 1/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 8, Puntland, a region
of war-ravaged Somalia, elected a new president, a peaceful transfer
of power in a part of the country notorious for piracy and Islamist
militias. Said Abdullahi Deni defeated his closest rival, Asad Osman
Abdullahi and was sworn in for a new five-year term.
   (Reuters, 1/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 8, In South Africa a
train collision in Pretoria killed three people and injured more
than 200.
   (AP, 1/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 8, A South Korean
court approved a request by plaintiffs in a wartime forced labor
case to seize part of the local assets of Japan's Nippon Steel &
Sumitomo Metal Corp.
   (Reuters, 1/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 8, In Sudan thousands
of protesters staged a "martyrs' rally" in the eastern town of
Al-Gadaref to honor those killed in anti-government protests last
month. Human Rights Watch said at least 40 people have been killed
in the protests and accused security forces of using live ammunition
and excessive force as well as arbitrary detentions.
   (AP, 1/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 8, In northwest Syria
a jihadist assault gained ground against Turkish-backed rebels,
edging closer to frontlines with government forces.
   (Reuters, 1/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 8, In Thailand about
200 protesters staged a rare demonstration, demanding that there be
no further delays in holding elections, which were expected next
month but have been put in doubt.
   (AP, 1/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 9, Three days of
US-Chinese talks aimed at ending a costly tariff battle wrapped up
in an optimistic atmosphere.
   (AP, 1/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 9, A US supplier of
T-shirts and other team apparel to college bookstores cut its ties
with a Chinese company that drew workers from an internment camp
holding targeted members of ethnic minority groups.
   (AP, 1/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 9, The San Francisco
Giants announced a 20-year agreement with Oracle Corp. for the
company to affix its name to the city's waterfront ballpark for an
estimated $300-350 million.
   (SFC, 1/10/19, p.A1)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 9, Colorado officials
said a simplified program will make it easier for thousands of
people to seek the elimination of low-level marijuana convictions
they received in Denver before recreational use became legal in the
state.
   (SFC, 1/10/19, p.A6)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 9, A wave of Taliban
attacks in western and northern Afghanistan killed 21 members of the
country's security forces.
   (AP, 1/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 9, Australian police
late today arrested Savas Avan (48) after 38 packages allegedly
containing asbestos were sent to foreign consulates in the cities of
Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney.
   (AP, 1/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 9, Bangladesh police
fired tear gas and swung batons as thousands of garment workers
demonstrated for better wages for a fourth day. One protester was
fatally shot and three dozen others were injured in clashes with
police.
   (AP, 1/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 9, Bosnian Serbs
celebrated a holiday to mark the date in 1992 when Bosnian Serbs
declared the creation of their own state in Bosnia, igniting the
country's devastating four-year war that killed more than 100,000
people and left millions homeless. Bosnia's top court banned the
Serb holiday in 2015, but the ban was not observed.
   (AP, 1/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 9, British MPs voted
to force PM Theresa May to quickly set out an alternative plan for
Brexit if she loses a crucial vote on her EU withdrawal deal next
week, in a second parliamentary defeat in 24 hours.
   (AFP, 1/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 9, In Cambodia Kong
Korn, a veteran member of the dissolved opposition, party broke
ranks with his colleagues and became the first to apply for a
government-offered lifting of a ban on engaging in political
activity.
   (AP, 1/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 9, A Cambodian court
jailed Ieng Cholsa for three years for insulting the king in
Facebook posts, the second known conviction under a new lese majeste
law enacted last year, which rights groups fear could be used to
stifle dissent.
   (Reuters, 1/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 9, A Egyptian court
sentenced Ahmed Douma, one of the country's best-known activists, to
15 years' jail for rioting and attacking security forces in 2011.
The Cairo court also ordered Douma to pay six million Egyptian
pounds ($336,0005) for damages.
   (Reuters, 1/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 9, Activists from a
French protest movement encouraged supporters to set off a bank run
by emptying their accounts, while the government urged citizens to
express their discontent in a national debate instead of weekly
demonstrations disrupting the streets of Paris.
   (AP, 1/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 9, It was reported
that France and Germany have agreed to deepen a 1963 treaty of
post-war reconciliation in a bid to show that the European Union's
main axis remains strong and counter growing eurosceptic nationalism
among some other members. The extension to the Elysee Treaty will be
signed on Jan. 22.
   (Reuters, 1/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 9, A French fighter
jet carrying two pilots disappeared from radar screens near the
Swiss border in a snowstorm.
   (AP, 1/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 9, Greek authorities
said they have broken a drugs ring importing narcotics into the
country as dehydrated 'superfood' berries implanted with cocaine.
   (Reuters, 1/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 9, Guatemala's top
court overturned a decision by President Jimmy Morales to shut down
a UN anti-corruption mission to the central American country.
   (AFP, 1/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 9, India's upper house
of Parliament approved a bill providing a 10 percent quota in
government jobs for the poor members of upper castes who have been
excluded from existing quotas for low-ranking castes. The bill now
only needs the approval of India's president, a formality, to become
law.
   (AP, 1/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 9, Iran confirmed that
is holding US veteran Michael White at a prison in the country.
   (SFC, 1/10/19, p.A2)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 9, Italy's far-right
Deputy PM Matteo Salvini, at a press conference in Warsaw, said he
wants his country and Poland to join forces to reshape Europe in his
quest for a euroskeptic alliance ahead of elections in May.
   (Reuters, 1/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 9, In Kashmir a mortar
shell fired by Indian troops from across the frontier killed a woman
as she was trying to reach a shelter during an exchange of fire
between India and Pakistan.
   (AP, 1/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 9, The Kazakh Foreign
Ministry said China is allowing more than 2,000 ethnic Kazakhs to
abandon their Chinese citizenship and leave the country in a sign
that Beijing may be starting to feel a mounting backlash against its
sweeping crackdown on Muslims in the far west region of Xinjiang.
   (AP, 1/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 9, In Lebanon a storm
packing snow and rain that has battered the country for five days,
flooded neighborhoods and paralyzed major mountain roads. The body
of an 8-year Syrian girl, who had gone missing a day earlier after
she fell into a river, was found in a nearby orchard.
   (AP, 1/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 9, Forty-nine migrants
disembarked in Malta after spending more than two weeks stranded on
board rescue ships, ending a standoff in which European Union
countries had refused to offer them a safe port. An agreement
brokered by the European Commission calls for a total of some 300
migrants who have reached Malta in recent weeks to be redistributed
between eight EU countries, including Italy.
   (Reuters, 1/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 9, Mexico's President
Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador issued an emotional appeal to his
countrymen to help battle against fuel thefts, as long lines spread
to gas stations in Mexico City.
   (AP, 1/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 9, In northern Mexico
an apparent clash between drug gangs left 21 bodies, some burned, in
the township of Miguel Alemanof, Tamaulipas state. The death toll
soon rose to 24 with the discovery of the bodies of three more men.
   (AP, 1/10/19)(AP, 1/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 9, Nepal and Japan
agreed to allow state-run Nepal Airlines to resume flights between
the two Asian nations at the beginning of a two-day visit to Nepal
by Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono.
   (AP, 1/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 9, In Nepal a woman
(35) and her sons were found dead by family and villagers in a small
hut next to their family home due to suspected smoke inhalation. A
local tradition exiled women from their homes and forced to live in
huts during menstruation.
   (AP, 1/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 9, It was reported
that the Palestinian Authority has cut off the salaries of Hamas
lawmakers in the West Bank, the latest in a series of recent
measures that have escalated tensions between the rival factions.
   (AP, 1/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 9, In the Philippines
a mammoth crowd of mostly barefoot Catholics joined a raucous
procession in Manila of a centuries-old black statue of Jesus
Christ.
   (AP, 1/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 9, Thousands of Poles
protested a government plan to hold a massive slaughter of wild
boars as a way to stop the spread of the deadly African swine fever
among farm pigs.
   (AP, 1/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 9, Russia's Defense
Ministry says it has received 30 Soviet WW II-era T-34 battle tanks
from Laos, a move reflecting the national veneration of the weapon.
The ministry said more than 58,000 T-34s were built between 1940 and
1946, making it the world's most widely produced tank. The T-34 was
widely exported and used in numerous conflicts.
   (AP, 1/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 9, Saudi Arabia's
energy ministry said proven oil reserves stood at 263.2 billion
barrels at the end of last year, up from the figure of 261 billion
barrels that has been used for almost three decades. The kingdom has
another 2.9 billion barrels of crude in a border zone shared with
neighboring Kuwait, bringing total oil reserves to 266.1 billion
barrels. Saudi oil remains among the cheapest in the world to
extract, at only $4 a barrel.
   (AFP, 1/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 9, In Sudan thousands
of people cheered President Omar al-Bashir in a show of support for
his embattled regime in Khartoum Wednesday, as riot police fired
tear gas at crowds of protesters at a rival anti-government
demonstration.
   (AFP, 1/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 9, A Syrian Kurdish
militia said its fighters earlier this week captured eight foreign
fighters with the Islamic State group in eastern Syria, including an
American teenager. The YPG identified the 16-year-old American
teenager as Soulay Noah Su.
   (AP, 1/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 9, In Turkey a
pro-Kurdish party legislator said 162 prisoners across Turkey have
joined a hunger strike in a show of solidarity with an imprisoned
opposition legislator who has been refusing food since November.
   (AP, 1/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 10, President Donald
Trump headed to the US-Mexico border to push his demand for a wall,
a day after he walked out of negotiations with Democrats in a
political crisis paralyzing the government.
   (AFP, 1/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 10, In California
rookie police Officer Natalie Corona (22) was ambushed and shot dead
by a gunman as she investigated a car crash in downtown Davis.
Police soon found suspect Kevin Douglas Limbaugh dead after he shot
himself in the head.
   (SFC, 1/12/19, p.A1)(SSFC, 1/13/19, p.A12)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 10, US carmaker Ford
said it planned a major restructuring of its European operations,
including job cuts, to boost profitability. Indian-owned Jaguar Land
Rover also announced major restructuring in Europe as consumers dump
diesel cars for greener electric vehicles.
   (AFP, 1/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 10, Fiat Chrysler
Automobiles agreed to pay California $78.4 million as part of a
larger agreement with federal regulators to settle allegations of
cheating on diesel emission tests.
   (SFC, 1/11/19, p.D1)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 10, In Afghanistan
Khetab Emir, a senior commander of the Islamic State militant group,
was killed in a raid in the eastern area of Nangarhar province.
   (Reuters, 1/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 10, Heavy snowfall
continued in parts of Austria and southern Germany, with several
places cut off and the bad weather expected to persist. Snow was
causing problems in other parts of Europe, even in Norway's Arctic
Svalbard archipelago. At least 17 weather-related deaths have been
reported in Europe over the past week.
   (AP, 1/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 10, Baton-wielding
Bangladeshi police fired tear gas to break up thousands of garment
workers demonstrating for higher wages for a fifth day, forcing
dozens of factories to close.
   (Reuters, 1/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 10, Belarus Pres.
Alexander Lukashenko sternly warned Russia that it could lose its
ally if it fails to offer compensation for higher oil prices.
   (AP, 1/10/19)  Â
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 10, In northern
Burkina Faso 12 civilians were killed during a jihadist attack in
the village of Gasseliki. The area has been battling a wave of
Islamist violence.
   (AFP, 1/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 10, China's CCTV
reported that parent discovered earlier this week that a batch of
orally administered polio vaccines were being given to children at a
county-run health facility nearly one month after their December 11
expiration date. At least 145 children were administered the expired
polio vaccines.
   (AFP, 1/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 10, Congo's electoral
commission (CENI) announced overnight that Felix Tshisekedi (55) had
won the Dec. 30 vote, edging out another challenger, businessman
Martin Fayulu. The Catholic Church, one of the country's most
respected institutions, challenged the official results, suggesting
its tally did not give victory to opposition leader Tshisekedi. Four
protesters were killed in clashes with security forces in Kikwit.
   (AP, 1/10/19)(Reuters, 1/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 10, In southern
Croatia a fire broke out at the 252-megawatt (MW) Dubrovnik hydro
power plant in Plat, leaving one worker dead and at least three
injured.
   (Reuters, 1/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 10, In eastern Cuba
seven people were killed and five left in critical condition after a
bus crashed carrying tourists and local travelers.
   (AP, 1/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 10, In France
ride-hailing giant Uber lost an appeal brought by a former driver
who wanted his terms of employment recognized as a fully-fledged
work contract.
   (AFP, 1/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 10, In Germany almost
640 flights were cancelled as security staff went on strike at three
airports, meaning disruption for around 100,000 passengers.
   (AFP, 1/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 10, India's federal
police chief was ousted by a panel led by PM Narendra Modi, drawing
criticism from the main opposition Congress party. Alok Verma, chief
of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), was suspended in
October along with his deputy after they accused each other of
bribery and interfering in investigations.
   (Reuters, 1/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 10, In central Mali
the French military in coordination with Malian armed forces carried
out airstrikes killed some 15 members of an unnamed extremist group
that had been preparing an attack.
   (AP, 1/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 10, Norway's Aker
Energy said it had discovered oil in commercial quantities off
Ghana, which the government welcomed as a potential boost to the
economy. Exploratory drilling indicated an "estimated 450-550
million barrels of oil equivalent (mmboe)" in the Pecan field.
   (AFP, 1/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 10, Saudi Arabia
awarded a contract to build a $500 million wind farm, a first for
the world's top oil exporter as it pushes to diversify its energy
sector. A consortium led by France's EDF and Abu Dhabi's Masdar won
the bid for the 400-megawatt Dumat al-Jandal wind project in the
northern Al Jouf province.
   (AFP, 1/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 10, Spanish police
said 28 professional tennis players, including one who participated
in last year's US Open, have been linked to an international
organized group accused of fixing matches.
   (AP, 1/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 10, In southern
Thailand four paramilitary volunteers were killed while guarding a
school in Pattani province.
   (AP, 1/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 10, Venezuelan
President Nicolas Maduro was sworn into a new term in office by the
nation's Supreme Court.
   (Reuters, 1/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 10, A rebel drone hit
Yemen's largest air base, killing six loyalist soldiers during a
military parade at the Al-Anad Air Base near Aden in an attack which
threatened to hamper UN-led peace efforts. On Jan. 13 Maj. Gen.
Mohammad Saleh Tamah, chief of Yemen's military intelligence, died
of wounds suffered in the attack.
   (AFP, 1/10/19)(AP, 1/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 11, The US-led
coalition against Islamic State said it has begun the process of
withdrawing from Syria.
   (Reuters, 1/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 11, Oregon police
fatally shot a man with a gun at a middle school in Eugene, amid a
custody dispute.
   (SFC, 1/12/19, p.A6)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 11, The share price in
Brazilian airplane manufacturer Embraer soared as markets reacted
favorably to the country's President Jair Bolsonaro approving a
merger with us giant Boeing. Embraer will only retain control of its
military division.
   (AFP, 1/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 11, In Bulgaria two
snowboarders died in an avalanche. Heavy snowfall this week in the
Balkans has closed down schools, left some remote villages cut off
and disrupted traffic and power supplies in many areas in the
region. At least 20 weather-related deaths have been reported in
Europe over the past week.
   (AP, 1/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 11, In Canada three
people were killed and nearly two dozen were injured when a
double-decker bus struck a bus shelter in Ottawa during rush hour.
   (Reuters, 1/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 11, Thousands of
Colombians staged protests in several cities to demand the
resignation of the country's chief prosecutor. Nestor Humberto
Martinez is a key US ally in the war on drugs, but his critics at
home say he has withheld information that links local politicians
and business groups with Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht.
   (AP, 1/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 11, Congo runner-up
Martin Fayulu announced he will file a court challenge to the
presidential election results. Fayulu's camp said its tally showed
he won 62 percent of the vote, with Felix Tshisekedi taking 19
percent. The influential Catholic Church also rejected the official
result based on tallies by its 40,000-strong observer team. Police
confronted opposition protesters in eastern Goma city, killing at
least one person.
   (AP, 1/11/19)(Reuters, 1/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 11, In Ecuador at
least 17 people died and 12 others were injured in a fire at a drug
rehabilitation clinic in Guayaquil.
   (Reuters, 1/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 11, Egypt deported a
German citizen early today whom it detained in Cairo airport on Dec.
27 on suspicion of plotting terrorism.
   (AP, 1/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 11, A French judicial
source said the president of Japan's Olympic Committee, Tsunekazu
Takeda, is under formal investigation in France for suspected
corruption related to Japan's successful bid for the 2020 Olympic
Games.
   (Reuters, 1/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 11, In Germany
airlines canceled around 120 flights at Frankfurt Airport and 90 at
Munich Airport because of concerns about snow.
   (AP, 1/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 11, German automaker
Volkswagen posted another annual sales record in 2018 as new SUV
models boosted deliveries and the company managed to increase its
share in China even as the car market there shrank for the first
time in years.
   (AP, 1/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 11, Greece told German
Chancellor Angela Merkel it had grounds to pursue a legal claim for
billions of euros in reparations for the Nazi occupation of the
country in World War Two.
   (Reuters, 1/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 11, Greek police fired
teargas to disperse hundreds of teachers protesting against
government plans to change hiring procedures in the public sector.
   (Reuters, 1/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 11, In India leaders
of two political rivals in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh said
they will form an alliance in a bid to defeat PM Narendra Modi's
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in national election scheduled for May.
   (Reuters, 1/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 11, In Iraq two people
were killed in an explosion in Al-Qaim, a city to which displaced
families are being encouraged to return.
   (AP, 1/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 11, The Israeli army
said around 12,000 Palestinians had gathered in multiple sites along
the border. A Palestinian woman was shot dead by Israeli forces the
during protests.
   (AFP, 1/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 11, An Italian court
cleared the head of the Autostrade motorway operator of
responsibility in the deaths of 40 people in a July 28, 2013, coach
crash. Several others were jailed.
   (AP, 1/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 11, In Japan Nissan's
ex-chairman Carlos Ghosn was charged with breach of trust, making
the star executive's release unlikely for months to come. Greg
Kelly, another Nissan executive; and Nissan as a legal entity also
were charged with additional underreporting of income, from 2015
through mid-2018.
   (AP, 1/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 11, Macedonia's
parliament approved a deal with Greece that would rename the country
North Macedonia. Greece's parliament is expected to vote on it
before March.
   (AP, 1/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 11, A court in Myanmar
rejected the appeal of two Reuters journalists convicted of
violating the country's Official Secrets Act during their reporting
on the country's crackdown on Rohingya Muslims, and maintained the
seven-year prison terms they were sentenced to last year.
   (AP, 1/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 11, In Nigeria an
overturned oil tanker exploded while dozens of people were scooping
up the leaking fuel and many were killed. About 60 people were
inside a pit scooping fuel when the explosion occurred.
   (AP, 1/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 11, Portugal's
parliament extended a residency program for wealthy foreigners to
include investors who spend at least 500,000 euros on environmental
projects.
   (Reuters, 1/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 11, Portugal's
parliament unanimously changed the law to expand the definition of
rape to cover all sex without consent, joining just seven EU
countries with such a wide definition.
   (Reuters, 1/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 11, Russia's space
agency lost control of the Spektr-R satellite, an orbiting radio
telescope launched in 2011 with an expected useful life of about
three years.
   (AP, 1/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 11, Prominent Russian
LGBT activist Igor Kochetkov said that gay rights supporters have
seen a spike in detentions in Chechnya of men and women suspected of
being gay since late December.
   (AP, 1/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 11, Spanish police
said they have seized 2,700 kg (6,000 pounds) of marijuana bound for
the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. The marijuana was grown and
processed in Spain's northeastern region and then taken out of the
country by truck.
   (AP, 1/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 11, Sudanese security
forces fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators who marched after
noon prayers in Khartoum to demand that President Omar al-Bashir
step down from 30 years in power.
   (Reuters, 1/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 11, Syrian state news
agency said Israeli warplanes have fired a number of missiles toward
the Damascus area, triggering Syrian air defense that shot down most
of them.
   (Reuters, 1/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 11, Taiwanese
President Tsai Ing-wen appointed close political ally Su Tseng-chang
as premier during a Cabinet reshuffle following the ruling party's
heavy election losses and growing pressure from rival China.
   (AP, 1/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 11, Thailand's
immigration police chief said Saudi woman Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun,
who fled alleged abuse by her family, will leave Bangkok for Canada.
   (AP, 1/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 12, The partial US
government shutdown entered a record 22nd day, as Pres. Donald Trump
remained steadfast in his demand for $5.7 billion to build a Mexico
border wall and Democrats in Congress determined to refuse the
funds.
   (AFP, 1/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 12, The United States
stepped up its criticism of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro with an
explicit call for the formation of a new government in the South
American country.
   (AP, 1/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 12, In Afghanistan at
least five security forces were killed after their checkpoint came
under attack by insurgents in southern Kandahar province. At least
nine people were killed when a gas cylinder exploded late today in
Kabul.
   (AP, 1/12/19)(AP, 1/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 12, In Austria three
German skiers were killed in an avalanche. A fourth was reported
missing. The bodies of the three German skiers were recovered hours
later near the resort of Lech. The 4th body was recovered on Jan.
16.
   (AP, 1/13/19)(AP, 1/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 12, Brazil's
government issued a statement saying it recognized Venezuela's
Congressional leader, who opposes President Nicolas Maduro, as the
rightful president of Venezuela.
   (Reuters, 1/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 12, In Britain
hundreds of protesters, inspired by France's yellow vest movement,
rallied in London, drawing attention to government austerity
programs that have hit the poor hard.
   (AP, 1/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 12, Rahaf Mohammed
al-Qunun (18), a Saudi woman who fled her family this week saying
she feared for her life, arrived in Toronto after Canada granted her
asylum.
   (AP, 1/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 12, Chinese
telecommunications equipment maker Huawei said it had sacked Wang
Weijing, an employee arrested in Poland on spying charges, in a case
that could intensify Western security concerns about the company.
   (Reuters, 1/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 12, In northern China
21 coal miners were killed when a mine collapsed in Shenmu, Shaanxi
province.
   (AP, 1/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 12, Congo's
presidential runner-up Martin Fayulu said he has asked the
constitutional court to order a recount in the disputed election.
   (AP, 1/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 12, Egyptian security
forces killed six Islamic militants in a raid on their desert
hideout south of Cairo between the southern provinces of Sohag and
Assiut.
   (AP, 1/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 12, Egypt's Al-Azhar
university expelled a female student after she appeared in a video
hugging a male colleague, accusing her of undermining the school's
reputation. A video went viral earlier this month showing a young
man carrying a bouquet of flowers kneeling before a young woman and
then hugging her in what appeared to be a marriage proposal. The
Al-Azhar University strictly segregates the genders.
   (AFP, 1/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 12, The French
Interior Ministry said about 32,000 people have turned out in yellow
vest demonstrations across France, including 8,000 in Paris. Paris
police fired water cannon and tear gas to push back demonstrators
from around the Arc de Triomphe monument, in the ninth straight
weekend of protests against President Emmanuel Macron's economic
reforms.
   (AP, 1/12/19)(Reuters, 1/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 12, In France two
firefighters and a Spanish woman died and nearly people 50 were
injured in a massive gas explosion in a bakery that gutted the
ground floor of a building in a central Paris shopping district. A
4th body was soon found bringing the overall death toll to four.
   (AFP, 1/12/19)(AP, 1/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 12, Gabon's President
Ali Bongo, who has been out of the country for two months recovering
from a stroke, named Julien Nkoghe Bekale as the new prime minister
in an apparent effort to shore up his political base days after a
failed coup attempt. Bekale replaced Emmanuel Issoze-Ngondet, who
has served since 2016.
   (Reuters, 1/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 12, In Germany a small
plane crashed east of Berlin, killing two people.
   (AP, 1/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 12, Thousands of
Guatemalans marched against President Jimmy Morales's bid to close a
UN anti-corruption mission that sought to investigate him on
suspicion of campaign finance violations.
   (AFP, 1/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 12, Japan-based Nissan
confirmed that Chief Performance Officer Jose Munoz, who took a
leave of absence a week ago, has resigned, the first high-profile
departure at the Japanese automaker publicly acknowledged as related
to the arrest of former Chairman Carlos Ghosn.
   (AP, 1/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 12, In Kashmir rebel
commander Zeenatul Islam was killed along with his associate late
today in a gunbattle with Indian troops.
   (AP, 1/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 12, Malaysia's Pahang
state announced it had a new sultan, who is expected to be elected
king after the former monarch abdicated following his reported
marriage to a Russian former beauty queen. Tengku Abdullah Shah (59)
replaced his father, Sultan Ahmad Shah.
   (AFP, 1/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 12, In southwest
Poland one miner died and six were injured after a tremor struck
KGHM's copper mine Rudna, around 700 meters underground.
   (Reuters, 1/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 12, In northern Sweden
a mining company truck crashed into a minibus early today. Six Swiss
citizens were killed and one person was injured in the crash.
   (AP, 1/12/19)(AP, 1/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 12, In Syria artillery
shelling by government forces pounded parts of the northwestern
Idlib province where militants were trying to infiltrate.
   (AP, 1/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 12, Turkey for a
second day loaded tanks and armored vehicles onto trucks and
dispatched the convoy to the Turkish province of Hatay on the Syrian
border.
   (Reuters, 1/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 12, In Yemen clashes
erupted between Huthi rebels and government forces in the flashpoint
port city of Hodeida, dealing a new blow to a fragile truce.
   (AFP, 1/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 12, In Yemen a fire at
a refinery in the southern port city of Aden spread to a second
storage tank, injuring six people.
   (Reuters, 1/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 12, Zimbabwe's
President Emmerson Mnangagwa said prices of petrol and diesel would
more than double to tackle a shortfall caused by increased demand
and "rampant" illegal trading. Despite the price hike, diplomats and
tourists would be able to access cheaper fuel at certain pumping
stations.
   (AFP, 1/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 13, US President
Donald Trump threatened Turkey with economic devastation if it
attacks a US-allied Kurdish militia in Syria.
   (Reuters, 1/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 13, The FBI arrested
Marzieh Hashemi (59), a prominent American-born anchorwoman on
Iranian state television's English-language service, after she
arrived at St. Louis Lambert International Airport. She had filmed a
Black Lives Matter documentary after visiting relatives in the New
Orleans area. She has worked at the Iranian state broadcaster
service for 25 years. Her son, Reza Hashemi, was also arrested.
   (AP, 1/16/19)(AP, 1/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 13, In Alabama
Birmingham police Sergeant Wytasha Carter (44) was killed and
another officer critically wounded in a shooting as they questioned
two people suspected of trying to break into cars. Two suspects were
taken into custody.
   (SFC, 1/14/19, p.A4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 13, California's
PG&E Corp. announced the resignation of CEO Geisha Williams as
the company faces billions of dollars in potential liability for its
role in the 2017 and 2018 California wildfires.
   (SFC, 1/14/19, p.A1)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 13, In Mississippi
George Robinson (62), a Black man, was slammed into the pavement by
police officers who also struck and kicked him in the head and the
chest. Robinson died off his injuries on January 15. The officers
were canvassing a predominantly Black neighborhood in Jackson after
a pastor, Anthony Longino, was fatally shot in a botched robbery
outside his church hours earlier. On August 5, 2020, the three Black
police offiers involved were charged with 2nd degree murder.
   (SFC, 8/15/20, p.A4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 13, It was reported
that at least 26 people have died from hantavirus in the Patagonia
region of Argentina since December. A judge has ordered 85 residents
of Epuyen, a town of 3,000 where nine people have died, to remain in
their homes for at least 30 days to help halt the outbreak.
   (SSFC, 1/13/19, p.A4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 13, Bangladesh's
commerce minister said local garment manufacturers have agreed to
raise workers' pay, urging people to return to work after a week of
violent demonstrations. At least 20 people were hurt when police
used teargas and water cannons to disperse workers blocking a major
highway in the Ashulia garment manufacturing belt, on the outskirts
of the capital Dhaka.
   (Reuters, 1/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 13, Dubai-based port
operator DP World said it will pay $502 million for a 71.3 percent
stake in Chile's Puertos y Logistica SA, a port services firm.
   (AP, 1/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 13, French media and
reporters' organizations denounced attacks on journalists by "yellow
vest" anti-government protesters and called for better protection
after a series of incidents this weekend. President Emmanuel Macron
attempted to rebound from two months of often violent
anti-government protests by launching a nationwide debate over the
grievances fuelling the "yellow vest" movement.
   (Reuters, 1/13/19)(AFP, 1/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 13, In France two ski
patrollers were killed when the devices they use to trigger
avalanches exploded. This brought to at least 26 the number of
weather-related deaths reported in parts of Europe this month.
   (AP, 1/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 13, Greece's defense
minister Panos Kammenos announced his resignation and said his
right-wing Independent Greeks party is quitting the government after
meeting with PM Alexis Tsipras. The government now needs the backing
of six lawmakers from opposition parties or independents to avoid a
snap election.
   (AP, 1/13/19)(AP, 1/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 13, Israel
acknowledged that it carried out a weekend air strike on what it
called an Iranian arms cache in Syria, and that it also completed a
hunt for cross-border tunnels dug by Tehran-allied Lebanese
Hezbollah guerrillas.
   (Reuters, 1/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 13, Italian officials
said former leftist guerrilla Cesare Battisti (64), on the run for
almost four decades after escaping prison following a murder
conviction, has been arrested in Bolivia and is expected to be
extradited to Italy.
   (Reuters, 1/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 13, In Kashmir massive
anti-India protests and clashes erupted, leading to injuries to at
least 16 people after a gunbattle between militants and government
forces overnight killed two rebels.
   (AP, 1/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 13, The Southern
African Development Community (SADC) urged Democratic Republic of
Congo to recount votes cast in its disorganized presidential
election, raising pressure on Kinshasa to ensure the legitimacy of
the next government and avert widespread violent unrest.
   (Reuters, 1/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 13, In southern Spain
a 2-year-old toddler fell into a narrow 100-meter well after walking
away from his parents near Totalan, a town northeast of Malaga. On
Jan. 26 rescuers found the dead body of the two-year-old boy.
   (AP, 1/16/19)(Reuters, 1/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 13, In Sudan hundreds
of protesters marched in and around Khartoum, the fourth week of
unrest that began over skyrocketing prices and a failing economy but
which now calls for the ouster of autocratic President Omar
al-Bashir. Security forces clashed with protesters in three cities.
   (AP, 1/13/19)(Reuters, 1/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 13, In Switzerland a
fire broke out this morning in a six-story building in the
southeastern city of Chur. A father (33) from the Dominican Republic
and his two young children died in the fire and police were
investigating if the man set the fire deliberately.
   (AP, 1/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 13, Zimbabweans
reacted with outrage to a sharp rise in fuel prices announced by
President Emmerson Mnangagwa in a move to improve supplies as the
country struggles with its worst gasoline shortages in a decade.
   (AFP, 1/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, Teachers in the
Los Angeles Union School District went on strike. Some charter
school teachers joined their public sector counterparts to demand
better working conditions.
   (SFC, 1/16/19, p.A5)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, California-based
PG&E Corp. said looming wildfire costs were propelling it toward
bankruptcy and that it would file for bankruptcy on or about Jan.
29.
   (SFC, 1/16/19, p.D1)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, In Michigan
Hyundai of South Korea scored two out of three wins in the North
American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year awards, as the
Detroit auto show's press previews officially got underway.
   (AP, 1/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, In New Jersey
gunman William Owens (39) entered a UPS processing facility and took
two women hostage in Logan Township. He was fatally shot by law
officers. Nobody else was hurt.
   (SFC, 1/15/19, p.A4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, MNG Enterprises,
better known as Digital First Media, offered a $1.36 billion buyout
of Gannett Co., the publisher of USA Today. The media group has a
history of taking over struggling newspapers and slashing jobs.
   (AP, 1/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, In Afghanistan a
Taliban suicide bomber killed at least four people and wounded
scores when he detonated an explosive-laden vehicle late today in
Kabul.
   (AP, 1/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, In Austria a
worker clearing snow off a roof in Faistenaw died after being swept
away as the snow began to slide off.
   (AP, 1/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, In Bosnia three
people died and three others were injured in two separate car
accidents on icy roads near the northwestern town of Laktasi.
   (AP, 1/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, A Brazilian police
officer died and three others were hospitalized after their
helicopter crashed in Rio de Janeiro's Guanabara Bay.
   (AP, 1/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, A Chinese court
sentenced a Canadian man to be executed for drug smuggling,
prompting Canadian PM Justin Trudeau to accuse China of using the
death penalty arbitrarily. Robert Lloyd Schellenberg (36) had
appealed his original 15-year prison sentence.
   (Reuters, 1/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, DR Congo's
Constitutional Court said it would start hearing an appeal on Jan.
15 against presidential election results that gave victory to
opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi.
   (AFP, 1/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, Croatia's
government formally canceled a $500 million deal to buy 12 used
fighter jets from Israel after it collapsed over US objections. The
defense minister said the Balkan country will restart the search for
the right deal.
   (AP, 1/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, In Egypt a
roadside bomb hit a police convoy in the town of Rafah in the north
of the Sinai Peninsula, killing a conscript and seriously wounding
four others.
   (AP, 1/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, It was reported
that a Finnish citizens' initiative to withdraw asylum from people
convicted of sex crimes received tens of thousands of signatures
over the weekend and has become an important political issue ahead
of this year's parliamentary elections.
   (Reuters, 1/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, Two French
policemen went on trial over the alleged gang-rape of a drunk
Canadian tourist in April 2014 at the former headquarters of the
Paris police.
   (AFP, 1/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, Greek riot police
used tear gas to disperse state schoolteachers protesting violently
in Athens, days after the country's public order minister accused
officers of indiscriminately attacking teachers in similar
circumstances.
   (AP, 1/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, In Honduras
hundreds of migrants began trekking out of a bus station in the
violent northern city of Pedro Sula to join a new caravan of people
hoping to reach Mexico or the US.
   (AP, 1/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, Indonesia said
navy divers have recovered the cockpit voice recorder of a Lion Air
jet that crashed into the Java Sea last October.
   (AP, 1/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, In Iran a
decades-old Iranian Boeing 707 military cargo plane reportedly
carrying meat from Kyrgyzstan crashed while trying to land west of
Tehran, killing 15 people on board and leaving a sole survivor.
   (AP, 1/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, In Iran Nazanin
Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a jailed UK-Iranian mother, launched a hunger
strike over a lack of medical care and attempts by Tehran to force
her to spy on Britain.
   (AFP, 1/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, Former communist
militant Cesare Battisti, wanted in Italy for four murders in the
1970s, arrived in Rome after an international police squad tracked
him down and arrested him in Bolivia.
   (AFP, 1/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, Jordan's King
Abdullah and the foreign ministers of France and Iran made separate
visits to Iraq, an ally of Tehran, amid US attempts to rally allies
against the Islamic Republic as Washington starts withdrawing troops
from neighboring Syria.
   (Reuters, 1/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, In northeastern
Nigeria 7 people were killed when Boko Haram fighters attacked a
military base in Rann, setting fire to shelters for those displaced
by the conflict.
   (AFP, 1/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, In Poland Pawel
Adamowicz, the liberal mayor of the Polish city of Gdansk, died of
his wounds a day after being stabbed by a former convict who rushed
the stage during a charity event. The attacker has been identified
by Polish authorities as a 27-year-old named Stefan.
   (Reuters, 1/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, Russia's Foreign
Minister Sergey Lavrov threw cold water on Tokyo's hopes for a quick
return of disputed islands in the Pacific, warning Japan that it
must recognize them as part of Russia's territory as a starting
point for talks.
   (AP, 1/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, In southern Russia
one person was killed and four were missing after a gas explosion
tore through a multi-storey residential building in the town of
Shakhty. The death toll soon climbed to four after the bodies of
three missing people were found in the rubble.
   (AP, 1/14/19)(AP, 1/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, LGBT activists in
Russia charged the republic of Chechnya with launching a new
crackdown on gays in which at least two people have died and about
40 people have been detained.
   (AP, 1/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, Senegal's the
Constitutional Council said the two best known opposition figures
have been barred from running in presidential elections next month,
increasing President Macky Sall's chances of securing a second term
in office. Khalifa Sall and Karim Wade have 48 hours to appeal the
Council's decision.
   (Reuters, 1/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, Singapore's
foreign minister warned of "consequences" if neighboring Malaysia
continues to escalate a dispute over waters claimed by the city
state.
   (AP, 1/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, It was reported
that Suriname authorities confiscated more than 5,000 pounds of
cocaine last week in the largest seizure ever for the country.
   (SFC, 1/14/19, p.A2)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, Zimbabwe police
fired teargas as angry protesters barricaded roads with burning
tires and rocks, after the government more than doubled the price of
fuel over the weekend. At least 13 people sustained gunshot wounds
during protests against the shock price hike. A police officer was
stoned to death by protesters in the city Bulawayo. Two other people
died during protests in Chitungwiza, south of Harare, and Kadoma,
west of the capital.
   (AFP, 1/14/19)(AFP, 1/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, It was reported
that Jose Irizarry (44), a US federal narcotics agent known for his
expensive tastes and high-profile drug seizures, has been implicated
in a multimillion-dollar money-laundering conspiracy that involved
the very cartel criminals he was charged with fighting in Colombia.
   (AP, 1/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, The US Securities
and Exchange Commission charged two Ukrainian men, Artem Radchenko
and Oleksandr Ieremenko, with hacking into computers of the SEC to
steal quarterly and annual reports of publicly traded companies
before their public release. The SEC also filed civil charges
against Ieremenko and five others from the US, Ukraine and Russia.
   (AP, 1/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, In Arizona a Tempe
police officer shot and killed Antonio Arce (14) after he was
encountered burglarizing a car.
   (SFC, 1/19/19, p.A8)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, Facebook announced
that it will invest $300 million over three years to support
journalism, with an emphasis on promoting hard-hit local news
organizations.
   (AFP, 1/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, American musical
comedy legend Carol Channing (b.1921) died in Rancho Mirage, Ca. She
was best known for her performance as Dolly Levi in "Hello, Dolly!,"
a role she performed more than 5,000 times. She began as a Broadway
musical actress, starring in "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" (1949). Her
films included "Thoroughly Modern Millie" (1967).
  Â
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carol_Channing)(SFC, 1/16/19, p.A7)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, An Australian
state government announced plans to mechanically pump oxygen into
lakes and rivers after hundreds of thousands of fish died in
heatwave conditions. Up to a million dead fish were found floating
last week in the Darling River in western New South Wales. 1,800
more rotting fish had since been found in Lake Hume in the state's
south.
   (AP, 1/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, Brazil's far-right
President Jair Bolsonaro decreed the easing of national gun laws as
part of his law-and-order agenda, despite fears it could aggravate
already staggering violent crime.
   (AFP, 1/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, Britain's
Parliament held a historic vote as PM Theresa May lobbied for
support but braced for defeat of the UK's divorce deal with the
European Union. The House of commons voted 432-202 against May's
Brexit plan
   (AP, 1/15/19)(SFC, 1/16/19, p.A2)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, In northern
Burkina Faso Canadian geologist Kirk Woodman was kidnapped late
today by a dozen gunmen on a mining site owned by Vancouver-based
Progress Minerals. His body was found the following afternoon in
Oudalan province. A Canadian man and an Italian woman went missing
in the same area earlier this month.
   (Reuters, 1/16/19)(Reuters, 1/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, In western
Cameroon at least 30 people were abducted by suspected separatists
in the troubled English-speaking Southwest Region.
   (AFP, 1/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, In China Ren
Zhengfei, the founder of Huawei, said his company would refuse to
disclose secrets about its customers and their communication
networks, trying to lay to rest concerns the Chinese tech giant
might spy for the Communist government.
   (AP, 1/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, Europol said
authorities in Belgium and Portugal have dismantled a gang suspected
of organizing sham marriages between mostly Portuguese women and
Pakistani men. Europol said police have arrested 17 suspects in
Belgium — where it also found 43 people it described as "irregular
migrants" — and three in Portugal.
   (AP, 1/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, French woman
Patricia Dagorn, accused of seducing and then poisoning elderly
wealthy men, had her sentence reduced on appeal, after a court
overturned two murder convictions in the case. She was sentenced
last year to 22 years in prison over the fatal poisoning of two men
found dead in 2011 on the Cote d'Azur, and the drugging of two
others.
   (AFP, 1/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, French carmaker
Renault said it was recalling some 13,300 Dacia automobiles in
Romania over safety issues with the driver's air bag inflator.
   (AP, 1/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, Gabon President
Ali Bongo returned to medical leave in Morocco, after a brief visit
to Libreville where he appeared in a wheelchair on state TV
following his stroke last year.
   (Reuters, 1/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, In Germany
Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess and Ford CEO Jim Hackett said they are
forming a global alliance to develop commercial vans and
medium-sized pickups together while exploring broader cooperation on
future battery-powered and autonomous vehicles and services.
   (AP, 1/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, In India Kanaka
Durga (39), one of two Indian women who entered an ancient Hindu
Sabarimala temple hill temple earlier this month in defiance of a
centuries-old ban on women of menstruating age, alleged she was
beaten up by her mother-in-law.
   (Reuters, 1/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, An Iranian rocket
blasted off into space, but scientists failed to put the Payam
satellite into orbit in a launch previously criticized by the United
States as helping the Islamic Republic further develop its ballistic
missile program.
   (AP, 1/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, Italian police
seized 644 kg of cocaine worth some 130 million euros ($148 million)
hidden in bags of Honduran coffee at the port of Livorno. This was
one of the largest drug hauls in Italy in recent years.
   (AP, 1/30/19)(AP, 1/31/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, In Kenya a huge
blast followed by a gun battle rocked an upmarket hotel and office
complex in Nairobi in an attack claimed by the Al-Qaeda-linked
Shabaab Islamist group. At least 7 people were killed. One of the
five was later identified as Mahir Khalid Riziki (25), who grew up
in Mombasa.
   (AFP, 1/15/19)(Reuters, 1/15/19)(AFP, 1/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, Senior Kurdish
official Bedran Ciya Kurd categorically rejected a "safe zone" that
the Turkish president says his troops plan to set up in northern
Syria.
   (AP, 1/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, The Int'l.
Criminal Court at The Hague acquitted former Ivory Coast president
Laurent Gbagbo over post-electoral violence that killed 3,000
people, the latest in a series of blows for beleaguered ICC
prosecutors.
   (AFP, 1/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, In Pakistan a fire
broke out at a home in the garrison city of Rawalpindi, killing a
bride to be and four other women who were preparing the woman's
wedding.
   (AP, 1/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, Russia extended
the detention of Ukrainian sailors captured together with their
vessels off Crimea in November despite protests from Kiev and the
West.
   (AFP, 1/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, Spain's powerful
feminist movement rallied across the country against far-right party
Vox for seeking to scrap tough laws against gender violence which it
argues "criminalizes" men.
   (AFP, 1/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, Authorities in the
northeastern Spanish region of Catalonia arrested 17 people,
including five alleged members of an extremist Islamist cell, as
part of an ongoing anti-terror operation.
   (AP, 1/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, In Thailand
Anastasia Vashukevich, a model from Belarus who claimed last year
that she had evidence of Russian involvement in helping elect Donald
Trump president, pleaded guilty in a court in Pattaya in a case
related to holding a sex training seminar and will be deported. She
and seven co-defendants were given suspended 18-month prison terms
and fines.
   (AP, 1/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, Turkey's president
said his troops will establish a 20-mile-wide "safe zone" in
northern Syria with the help of allies.
   (AP, 1/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, The UN reported
that freezing temperatures and the lack of medical care have killed
at least 15 displaced Syrian children in recent weeks.
   (AFP, 1/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, Venezuela's
opposition-run congress considering a measure that would ask dozens
of foreign governments to seek a freeze on bank accounts controlled
by the government of President Nicolas Maduro. Congress also
prepared to formally declare Maduro a usurper following his
inauguration on Jan. 10 to a disputed second term.
   (Reuters, 1/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, Zimbabwe's
military put on a show of force to deter further protests over steep
fuel price hikes.
   (Reuters, 1/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 16, US federal agents
arrested Hasher Jallal Taheb of Cumming Georgia, as he showed for a
meeting with an undercover agent and FBI source to carry out an
attack on the White House. On April 1, 2020, Taheb (23) pleaded
guilty to a charge of attempting to destroy, by fire or an
explosive, a building owned by or leased to the United States.
   (https://tinyurl.com/ucux2g4)(SFC, 4/3/20, p.A4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 16, In Nevada Ernesto
Martinez-Guzman (20), an illegal immigrant from El Salvador, fatally
shot a Reno couple with it at their home with a gun stolen from the
couple two weeks earlier. The couple had employed him as a
landscaper. His DNA was found on the revolver also used to kill
Connie Koontz and Sophia Renken in their homes in Gardnerville.
Koontz was found dead Jan. 10. Renken's body was found Jan. 13.
Martinez-Guzman was arrested Jan. 19 in Carson City.
   (SFC, 1/29/19, p.A5)(AP, 2/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 16, In Texas a child
(9) was fatally shot by a cousin (9) while playing with a gun in
Houston.
   (SFC, 1/18/19, p.A5)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 16, In Australia Aiia
Maasarwe (21), an exchange student from Shanghai University in
China, was attacked shortly after stepping off from a tram in the
suburb of Bundoora. Codey Herrmann (20), an aspiring rapper, was
soon charged with murder and rape in the death of the Israeli
student.
   (AP, 1/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 16, Brazil's far-right
President Jair Bolsonaro and Argentina's President Mauricio Macri
said after their first meeting that they agreed on their opposition
to Venezuela's authoritarian government.
   (Reuters, 1/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 16, It was reported
that Britain's Parliament has approved a law that will make it
illegal to take so-called "upskirting" photos. Following "royal
assent" the law will apply in England and Wales. The practice is
already banned in Scotland.
   (AP, 1/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 16, In Burkina Faso
Canadian geologist Kirk Woodman's body was found, following his
abduction by a dozen gunmen at a mining site operated by
Vancouver-based Progress Minerals. He had been shot, and his body
was dumped in an area that is under growing threat from Islamist
militants.
   (http://tinyurl.com/yb466o59)(Reuters, 4/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 16, Egypt says its
police forces have killed five militants in a shootout in the city
of el-Arish in the turbulent northern Sinai Peninsula. It was
unclear when the battle took place.
   (AP, 1/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 16, Egypt's capital
Cairo and some of its port cities were hit by a severe sandstorm,
with strong winds and heavy dust forcing the closure of several
ports.
   (Reuters, 1/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 16, Gunmen in Ghana
shot dead an investigative journalist who helped uncover corruption
in soccer. Ahmed Hussein-Suale was shot three times by men on a
motorbike while driving home from work in Accra. He was part of a
team famous for a documentary last year that accused 77 referees and
Ghana's then soccer chief Kwesi Nyantakyi of taking bribes.
   (Reuters, 1/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 16, Greek PM Alexis
Tsipras very narrowly won a confidence vote after his right-wing
partner left the governing coalition to protest an agreement to
normalize relations with Macedonia. A nationwide poll this week
found 70 percent of respondents oppose the agreement.
   (AP, 1/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 16, Guam's archdiocese
of Agana filed for bankruptcy protection, estimating at least $45
million in liabilities over sexual assaults by Catholic clergy.
   (http://tinyurl.com/yy9a8bvv)(SFC, 8/9/19, p.A5)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 16, Hong Kong customs
officers and mainland officials seized 8,300 kilos of pangolin
scales and 2,100 kilos of ivory tusks hidden inside a container --
declared to be carrying frozen beef -- at a customs facility. A man
and a woman from a trading company in the city were soon arrested.
   (AFP, 2/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 16, Hungary detained
Rui Pinto (30), a Portuguese man, on a European arrest warrant filed
by Portuguese police on suspicion of extortion and secrecy
violations. He had reportedly hacked football bodies' documents -
which later appeared on the Football Leaks website - because he was
"outraged" by criminality in the sport.
   (Reuters, 1/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 16, Kenya's government
said security forces have killed at least five militants who stormed
the upscale Nairobi DusitD2 hotel compound, taking at least 21 lives
and forcing hundreds of others into terrifying escapes after a
20-hour, overnight siege.
   (AFP, 1/15/19)(Reuters, 1/15/19)(SFC, 1/17/19,
p.A4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 16, In Libya fighting
between rival armed groups flared up again in Tripoli, four months
after a UN-brokered cease-fire. At least one person was reported
killed and 17 others wounded.
   (AP, 1/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 16, It was reported
that Malaysia has imposed a ban on Israelis participating in any
event hosted by the Southeast Asian nation after barring athletes
from attending the World Para Swimming championships in July.
Malaysia's cabinet had decided on the measure last week.
   (Reuters, 1/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 16, The lower house of
Mexico's Congress passed a measure creating a National Guard. It was
quickly criticized by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador for
weakening controversial proposals to give the military a greater
formal role in policing.
   (AP, 1/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 16, International
Criminal Court judges at the Hague said that former Ivory Coast
President Laurent Gbagbo and Mr. Ble Goude, a former government
minister, should be released immediately following their acquittal
on charges of involvement in deadly post-election violence in 2010.
   (AP, 1/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 16, Philippine
officials turned over to China a former government official wanted
back home on charges of corruption that amounted to $210 million.
Xie Haojie (49) was arrested on Jan. 13 in Manila in an operation
coordinated with Chinese authorities.
   (AP, 1/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 16, Polish private
Radio Zet said that Iran has stopped issuing tourist visas for
Poles.
   (Reuters, 1/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 16, Portuguese police
discovered 430 kg (950 pounds) of cocaine concealed inside a banana
shipment from Latin America at the port of Leixoes.
   (AP, 1/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 16, Romania's
Constitutional Court ruled that secret protocols between prosecutors
and the country's domestic intelligence agency were
unconstitutional. The decision could cause murder and corruption
trials in which prosecutors have relied on evidence that was
obtained under the agreement to collapse.
   (AP, 1/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 16, South Africa's
transport minister pledged to toughen penalties for reckless road
users after more than 1,600 people were killed in traffic accidents
over the six-week festive season. 17 traffic officers were arrested
for corruption over the holidays.
   (AFP, 1/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 16, South Korean
officials said they have stopped businessmen from bringing North
Korean paintings into the country that a report said were purchased
at an art studio under UN sanctions.
   (AP, 1/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 16, Sudanese police
fired tear gas at crowds of anti-government protesters in Kassala,
in the first such demonstration held in the eastern town bordering
Eritrea.
   (AFP, 1/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 16, In Syria a suicide
attack carried by IS insurgents killed 19 people, including four
Americans, in the northern town of Manbij. The dead included 9
civilians and at least 5 US-backed Syrian fighters.
   (Reuters, 1/16/19)(AP, 1/16/19)(AP, 1/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 16, The Syrian
Democratic Forces (SDF), backed by the US, said it was ready to help
create a safe zone suggested by US President Donald Trump in its
region across north and east Syria.
   (Reuters, 1/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 16, It was reported
that Turkish prosecutors are seeking an international arrest warrant
for New York Knicks player Enes Kanter, accusing him of membership
in a terror organization.
   (AP, 1/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 16, The UN Security
Council unanimously approved the deployment of up to 75 observers to
Yemen's port city of Hodeidah for six months to monitor a ceasefire
and redeployment of forces by the warring parties.
   (AP, 1/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 16, The UN said at
least 890 people are believed to have been killed over three days in
December in ethnic violence in northwestern Democratic Republic of
Congo, and it warned that the toll could be higher still.
   (Reuters, 1/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 16, Leading Zimbabwean
activist Evan Mawarire was arrested by armed police at his home in
Harare. Scores of civilians were detained and charged with public
violence and others were beaten during protests in response to
Mnangagwa increasing the price of fuel by more than 150 percent.
   (AFP, 1/16/19)(Reuters, 1/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, Michael Cohen,
Pres. Trump's former attorney, acknowledged that he paid a
technology company to rig Trump's standings in two online polls
before the presidential campaign.
   (SFC, 1/18/19, p.A5)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, In Florida a
shooting at a strip club in Miami left one security guard dead.
Police considered the Booby Trap to be the country's most
crime-ridden strip club.
   (SFC, 1/19/19, p.A6)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, In Chicago a judge
acquitted three police officers of trying to cover up the 2014
police shooting of black teenager Laquan McDonald to try to protect
another officer who pulled the trigger. Officer Jason Van Dyke shot
McDonald 16 times.
   (SFC, 1/18/19, p.A5)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, American poet Mary
Oliver (83) died at her home in Hobe sound, Florida. The 1984
Pulitzer Prize winner had authored more than 15 poetry and essay
collections.
   (SFC, 1/18/19, p.C8)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, A US federal judge
struck down early-voting restrictions enacted by Wisconsin
Republicans in a lame-duck legislative session last year.
   (SFC, 1/18/19, p.A5)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, Facebook said it
has removed hundreds of Russia-linked pages, groups and accounts
that it says were part of two big disinformation operations
targeting users outside the US.
   (AP, 1/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, In Australia the
body of Monika Billen, a 62-year-old German tourist, was found
beneath a tree in the searing heat of the central Outback, eight
days after she was reported missing.
   (AP, 1/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, Rio de Janeiro
state prosecutors said they were temporarily suspending an
investigation into suspicious payments handled by the former driver
of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's son, Flavio, due to a
Supreme Court ruling.
   (Reuters, 1/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, China's ambassador
to Canada warned the Canadian government to stop recruiting
international support in its feud with China and threatened
retaliation if Canada bans Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei
for security reasons.
   (AP, 1/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, In Colombia at
least eight people were killed and another 10 injured in a car
bombing at a police academy in Bogota. Jose Aldemar Rojas (59)
rammed a 1993 Nissan loaded with 175 pounds of pentolite through a
checkpoint The death toll from the bombing soon rose to 21.
Authorities blamed Jose Aldemar Rojas (56), a longtime member of the
National Liberation Army (ELN).
   (AP, 1/17/19)(AP, 1/18/19)(SFC, 1/18/19, p.A2)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, Comoros President
Azali Assoumani asked: "What's wrong when a Saudi is assassinated in
an embassy of Saudi Arabia?" during a speech at a function to launch
the construction of a Saudi-funded road in the Indian Ocean island
nation.
   (Reuters, 1/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, In Egypt Islamic
militants kidnapped a Christian man traveling in a communal taxi in
the turbulent north of the Sinai peninsula. He was later identified
as Adeeb Nakhlah (45), a police forensic expert. Police pursued the
kidnappers into the desert to which they fled after the incident,
killing one of them and wounding two others in a firefight, but
could not free the hostage.
   (AP, 1/17/19)(AP, 1/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, In France
Alexandre Benalla, a former bodyguard for President Emmanuel Macron,
was taken into police custody over his continued use of diplomatic
passports after he was fired for roughing up protesters.
   (AFP, 1/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, German authorities
said they have arrested Navanithan G. (39), a suspected member of
the Tamil Tigers. He is alleged to have been involved in the August
2005 assassination of Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister Lakshman
Kathirkamar and the attempted killing of Eelam People*s Democratic
Party leader Douglas Devananda.
   (AP, 1/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, In Greece striking
school teachers and other civil servants shut down central Athens
for hours during a protest of new hiring criteria for teachers that
were under consideration in parliament.
   (AP, 1/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, Greek police
arrested a man trying to sell antiquities excavated by grave robbers
that dated back to the third century BC.
   (SFC, 1/23/19, p.A2)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, An Indian court
sentenced a popular and flamboyant spiritual guru and three
followers to life in prison in the murder 16 years ago of a
journalist who published a letter about the guru's alleged sexual
exploitation of women. Dr. Saint Gurmeet Singh Ram Rahim Insan and
his three followers were convicted on Jan. 11 on murder charges.
   (AP, 1/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, Japan-based
Hitachi said it has suspended work on a major new nuclear power
station, the Horizon Project, located in Wylfa, on the Welsh island
of Anglesey, because it had been unable to agree on financing with
the UK government. Hitachi said it will also suspend work on another
site located in England.
   (AP, 1/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, Kazakhstan jailed
Arman Kudaybergenov and Nural Kiyasov to 18 years in prison for the
murder of Denis Ten, the country's first Olympic figure skating
medalist. Ten (25) was stabbed in Almaty last July as he struggled
with two men he had caught trying to steal the mirrors on his car.
Female defendant Zhanar Tolybayeva was found guilty of theft and
failing to report a crime, and sentenced to four years.
   (Reuters, 1/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, Kenyan police said
nine more people have been arrested for their alleged involvement in
the extremist attack on the DusitD2 complex in Nairobi this week,
bringing the total number of suspects in detention to 11.
   (AP, 1/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, Lithuanian PM
Saulius Skvernelis announced he will run for president this year,
saying his election would lead to "more harmony" and less intrigue
in the Baltic eurozone state. His challengers include independent
economist Gitanas Nauseda and conservative ex-finance minister
Ingrida Simonyte, who he described as the "heirs" to Pres.
Grybauskaite.
   (AFP, 1/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, In Norway a woman
in her 20s was in critical condition after being stabbed in a
downtown Oslo supermarket. A Russian suspect (20) arrested after the
assault told investigators he wanted to kill several people and that
it was a terror attack.
   (AP, 1/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, Polish private
radio RMF FM, citing confirmation from the Prime Minister's office,
said a Polish man arrested on charges of spying for China last week
was an advisor to former PM Beata Szydlo.
   (AP, 1/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, Romanian coal
miners ended a weeklong strike after the energy minister offered
them wage hikes and other perks.
   (AP, 1/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, President Vladimir
Putin arrived to a rousing welcome in Serbia, a key Moscow ally,
where he will confer Russia's top award to his counterpart
Aleksandar Vucic.
   (AFP, 1/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, Anastasia
Vashukevich, the Belarusian model who claimed last year that she had
evidence of Russian interference in the election of Donald Trump as
US president, was arrested immediately upon her arrival in Moscow
following deportation from Thailand.
   (AP, 1/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, It was reported
that another Saudi woman has turned to social media for protection
from her father, just days after Canada granted refuge to Rahaf
al-Qunun, the 18-year-old Saudi who fled her family. Nojoud
al-Mandeel has not fled the kingdom, has not revealed her face and
has only made her pleas for help on Twitter in Arabic.
   (AP, 1/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, Sudanese
professional and opposition groups held protests in at least a dozen
major cities. In Khartoum hundreds braved tear gas and sometimes
live fire as they marched toward the presidential palace to deliver
a written request that President Omar al-Bashir step down. Riot
police broke up a march by hundreds of people on the presidential
palace. Three demonstrators were killed.
   (AP, 1/17/19)(AFP, 1/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, In eastern Syria
intense US-led coalition airstrikes hit the eastern province of Deir
el-Zour, the last area held by the Islamic State group, where the
extremists' control has been shrinking over the past weeks.
   (AP, 1/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, A public sector
strike brought Tunisia to a standstill as workers heeded calls from
a powerful trade union to stay home over demands for wage hikes and
economic reforms.
   (AFP, 1/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, Turkey deported
Dutch journalist Ans Boersma (31) after Turkish officials said
Ankara received a tip-off from police in the Netherlands that she
had suspected links to a jihadist group in Syria. Boersma was a
person of interest in an ongoing investigation into militant
activity.
   (AFP, 1/17/19)(Reuters, 1/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 18, Special counsel
Robert Mueller's office issued a rare public statement disputing the
accuracy of BuzzFeed News' report that President Donald Trump's
former attorney told Mueller that Trump directed the lawyer to lie
to Congress.
   (AP, 1/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 18, The White House
announced after talks between Trump and Kim that Pres. Donald Trump
would hold a second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in
late February, but would maintain economic sanctions on Pyongyang.
   (Reuters, 1/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 18, A US federal judge
found four women guilty of entering the Cabeza Prieta National
Wildlife Refuge in Arizona without a permit as they sought to place
food and water in the desert for migrants.
   (SSFC, 1/20/19, p.A10)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 18, Los Angeles
teachers picketed and rallied for a 5th day as contract negotiations
continued.
   (SFC, 1/19/19, p.A8)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 18, Former Chicago
police Officer Jason Van Dyke (40) was sentenced to nearly seven
years in prison for the 2014 shooting of Laquan McDonald (17).
   (SFC, 1/19/19, p.A8)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 18, Jornal Nacional,
Brazil's most respected newscast, said that 48 deposits of 2,000
reais each were deposited into the bank account of Senator-elect
Flavio Bolsonaro, President Jair Bolsonaro's eldest son, between
June and July 2017, when he was a Rio de Janeiro state lawmaker.
   (AFP, 1/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 18, Bulgarian special
police forces arrested 43 people in coordinated raids across the
country on a suspected terrorism financing ring.
   (Reuters, 1/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 18, Canada's
government dismissed China's warning of repercussions if Ottawa
banned Huawei Technologies Co Ltd from supplying equipment to 5G
networks, saying it would not compromise on security.
   (Reuters, 1/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 18, Colombian
authorities arrested Ricardo Carvajal for his alleged role in the
previous days car bombing. They said he showed up on intercepted
phone calls boasting of having participated in the attack. Pres.
Ivan Duque pressed Cuba to arrest 10 peace negotiators from the
National Liberation Army (ELN) for the car bombing that left 21 dead
and dozens more wounded.
   (AP, 1/18/19)(SFC, 1/19/19, p.A2)(AP, 1/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 18, In the Czech Rep.
a man was seriously injured after he set himself on fire in downtown
Prague amid commemorative events to remember a student who burned
himself to death 50 years ago to inspire resistance against the 1968
Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia.
   (AP, 1/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 18, Germany-based
Volkswagen Group said that it will pay a fine of 1 billion rupees
($14.2 million) imposed by India for installing software on vehicles
that allegedly cheated pollution testing devices, though it is still
appealing the order.
   (AP, 1/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 18, Indonesia's
president said Abu Bakar Bashir (81), the radical Muslim cleric and
alleged mastermind of the 2002 Bali bombings, will be granted early
release from jail on humanitarian grounds.
   (Reuters, 1/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 18, Iraqi
archaeologist Lamia al-Gailani (80) died. She had lent her expertise
to rebuild the collection at the National Museum after it was looted
in 2003.
   (AP, 1/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 18, An Italian navy
helicopter plucked three survivors from a life raft after a rubber
dinghy capsized in the Mediterranean Sea off Libya. Up to 117
migrants were believed to have died.
   (AP, 1/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 18, In Kashmir at
least five people were killed when an avalanche hit a truck in which
they were traveling. Five more people were missing.
   (Reuters, 1/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 18, Lebanon used an
Arab economic meeting to urge the Arab League to restore Syria's
membership, calling it a "historic shame" to keep the Arab country
out of the forum.
   (AP, 1/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 18, The forces of
Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar reportedly killed three jihadists
including a senior Al-Qaeda member in the south of the country days
after launching a security operation. They were identified as Abdel
Monem al-Hasnaoui, also known as Abu Talha al-Libi, Al-Mahdi Dengo
and Egyptian citizen Abdullah al-Dessouki.
   (AFP, 1/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 18, It was reported
that Malaysia has filed a lawsuit against opposition-run Kelantan
state for infringing on the indigenous Temiar tribe's land rights by
handing out licenses to plantation companies to cut down timber, the
first such action by a sitting government.
   (Reuters, 1/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 18, In central Mexico
at least 66 people were killed after a pipeline ruptured by
suspected fuel thieves exploded near the town of Tlahuelilpan,
Hidalgo state. More than 85 other people were listed as missing. The
death toll later rose to 134 after more injured people died at
hospitals.
   (Reuters, 1/19/19)(AP, 1/19/19)(AP, 1/28/19)(AP,
3/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 18, Myanmar’s army
said it has killed 13 rebel fighters in the western Rakhine State
between Jan. 5 and Jan. 16. Myanmar's military announced that the
Arakan Army, a Buddhist rebel group in Rakhine state, has been
classified a terrorist organization.
   (Reuters, 1/18/19)(AP, 1/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 18, At The Hague ICC
judges said former Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo must spend
at least another two weeks in detention at the International
Criminal Court, despite being acquitted this week of involvement in
deadly post-election violence.
   (AP, 1/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 18, Russia said it has
agreed for France and Germany to monitor shipping traffic in the
Kerch Strait following a naval confrontation between Moscow and Kiev
last year.
   (AFP, 1/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 18, In Somalia an
ambush occurred on an Ethiopian peacekeeping convoy. African Union
troops returned fire killing four extremists and wounding several
others. Ethiopia denied claims that al-Shabab killed several
Ethiopian troops.
   (AP, 1/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 18, In Sweden the
Centre Party played a decisive role in allowing Stefan Lofven to win
a second term as prime minister by abstaining in a parliamentary
vote, ending more than four months of political deadlock. The Centre
Party and the allied Liberal Party will not join Lofven's new Social
Democrat-Green coalition but will support it in return for pursuing
such center-right policies as tax cuts and deregulation of the labor
and property rental markets.
   (Reuters, 1/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 18, The
scandal-plagued Swedish body that awards the Nobel Prize for
literature said that poet Katarina Frostenson would leave the
Academy after an investigation determined she had leaked the names
of winners.
   (Reuters, 1/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 18, In Syria an
explosion outside an office belonging to an al-Qaida-linked group in
the country's northwestern killed at least 11 people. An airstrike
in the country's east on the last area held by the Islamic State
group killed at least 20 people in the village of Baghouz. The dead
included ten IS members.
   (AP, 1/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 18, In southern
Thailand gunmen presumed to be Muslim insurgents stormed a Buddhist
temple in Narathiwat province, killing two monks and wounding two
others.
   (AP, 1/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 18, Turkey's
state-owned Anadolu news agency said a court has sentenced Murat
Arslan, a judge who previously won an award for human rights, to 10
years in prison over links to the network Ankara says orchestrated
an attempted coup in 2016.
   (Reuters, 1/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 18, The United Nations
said it was "extremely alarmed" by the forced return by Cameroon of
thousands of refugees to northeast Nigeria, where Boko Haram
Islamists pose a continuing threat to civilians. The UN refugee
agency said Cameroon forced "several thousand" refugees back to
Nigeria this week. According to the UNHCR Cameroon is currently
hosting 370,000 refugees, 100,000 of whom are Nigerians.
   (AFP, 1/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 18, The UN human
rights office said at least 34 people have been killed in Congo
since disputed provisional election results were announced on Jan.
10.
   (AP, 1/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 18, Zimbabwe blocked
most social media as international criticism mounted of a ruthless
security crackdown after anti-government protests.
   (AFP, 1/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 19, Pres. Donald Trump
offered to extend temporary protections for young people brought to
the US illegally as children and those fleeing disaster zones in
exchange for his long-promised border wall. Democrats dismissed the
proposal even before his formal remarks.
   (SSFC, 1/20/19, p.A1)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 19, US Republican Sen.
Lindsey Graham said Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was responsible
for the Oct. 2 murder of Jamal Khashoggi and must be "dealt with",
as he threatened new sanctions.
   (AFP, 1/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 19, In Alabama
tornadoes struck Autauga county an d the town of Wetumpka. At least
25 homes were seriously damaged or destroyed.
   (SFC, 1/21/19, p.A4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 19, In San Francisco
thousands of protesters marched as part of the third Women's March.
More than 100 crowds gathered elsewhere in the US and around the
world for social justice and reproductive rights.
   (SSFC, 1/20/19, p.A15)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 19, A Catholic diocese
in Kentucky apologized after videos emerged showing students from an
all-male high school mocking Native American Nathan Philips after a
rally in Washington DC. Many of the youths were wearing "Make
America Great Again" hats. One student said African American
protesters were insulting them. Philips said he approached the
students to keep the peace.
   (SSFC, 1/20/19, p.A10)(SFC, 1/21/19, p.A4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 19, In Las Vegas Manny
Pacquiao of the Philippines showed flashes of his old speed in
winning a unanimous 12-round decision over Adrien Broner to easily
defend his piece of the welterweight title.
   (AP, 1/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 19, On Oregon Mark
Gago killed four members of his family before he was fatally shot by
sheriff's deputies late today near Canby.
   (SFC, 1/21/19, p.A4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 19, In Chile a
magnitude 6.7 earthquake hit the north-central coast late today. As
many as 200,000 were left without power and two people dead of heart
attacks.
   (Reuters, 1/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 19, Yang Hengjun (53),
a Chinese-Australian writer and visiting scholar at Columbia
University in New York, was detained upon at Guangzhou Airport.
Foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying later said that Yang, a
former Chinese diplomat and critic of China's Communist Party, was
"suspected of engaging in criminal activities endangering China's
national security".
   (AP, 4/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 19, In France scuffles
broke out as around 7,000 "yellow vest" demonstrators marched
through Paris in a 10th consecutive weekend of protests against
President Emmanuel Macron's government.
   (Reuters, 1/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 19, In Haiti the 13th
PaPJazz festival opened in Port-au-Prince.
   (AFP, 1/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 19, In Hungary several
thousand people demonstrated in Budapest against PM Viktor Orban and
a new overtime law that has drawn workers out to the streets in
several protest rallies.
   (Reuters, 1/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 19, India's main
opposition parties joined forces against PM Narendra Modi at a rally
in Kolkata which attracted hundreds of thousands of people months
ahead of elections.
   (Reuters, 1/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 19, In Japan
representatives from a Pacific Rim trade bloc geared up to roll out
and expand the market-opening initiative as they met in Tokyo,
reaffirming their commitment to open and free trade and inviting new
membership.
   (AP, 1/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 19, Kenyan officials
said they have arrested six more people suspected of involvement in
the Jan. 15 extremist attack in Nairobi, bringing the total number
of detainees to 12.
   (AP, 1/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 19, Madagascan
President Andry Rajoelina used his inauguration speech to pledge to
fight corruption in a country where politics and business are widely
seen as beset by graft.
   (AFP, 1/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 19, In Northern
Ireland attackers hijacked a pizza delivery vehicle, loaded it with
explosives and left it outside the city-center courthouse late
today. The device exploded as police, who had spotted the suspicious
vehicle, were evacuating the area. Two men in their 20s were soon
arrested over the attack, which caused no injuries.
   (AP, 1/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 19, In Pakistan
counter-terrorism officers killed four insurgents, including two
women, in a shootout on a highway in eastern Punjab province. Three
suspects escaped on a motorcycle. Hundreds of people took to the
streets in provincial capital Lahore and in Sahiwal, accusing police
of killing innocent citizens in what they said was a staged shootout
to showcase police performance.
   (AP, 1/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 19, The Philippines'
wealthiest man Henry Sy (94), who rose from being a penniless
Chinese immigrant to leading a multi-billion dollar business empire,
died. Sy made history in 1985 when he opened his first "Supermall"
in Manila.
   (AFP, 1/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 19, In Somalia a US
military air strike killed 52 al-Shabab extremists in the Middle
Juba region in response to an attack on Somali forces.
   (SSFC, 1/20/19, p.A4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 19, In eastern Syria
at least 20 Islamic State group jihadists were killed in Iraqi air
raids on their embattled enclave in Baghouz.
   (AP, 1/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 19, In Turkey
thousands demonstrated in the Kurdish-majority southeast to support
Leyla Guven (55), a detained lawmaker from a pro-Kurdish party who
launched a hunger strike in November.
   (AFP, 1/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 19, A new UN report
said fuel is being shipped illegally for Iran to Houthi Shiite
rebels in Yemen to finance their war against the government.
   (SSFC, 1/20/19, p.A8)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 19, Zimbabwe police
manned checkpoints on many main roads, searching vehicles for
protesters allegedly involved in recent anti-government
demonstrations.
   (AFP, 1/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 20, In US a winter
storm stretched across at least 15 states from Missouri to Maine and
caused the cancellation of more that 1,500 flights.
   (SFC, 1/21/19, p.A4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 20, In southern
Afghanistan a car bomb attack on a convoy of the governor of Logar
province killed at least eight security force members, but left the
provincial chief unharmed. The Taliban claimed responsibility.
   (Reuters, 1/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 20, In western Central
African Rep. 13 people were killed in an attack, just days before
the opening of peace talks. A UN source later said the perpetrators
were believed to be Fulani from the so-called 3R group ("return,
reclamation, reconciliation").
   (AFP, 1/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 20, Thousands of
Colombians dressed in white poured into the streets to repudiate
terrorism after the Jan. 17 car bombing at a Bogota police academy
killed 21 people and left dozens more wounded.
   (AP, 1/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 20, Congo's
Constitutional Court confirmed the victory of Felix Tshisekedi,
dismissing the claims of massive vote fraud by runner-up Martin
Fayulu.
   (AP, 1/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 20, In France several
thousand protesters marched in Paris against abortion and medically
assisted reproduction in the 13th March for Life.
   (AP, 1/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 20, In the French Alps
two people died and 25 more were injured, four seriously, in a fire
at the ski resort of Courchevel.
   (AFP, 1/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 20, Sea-Watch 3, run
by a German NGO, said it has contacted Italy, Malta, Libya as well
as the Netherlands, since the boat is Dutch-flagged, asking where it
can bring the 47 migrants it had taken aboard. Another vessel
crowded with panicking migrants and taking on water, meanwhile, put
out an urgent, separate appeal for help in the southern
Mediterranean.
   (AP, 1/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 20, Spiegel Online
reported that German weapons maker Rheinmetall plans to sue the
government over its decision to stop all arms exports to Saudi
Arabia after the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
   (Reuters, 1/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 20, In Greece police
fired tear gas to disperse protesters outside parliament as tens of
thousands rallied in Athens to protest against a name deal with
Macedonia.
   (Reuters, 1/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 20, Israel confirmed a
diplomatic rapprochement with Muslim-majority Chad as PM Benjamin
Netanyahu used a visit to the Chadian capital to stress their mutual
interest in confronting Islamist insurgencies.
   (Reuters, 1/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 20, Israel's military
said its Iron Dome interceptor system shot down a rocket that had
been fired at the northern part of the occupied Golan Heights on the
Syria frontier.
   (Reuters, 1/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 20, Masazo Nonaka
(113), the world's oldest man, died early today while sleeping at
home in Ashoro on Japan's northern main island of Hokkaido.
   (AP, 1/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 20, In Kenya four
people were wounded when gunmen opened fire late today on a Chinese
construction site in the remote northeast, before being quickly
repelled. The attack was suspected to be the work of Somali
Islamists al-Shabaab.
   (AFP, 1/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 20, Lebanon urged
world powers to step up efforts for Syrian refugees to return home
regardless of a political solution to the conflict in its
war-wracked neighbor, as it hosted the fourth annual Arab Economic
and Social Development Summit. Most Arab heads of state were absent.
   (AFP, 1/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 20, Libyan security
officials said a temporary cease-fire has taken hold in the capital
of Tripoli, after deadly fighting between rival militias that
dominate the city flared up last week.
   (AP, 1/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 20, In northern Mali
al-Qaida-linked jihadists killed ten UN peacekeepers from Chad in an
attack at the Aguelhok base 200 km (125 miles) north of Kidal.
   (AP, 1/20/19)(SFC, 1/21/19, p.A2)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 20, In Mexico three
gunmen in Cancun shot seven people to death at a home in an apparent
dispute between street-level drug dealers.
   (AP, 1/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 20, Police in Northern
Ireland police arrested four men -- two 21-year-olds, a 34-year-old
and a 42-year-old in relation to a bomb blast a day earlier. A 5th
man was also soon arrested.
   (AFP, 1/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 20, Pakistani
officials said authorities have arrested more than a dozen
counter-terrorism officers after police shot and killed a
middle-aged couple, their 13-year-old daughter and another man in
what they initially claimed was a shootout with insurgents a day
earlier.
   (AP, 1/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 20, In Portugal police
responded to a call about a brawl between two women and entered the
"Jamaica" neighborhood in Seixal, where mostly young local residents
greeted them with a hail of stones. A video published on the
internet showed police officers beating up several black people.
   (Reuters, 1/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 20, Saudi-led forces
launched overnight air strikes on Yemen's capital, described by one
resident as the worst in a year. The overnight targets included
al-Dulaimi Air Base, a drone storage site, and military training
sites. At least two civilians were killed, and others injured.
   (Reuters, 1/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 20, Sudanese police
clashed with demonstrators in and around the capital Khartoum, after
they deployed in large numbers in anticipation of fresh protests
calling on longtime ruler Omar al-Bashir to step down.
   (AP, 1/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 20, In northern Syria
a blast aboard a bus killed at least three people in Afrin.
   (AP, 1/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 20, Syrian state media
say air defenses have repelled an Israeli air raid near the
international airport south of Damascus.
   (AP, 1/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 20, Tonga lost
internet contact after something went wrong with a fiber optic cable
that connects it to the rest of the world. A small internet company
that uses satellites soon stepped in to help restore int'l. calls
and some other services.
   (SFC, 1/24/19, p.A2)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 20, In Yemen an
explosion killed five demining specialists in the central province
of Maarib.
   (AFP, 1/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, San Francisco
food-delivery startup Muncherry, founded in 2011, announced that it
has gone out of business.
   (SFC, 1/21/19, p.D1)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, Kaye Ballard
(b.1925), American comic actress, died at her home in Rancho Mirage,
Ca. She and Eve Arden played a pair of meddling mothers in the 1967
NBC sitcom "The Mothers-in-Law." The series lasted two seasons.
   (SFC, 1/25/19, p.C4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, Russell Baker
(b.1925), award-winning American columnist and author, died in
Leesburg, Virginia. From 1993 to 2004 he hosted "Masterpiece
Theater".
   (SFC, 1/24/19, p.C6)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, An investment firm
in Abu Dhabi bought some 3 tons of gold from Venezuela amid that
country's political turmoil. Noor Capital later said it will refrain
from any further transactions.
   (AP, 2/2/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, In Afghanistan at
least 65 people were killed and as many as 70 were wounded by a
suicide bomber who drove an armored Humvee packed with explosives at
the base in eastern Maidan Wardak province. Dozens of those killed
were members of Afghanistan's intelligence agency. A senior defense
source said 126 members of the Afghan security forces were killed.
   (AP, 1/22/19)(AFP, 1/22/19)(Reuters, 1/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, An Albanian court
convicted the main opposition Democratic Party leader of defamation
over drug-related allegations he made against Taulant Balla, head of
the Socialist party parliamentary group. Democratic leader Lulzim
Basha was fined 50,000 lek ($455).
   (AP, 1/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, Cardiff City's new
soccer star Emiliano Sala (28) was on board a light aircraft that
disappeared en route to the Welsh capital for his club debut.
   (Reuters, 1/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, China's state
media said researcher He Jiankui, who claimed to have created the
world's first genetically-edited babies, will face a Chinese police
investigation, as authorities confirmed that a second woman fell
pregnant during the experiment. Jiankui's former university said he
had been fired.
   (AFP, 1/21/19)(Reuters, 1/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, The European Union
sanctioned the heads of Russia's military intelligence and two of
their officers blamed for poisoning a former Russian double agent in
Britain last year, a decision Moscow dismissed as groundless. The EU
also sanctioned a Syrian research center and five staff members.
   (Reuters, 1/21/19)(AP, 1/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, France's data
privacy watchdog fined Google 50 million euros ($57 million) for
"lack of transparency, inadequate information and lack of valid
consent" regarding ad personalization for users. This was the first
penalty for a US tech giant under new European data privacy rules
that took effect last year.
   (AP, 1/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, Germany said it
has banned Iran's Mahan Air from landing in the country with
immediate effect, citing security concerns and the airline's
involvement in Syria. The airline had several weekly flights between
Tehran and German cities.
   (AP, 1/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, An Indian official
said police in Kerala state are investigating a suspected attempt to
illegally transport more than 100 Indians by boat to New Zealand.
The boat had reportedly left Munambam harbor in Kerala on Jan. 12.
   (AP, 1/21/19)(Reuters, 1/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, In India police
arrested 30 Rohingya, including 12 children, who were found
traveling on a bus to Gauhati, the capital of Assam state.
   (AP, 1/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, In southern India
at least eight people drowned when their boat capsized in a river as
they were returning home from a religious festival on a nearby
island in Karnataka state.
   (AP, 1/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, Indonesia's
government said it is reviewing the president's decision to release
radical cleric Abu Bakar Bashir.
   (AP, 1/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, Israel inaugurated
a new international airport near the Red Sea. Jordan hit out at
Israel's move to open the new Ramon International Airport along
their shared border close to the Red Sea, saying it would threaten
the kingdom's airspace.
   (AFP, 1/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, Israel struck what
it said were Iranian targets in Syria in response to missile fire a
day earlier it blamed on Iran, sparking concerns of an escalation
after a report that 11 fighters were killed.
   (AFP, 1/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, In Pakistan a bus
has collided with an oil tanker, killing 13 passengers and leaving
another 16 with severe burns in southwestern Baluchistan province.
   (AP, 1/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, In Pakistan a
methane gas explosion in a coalmine in the country's southwest
killed at least three miners in Baluchistan province.
   (AP, 1/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, Muslims in the
southern Philippines voted in a referendum on a new autonomous
region that seeks to end nearly half a century of unrest.
   (AP, 1/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, In Portugal about
two hundred mostly black protesters blocked Lisbon's Avenida da
Liberdade thoroughfare this evening, chanting "Down with racism!".
Stones were thrown at police officers who dispersed the rally.
   (Reuters, 1/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, Rwandan officials
said 14 miners were killed in an eastern tin mine after a hill
collapsed on them after heavy rains.
   (Reuters, 1/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, South African
former executive Angelo Agrizzi told a corruption probe that his old
company had paid monthly bribes for 14 years to Nomvula Mokonyane, a
minister who served scandal-tainted ex-president Jacob Zuma.
Mokonyane, who is currently environmental affairs minister, served
as Zuma's minister of water and sanitation between 2014 and 2018,
and was earlier a provincial minister.
   (AFP, 1/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, It was reported
that more South Korean female skaters are accusing their coaches of
sexually abusing them, following claims by two-time Olympic champion
Shim Suk-hee that her former coach had repeatedly raped her.
   (AP, 1/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, In Sudan about 150
doctors held a silent sit-in outside a hospital in Khartoum to
protest the killing of a medic during anti-government protests last
week. Authorities cracked down on Arabic-language foreign media
working inside the country, as major protests against President Omar
al-Bashir enter their second month.
   (AFP, 1/21/19)(AP, 1/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, In northern Syria
an Islamic State suicide bomber targeted a joint convoy of US and
allied Kurdish forces, marking the second attack against US troops
in less than a week. Five members of the Kurdish-led force were
reported killed.
   (AP, 1/21/19)(AFP, 1/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, It was reported
that Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni has ordered authorities to
stop issuing and renewing licenses to betting firms in a bid to
crack down on gambling.
   (AFP, 1/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, Venezuela's
government suppressed a small military revolt after a group of
officers stole weapons and kidnapped several officials. The action
triggered violent street protests
   (Reuters, 1/21/19)(AP, 1/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, Venezuela's
Supreme Court chief Maikel Moreno said the court has disavowed Juan
Guaido as leader of the country's opposition-run congress.
   (Reuters, 1/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, A Zimbabwe court
ruled that the government exceeded its mandate in ordering an
internet blackout during civilian protests last week, as authorities
pressed on with rounding up opposition figures blamed for the
unrest.
   (Reuters, 1/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, The US Supreme
Court moved toward allowing Pres. Trump to exclude most transgender
from military service.
   (SFC, 1/23/19, p.A10)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, It was reported
that research from the University of Arkansas shows that more than
12,000 people from the Marshall Islands now live in northwest
Arkansas.
   (AP, 1/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, In Delaware Jose
Rivera (59), the ex-manager of a pest-control company in the US
Virgin Islands, was sentenced to a year in prison for poisoning a
Delaware family in 2015 with a banned pesticide. Terminix reportedly
paid $9.2 million in criminal fines in the case.
   (AP, 1/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, An Iowa state
judge struck down the state's "fetal heartbeat" abortion law finding
it unconstitutional.
   (SFC, 1/23/19, p.A4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, Afghanistan's main
spy agency reportedly killed the Taliban commander behind a deadly
attack on one of its bases a day earlier, and vowed to hunt down and
kill all the rest of those involved. Six gunmen were also reported
killed in the air strike in Maidan Wardak province. The Taliban
issued a statement, denying that the commander had been killed.
Officials in Maidan Wardak gave conflicting accounts of the
violence.
   (Reuters, 1/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, Bulgaria said it
plans to stop allowing wealthy foreigners to buy citizenship against
investment, saying the scheme had failed to bring any significant
economic benefits for the country.
   (Reuters, 1/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, Canada's
ambassador to the United States said the United States will proceed
with the formal extradition from Canada of Huawei executive Meng
Wanzhou, as Beijing vowed to respond to Washington's actions.
   (Reuters, 1/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, China demanded the
US drop a request that Canada extradite Meng Wanzhou, a top
executive of the tech giant Huawei, shifting blame to Washington in
a case that has severely damaged Beijing's relations with Ottawa.
   (AP, 1/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, Egypt said at
least seven troops, including an officer, have been killed in
clashes with militants in recent operations in restive northern
Sinai Peninsula. The military said in a statement that forces have
killed at least 59 suspected militants and arrested another 142
suspected militants and criminals.
   (AP, 1/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, Ethiopia said it
had granted more than 13,000 people amnesty as part of a broad
reform agenda pushed by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
   (AFP, 1/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, The EU and African
Union committed to work closely with Congo's president-elect Felix
Tshisekedi, backing off reservations about the disputed vote.
   (AP, 1/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, It was announced
that the European Commission has fined MasterCard $650 million for
breaching antitrust rules by raising payment-processing fees
artificially.
   (SFC, 1/23/19, p.D4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, In France several
suspects were on the run after they robbed a bank on the
Champs-Elysees in broad daylight.
   (AP, 1/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, French officials
said US singer Chris Brown (29) and two other people are in custody
in Paris after a woman filed a rape complaint.
   (AP, 1/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, In Germany
Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron signed
a new treaty in Aachen to update their 1963 post-war reconciliation
accord (Elysee Treaty), aiming to reinvigorate the European Union's
main axis as growing eurosceptic nationalism tests the bloc's
cohesion.
   (Reuters, 1/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, In northeastern
India police arrested 31 Rohingya In Tripura state after they spent
two days in the open in a no man's land along the border with
Bangladesh.
   (AP, 1/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, Indonesia's Pres.
Joko Widodo said that elderly Islamic cleric Abu Bakar Bashir, who
inspired the Bali bombers and other extremists, won't be released
from prison unless he renounces radicalism, backing down from plans
to free him without conditions.
   (AP, 1/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, Israel said that
it has successfully tested the Arrow-3 interceptor, the country's
advanced missile defense system.
   (SFC, 1/23/19, p.A2)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, In Italy
anti-mafia police said they had dealt a fresh blow to the Cosa
Nostra, arresting seven suspected rising-star mobsters after two of
the organized crime group turned state witnesses.
   (AFP, 1/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, A Tokyo court
rejected former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn's latest request for
bail, more than two months after his arrest.
   (AP, 1/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, A Kosovo court
convicted a man for participating in terror groups in Syria and
jailed him for five years. In a separate trial, the same court in
Pristina convicted five others to prison terms for participation in
terror groups and other acts related to terrorism.
   (AP, 1/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, Libya's coastguard
said 473 migrants trying to reach Italy by inflatables had been
brought back to the North African country. The UN criticized
European countries for not allowing migrants to disembark at safe
ports.
   (Reuters, 1/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, In Mozambique
South African businessman Andre Mayer Hanekom (61), held on
suspicion of being a jihadist leader, died in hospital under
mysterious circumstances. Hanekom, who ran a maritime business in
Palma, was arrested in August alongside two locals and two
Tanzanians, with prosecutors accusing them of being part of a
jihadist group.
   (AFP, 1/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, In Portugal
unidentified attackers threw petrol bombs at a police station in the
city of Setubal and torched cars in the capital Lisbon, hours after
a protest against alleged racially-motivated police violence ended
in clashes.
   (Reuters, 1/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, Romania's Pres.
Klaus Iohannis said that a government decree that could invalidate
hundreds of corruption cases involving senior officials is "crassly
unconstitutional," a development that also prompted concern from the
EU.
   (AP, 1/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, Russia's Pres.
Vladimir Putin met with Japan's PM Shinzo Abe in the Kremlin for the
latest round of talks on the dispute over a chain of islands in the
Pacific Ocean. Police detained 11 people protesting against
territorial concessions outside the Japanese embassy in Moscow.
   (Reuters, 1/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, In Russia
Anastasia Vashukevich, a Belarusian model and self-styled sex
instructor who last year claimed to have evidence of Russian
interference in the 2016 US presidential election, was released from
detention pending trial.
   (AP, 1/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, A Russian a
long-range Tu-22M3 bomber crash-landed in the Arctic, leaving three
of its crew of four dead.
   (AP, 1/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, Russia's Transport
Ministry said ten crew died and another 10 were missing presumed
dead in a fire that broke out on two ships while they were
transferring fuel in the Black Sea. The vessels which caught fire a
day earlier have the same names as two Tanzania-flagged ships, the
Maestro and Venice, which last year were included on a US sanctions
advisory as delivering fuel to Syria.
   (Reuters, 1/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, In Spain taxi
drivers striking to demand tighter regulations for companies using
ride-hailing apps blocked traffic for another day in Madrid and
Barcelona, while threatening to take their protest to the French
border.
   (AP, 1/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, Sudanese police
fired tear gas at crowds demonstrating in the capital's twin city of
Omdurman against the death of a fellow anti-government protester.
Sudan's embattled president flew to Qatar, the wealthy Gulf state
that has offered him help.
   (AFP, 1/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, In Switzerland the
annual World Economic Forum opened in Davos. Brazil's President Jair
Bolsonaro gave the keynote address vowing an investment-friendly
agenda and attacking leftwing politics in Latin America. US
President Donald Trump along with the leaders of France, Britain and
Zimbabwe stayed away from the forum as they fought political fires
back home.
   (AFP, 1/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, In Syria a car
bomb detonated in the government-held city of Latakia, killing one
person and wounding 14.
   (AP, 1/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, In Syria seven
siblings were asleep late today in their apartment in Damascus when
a fire broke out and spread quickly, suffocating six in their
bedroom and burning to death the seventh, a girl, who was stuck
under a false ceiling that collapsed as she tried to flee.
   (AP, 1/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, Thailand police
said DNA tests show that two bodies found washed up on the shore of
the Mekong River in the northeast are the corpses of anti-government
activists. The two, known by the pseudonyms Puchana and Kasalong,
were among three exiled activists who disappeared in December from
homes in Laos, where they took shelter after fleeing Thailand.
   (AP, 1/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, A Turkish court
sentenced prominent journalist Nazli Ilicak, already serving a life
sentence, to almost six additional years in prison for leaking
information deemed secret by the government.
   (AP, 1/22/19)  Â
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, Zimbabwe's
President Emmerson Mnangagwa called for a national dialogue among
political parties and civic leaders, even as arrests continued.
   (AP, 1/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, The US released
Marzieh Hashemi, an American anchorwoman for Iranian state
television, held for days as a material witness.
   (AP, 1/24/19)(SFC, 1/24/19, p.A6)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, An appeals board
awarded the SF 49ers $36 million in a tax dispute with Santa Clara
County over property tax on Levi's Stadium.
   (SFC, 1/24/19, p.C1)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, In Florida Zephen
Xaver (21) opened fire inside a bank and killed five people before
surrendering to SWAT negotiators.
   (SFC, 1/24/19, p.A6)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, In Texas boxer
John Duane VanMeter was fatally shot at his home in Uvalde. A boy
(12) was later charged with capital murder.
   (SFC, 1/28/19, p.A4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, In Afghanistan an
airstrike launched in the Sangin district killed 16 civilians from
the same extended family during heavy fighting between Afghan forces
and the Taliban.
   (AP, 1/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, The Australian
government said it is seeking information about Yang Hengjun, a
Chinese-Australian novelist and influential online commentator, who
has been reported missing in China.
   (AP, 1/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, In London
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange petitioned an international human
rights commission to order Donald Trump's administration to unseal
charges against him as he fights possible extradition to the United
States.
   (AFP, 1/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, Diana Athill
(b.1917), a British writer and editor, died. She honed the work of
novelists including John Updike and Margaret Atwood before finding
late-life fame as a frank and fearless memoirist.
   (AP, 1/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, A French court
refused an appeal by Chile to extradite a longtime fugitive leftist
guerilla who had escaped prison after being convicted for killing an
ally of ex-dictator Augusto Pinochet, spurring an immediate rebuke
from Chile. France had granted Ricardo Palma Salamanca asylum in
November 2018, more than two decades after Chilean authorities
imprisoned him for the 1991 murder of Senator Jaime Guzman.
   (Reuters, 1/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, France extradited
Patrice-Edouard Ngaissona, a member of Africa's top footballing
body, to the International Criminal Court in The Hague where he
faces war crimes charges in the Central African Republic's 2013
civil war.
   (AFP, 1/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, Carlos Ghosn, who
is fighting breach of trust and other charges in Japan, resigned as
head of Renault. Ghosn has been detained for more than two months in
Japan. The board of French carmaker Renault SA is expected to name
Jean-Dominique Senard of Michelin as chairman, and Renault executive
Thierry Bollore as CEO.
   (AP, 1/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, The German
government approved the export to Qatar of four RAM naval missile
systems developed by Germany and the United States. The sale also
included 85 dual-mode radar and infrared seekers that guide the
missile into its target.
   (Reuters, 1/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, Jack Shepherd (31)
turned himself in to Georgian police after being sentenced to six
years in prison in Britain while on the run. The web designer was
convicted of manslaughter by negligence last year for the death of
Charlotte Brown, a 24-year-old woman he took on a champagne-fuelled
first date on his speedboat on the River Thames in December 2015.
   (http://tinyurl.com/y9gmav54)(AFP, 1/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, Indonesian
officials said torrential rains have overwhelmed a dam and caused
landslides that killed at least eight people and displaced more than
2,000 near Makassar, the provincial capital of South Sulawesi.
   (AP, 1/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, In Iraq a car bomb
killed one soldier and injured at least two in a northern town near
the oil-rich city of Kirkuk.
   (Reuters, 1/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, Italian
investigators in Genoa found 2.1 tons of Barcelona-bound pure
cocaine dispatched from Colombia's Turbo port. The drug, divided
into 1,801 blocks, traveled in a container that had been declared as
empty. Spanish police later arrested the alleged recipient of the
shipment in Barcelona with the help of Italian authorities in a
sting operation.
   (AP, 1/31/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, Latvia's
parliament approved the Baltic country's new five-party,
center-right coalition government. The parliament backed a new
government under PM Krisjanis Karins (54) of the center-right New
Unity party, ending months of political deadlock following October's
election.
   (AP, 1/23/19)(Reuters, 1/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, Romania's national
railway company said a group of Turkish companies have won a 600
million-euro ($681 million) contract to modernize a key line in the
northwest Transylvania region. The European Union will fund about 80
percent of the project, and the Romanian government the rest.
   (AP, 1/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, In Russia Turkish
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sat down for Syria-focused talks with
Pres. Vladimir Putin as their governments bargain over zones of
influence in the war-torn country.
   (AP, 1/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, The Russian
military rolled out a new missile and released its specifications,
seeking to dispel the US claim that the weapon violates a key
nuclear arms pact. The military insisted that the 9M729 land-based
cruise missile conforms to the limits of the 1987 Intermediate-Range
Nuclear Forces Treaty.
   (AP, 1/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, Singapore actor
Aloysius Pang (28) died in New Zealand. He was on a military
training exercise when a gun barrel was lowered on a large artillery
device he was helping to repair on Jan. 19. It crushed his abdomen
and chest.
   (AP, 1/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, In South Korea
former senior prosecutor Ahn Tae Geun was sentenced to five years in
prison on charges of banishing a junior prosecutor after she tried
to expose his sexual misconduct.
   (SFC, 1/24/19, p.A2)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, South Sudan called
on the international community to fund efforts to implement a peace
deal, which is already four months behind schedule due to lack of
money.
   (AFP, 1/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, Spanish taxi
drivers demanding more regulations for app-based ride-hailing
services blocked access to a trade exhibition center in Madrid where
a major tourism fair began.
   (AP, 1/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, Sudan's Oil
Minister Azhari Abdel Qader said his country has received economic
assistance from the United Arab Emirates and accepted offers of
support from Russia and Turkey. Pres. Omar al-Bashir met with
Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Doha during his
first trip abroad since the protests began.
   (Reuters, 1/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, In Sweden a man in
his 50s fatally shot his two children before announcing on social
media he was killing himself in an apparent murder-suicide.
   (AP, 1/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, In Venezuela at
least four people died following overnight clashes ahead of rival
protests today. Protesters marched in the streets and waved their
nation's flag as they demanded that Pres. Nicolas Maduro step down
from power. Members of the National Guard launched tear gas at
protesters in the middle-class neighborhood of El Paraiso.
   (AFP, 1/23/19)(AP, 1/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, Venezuelan
opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself interim leader,
winning the support of Washington and parts of Latin America. That
prompted socialist President Nicolas Maduro, who has led the
oil-rich nation since 2013, to sever diplomatic ties with the United
States.
   (Reuters, 1/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, Zimbabwe's
government acknowledged accusations that its security forces engaged
in "systematic torture" during a crackdown on anti-government
protests, saying there were lessons to be learnt from the operation.
   (AFP, 1/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, Zimbabwe music
star Oliver Mtukudzi (66) died in Harare.
   (AP, 1/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 24, The United States
targeted two Iran-backed foreign fighter militias in Syria and two
airlines that help send weapons to Syria in fresh sanctions as
Washington prepares for a military withdrawal from the war-torn
country.
   (Reuters, 1/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 24, In Arizona law
officers shot and killed Christian Albarran (26) during a traffic
stop in Ehrenberg following a 146-mile pursuit that began in
California. He was wanted on warrants alleging domestic violence and
identity theft.
   (SFC, 1/28/19, p.A4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 24, In California
Carrie Markis (42), a Rancho Cordova registered nurse, was arrested
for selling more than 20,000 prescription opioid pills on the dark
web. Her partner Andrea Jordan was arrested on April 4.
   (http://tinyurl.com/y3ew4d78)(SSFC, 4/7/19, p.C1)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 24, In Missouri police
Officer Nathaniel Hendren shot and killed fellow Officer Katlyn Alix
as the two engaged in a game of Russian roulette.
   (SSFC, 1/27/19, p.A10)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 24, In Pennsylvania
Jordan Witmen opened fire at a hotel bar in State College killing
two people and wounding a woman. He then broke into a home and
fatally shot another man before killing himself.
   (SFC, 1/26/19, p.A6)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 24, Adelaide sweltered
through the hottest day ever recorded by a major Australian city as
the temperature peaked at 115.9 degrees F.
   (SFC, 1/25/19, p.A2)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 24, The active search
for the plane carrying Argentine soccer player Emiliano Sala was
called off with authorities saying the chances of survival are
"extremely remote" three days after it disappeared from radar over
the English Channel.
   (AP, 1/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 24, In Belgium
thousands of students skipped school for the third week in a row and
more than 30,000 swamped the center of Brussels to demand better
protection of the world's climate.
   (AP, 1/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 24, China said it has
detained Yang Hengjun, a Chinese-Australian writer, for allegedly
"endangering China's national security," a vague charge frequently
leveled at critics of the ruling Communist Party.
   (AP, 1/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 24, It was reported
that Chinese internet users have lost access to Microsoft Corp.'s
Bing search engine, setting off grumbling about the ruling Communist
Party's increasingly tight online censorship. The Bing search engine
resumed service to Chinese users, after a disruption raised fears
among social media users that it was the latest foreign website to
be blocked by censors.
   (AP, 1/24/19)(AFP, 1/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 24, Felix Tshisekedi
(55) was sworn in as Congo's president. He immediately pledged
tolerance and announced the imminent release of all political
prisoners.
   (AP, 1/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 24, About three dozen
Cypriots who alleged they were tortured while in custody during
fighting against British colonial rule more than 60 years ago said
that they feel vindicated after the UK government agreed to pay them
1 million pounds ($1.3 million).
   (AP, 1/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 24, The European
Commission said that Syria's President Bashar al-Assad had suspended
special visas for European Union diplomats to Damascus.
   (Reuters, 1/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 24, The European
Commission said it was taking its legal procedure against Hungary to
the next step after Budapest criminalized support for migrants,
moving the case closer to a possible ruling by the European Court of
Justice.
   (Reuters, 1/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 24, Europe's top
rights court ordered Italy to pay thousands of euros in damages to
Amanda Knox, the American student acquitted in 2015 of the gruesome
killing of her British housemate after spending years behind bars.
   (AFP, 1/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 24, Germany extradited
to Sweden John Ausonius (65), the convicted killer known as the "the
laser man" for using a precision-scope rifle to target immigrants.
   (AFP, 1/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 24, In northern India
at least six people were killed when a building collapsed as workers
were adding an additional floor to it in Haryana state.
   (AP, 1/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 24, Scientists
prepared to embark on an unprecedented, years-long mission to
explore the Indian Ocean and document changes taking place beneath
the waves that could affect billions of people in the surrounding
region over the coming decades.
   (AP, 1/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 24, In Indonesia
Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama, the former governor of Jakarta, was
freed after serving nearly two years in prison for blasphemy.
   (AP, 1/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 24, Indonesia's
national disaster agency said floods and landslides in South
Sulawesi province hit by torrential rains this week have killed 30
people and left more than two dozen missing.
   (AP, 1/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 24, Amnesty
International said Iran arrested more than 7,000 people last year,
including dozens of journalists, and called this a "shameless
campaign of repression".
   (AP, 1/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 24, Israel agreed to
allow the transfer of $15 million in Qatari aid to the Hamas
militant group in the Gaza Strip. But Hamas said it was rejecting
the much-needed cash to protest Israeli delays on the delivery.
   (AP, 1/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 24, Israeli
prosecutors charged a Jewish 16-year-old with manslaughter after he
allegedly threw a stone at a car last October 12 in the occupied
West Bank and killed Palestinian woman Aisha Rabi (48).
   (AFP, 1/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 24, In Kosovo around
500,000 pupils and students stayed at home as a strike by teachers
demanding a 30 percent pay rise entered its second week. Doctors and
miners have also taken strike action for higher wages, and other
public sector workers are threatening to do so.
   (Reuters, 1/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 24, In Malaysia Siti
Aisyah, an Indonesian woman jointly accused of killing the estranged
half-brother of North Korea's leader, won an appeal to obtain
witness statements given to police as part of her defense.
   (AP, 1/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 24, Sultan Abdullah
Sultan Ahmad Shah of central Pahang state was named Malaysia's new
king.
   (AP, 1/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 24, A Nigerian appeals
court issued an interim order stopping a tribunal from charging
Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen with breaching asset-declaration
rules, a month before a presidential election.
   (Reuters, 1/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 24, Panama's President
Juan Carlos Varela met with Pope Francis at the presidential palace.
The Pope insisted that public officials live simply, honestly and
transparently as he opened a visit to Panama and a region that has
been rife with corruption scandals.
   (AP, 1/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 24, Russia accused
Washington of stoking street protests in Venezuela and called
Nicolas Maduro the legitimate president. Moscow alongside China has
become a creditor of last resort for Caracas, lending it billions of
dollars as its economy implodes.
   (Reuters, 1/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 24, Former Scottish
First Minister Alex Salmond denied committing any crime after he
appeared in court, charged with multiple sex offences including
attempted rape.
   (Reuters, 1/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 24, Sri Lankan rights
activists, lawmakers and relatives of slain and disappeared
journalists held a vigil over their abductions and killings,
demanding the government expedite investigations.
   (AP, 1/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 24, In Sudan protests
broke out in several cities and in many areas of the capital
Khartoum, the most widespread demonstrations in a wave of
anti-government unrest that began last month. The official death
toll from the unrest stood at 26, while rights groups said more than
40 have died.
   (Reuters, 1/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 24, In northwestern
Syria at least three civilians were killed and scores injured from a
string of bombs hidden in motorbikes in towns controlled by
Turkey-backed rebels.
   (Reuters, 1/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 24, A Ukrainian court
sentenced former president Viktor Yanukovich in absentia to 13 years
in jail on treason charges, saying his conduct in office had opened
the door to Russia's annexation of Crimea and conflict in eastern
Ukraine.
   (Reuters, 1/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 24, Agnes Callamard,
the UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary
executions, said she will travel to Turkey next week to head an
"independent international inquiry" into the murder of Saudi
journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
   (Reuters, 1/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 24, In Venezuela the
National Police's Special Action Force (FAES) killed as many as ten
people in Jose Felix Ribas, a Caracas slum, a day after residents
had joined mass protests against President Nicolas Maduro.
   (Reuters, 2/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 24, Zimbabwe's army
said soldiers accused of beating residents in townships following
protests over fuel price hikes were impostors who tarnished the name
of the military.
   (Reuters, 1/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, President Donald
Trump brought a temporary end to the longest government shutdown in
US history, while dropping his previous insistence on immediate
funding for wall construction along the Mexican border after the
Senate and House of Representatives both passed the deal by
unanimous consent.
   (AFP, 1/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, President Donald
Trump's confidant Roger Stone was arrested by the FBI in a raid
before dawn at his Florida home. He charged with lying about his
pursuit of Russian-hacked emails damaging to Hillary Clinton's 2016
election bid.
   (AP, 1/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, The United States
strongly advised Kosovo to revoke a 100 percent tariff on Serb and
Bosnian goods, saying the duty runs counter to US strategic
interests. Kosovo's government imposed the measure last year and
says it won't be lifted until Belgrade recognizes its sovereignty
and stops preventing it from joining international organizations.
   (AP, 1/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, In Alabama the
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute said that its board has reversed
course and voted to reaffirm an award for political activist Angel
Davis.
   (SFC, 1/26/19, p.A6)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, In Connecticut
more than 130 people who say they were sexually abused as children
at a now-defunct charity school in Haiti reached a $60 million
settlement with a Jesuit university in Connecticut and other
defendants.
   (AP, 1/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, In Georgia Daylon
Delon Gamble (27) killed four people and wounded a man in a pair of
shootings in Rockmart. Gamble was arrested in Indiana on Jan. 27.
   (SFC, 1/26/19, p.A6)(SFC, 1/29/19, p.A4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, In Kansas three
men were sentenced to prison terms of 25 to 30 years for plotting to
blow up an apartment complex in Garden City where Somali refugees
lived.
   (SFC, 1/28/19, p.A5)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, New York Gov.
Andrew Cuomo signed a measure making it illegal to deny people a
job, housing, education or public accommodations because they are
transgender.
   (SSFC, 1/27/19, p.A10)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, In New York the
World Refugee Council called for up to $20 billion stolen by
government leaders and now frozen in the US, Britain and other
countries, to be reallocated by courts to help millions of displaced
people forced to flee conflict, persecution and victimization.
   (SFC, 1/26/19, p.A2)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, A Texas official
said some 95,000 non-US citizens have been identified on voter rolls
going back to 1996 and that some 58,000 are believed to have voted
in at least one state election.
   (SSFC, 1/27/19, p.A12)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, Washington state
Gov. Jay Inslee declared a statewide public health emergency
following a number of confirmed measles cases in and near Vancouver.
   (SSFC, 1/27/19, p.A10)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, Melbourne,
Australia, recorded its hottest day in five years. The temperature
reached 42.8 C (109 F) with the airport recording 46 C (114.8 F).
   (AP, 1/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, Jean Wyllys,
Brazil's second openly gay congressman, said he will not serve the
new term for which he was re-elected due to death threats and he now
plans to live abroad. His Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL) said
his seat in Brasilia will go to a substitute lawmaker who is also
gay: Rio councilman David Miranda, the husband of Pulitzer
Prize-winning US journalist Glenn Greenwald.
   (Reuters, 1/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, In Brazil a dam
collapsed at a mine owned by corporate giant Vale in Minas Gerais
state. The dam collapse killed at least 84 people with hopes fading
for over 200 still missing. The overwhelming majority of the dead
and missing were Vale employees or contractors, buried in up to 15
meters (50 feet) of mud that stretched for 12 km (eight miles) and
was at some points up to 300 meters (yards) wide. After two months
the death toll reached 212 with 93 still missing.
   (AFP, 1/27/19)(AFP, 1/30/19)(AP, 3/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, Chinese
authorities investigated two explosions in a basement car park and a
30th floor apartment in the country's northeast that left one person
dead and one injured in the city of Changchun. Investigators soon
concluded that then explosion in an apartment building in the
country's northeast was set off by a man killed in the blast.
   (AP, 1/25/19)(AP, 1/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, In Egypt Laura
Plummer (34), a British woman, was one of 6,925 prisoners pardoned
by President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi on Jan. 25, the anniversary of
Egypt's 2011 uprising. She had been arrested in October 2017 on
arrival at Hurghada, a Red Sea resort, and was accused of attempting
to smuggle hundreds of Tramadol tablets, which are legal in Britain
but banned in Egypt.
   (AP, 1/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, Ethiopia said it
is banning street begging by Syrian nationals who have startled
people by showing up in growing numbers in recent months in major
cities around hotels and mosques.
   (AP, 1/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, Greece ratified a
landmark accord that changes the name of neighboring Macedonia,
ending a decades-old dispute with its neighbor and opening the way
for the ex-Yugoslav republic to join the European Union and NATO.
   (Reuters, 1/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, Indian PM Narendra
Modi and visiting South African Pres. Cyril Ramaphosa announced they
will boost ties in key areas such as defense, maritime security,
information technology and trade under a 3-year strategic exchange
program.
   (AP, 1/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, A disaster
official in Indonesia said the number of people killed after days of
torrential rain triggered flash floods and landslides on Sulawesi
island has climbed to 59 with 25 others missing.
   (AP, 1/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, A separatist
movement in Indonesia's West Papua province delivered a petition
with 1.8 million signatures demanding an independence referendum to
UN Human Rights chief Michelle Bachelet.
   (Reuters, 1/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, Israeli troops
shot and killed a Palestinian man in Gaza as thousands took part in
a protest along the border. In the West Bank Israeli troops shot and
killed a Palestinian teen and wound another as a group of young men
hurled stones at the troops.
   (SFC, 1/26/19, p.A2)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, In the Italian
Alps a French flight instructor was one of two survivors in a midair
collision between a small tourist plane and a helicopter over the
Rutor glacier. The death toll from the deadly collision soon rose to
seven.
   (AP, 1/26/19)(AFP, 1/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, Japan's Supreme
Court upheld a law that effectively requires transgender people to
be sterilized before they can have their gender changed on official
documents. The 2004 law states that people wishing to register a
gender change must have their original reproductive organs,
including testes or ovaries, removed and have a body that "appears
to have parts that resemble the genital organs" of the gender they
want to register.
   (AP, 1/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, It was announced
that Japanese brewer Asahi is buying the beer business of Britain's
Fuller Smith & Turner's for 250 million pounds ($327 million),
in a deal that includes its flagship London Pride.
   (AP, 1/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, In central Mali
two UN peacekeepers from Sri Lanka died and several were wounded
when their vehicle hit a mine.
   (AFP, 1/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, Nigeria's
President Muhammadu Buhari set off an uproar by announcing the
suspension of the chief justice, citing corruption allegations.
   (AP, 1/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, Pakistan announced
plans to ease visa restrictions for tourists from 90 countries,
including the US and Europe, in a bid to revive its tourism sector,
decimated by years of negligence and problems with militants.
   (AP, 1/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, In Panama Pope
Francis brought World Youth Day to the Las Garzas de Pacora
detention center so that its inmates, even behind barbed wire
fencing, could participate in the Catholic Church's big festival of
faith.
   (AP, 1/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, In the Philippines
the Commission on Elections announced that the Bangsamoro Autonomous
Region in Muslim Mindanao is deemed ratified following a referendum
on Jan. 21.
   (AP, 1/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, Qatar said it will
adopt a new formula for aid to Gaza after the Palestinian enclave's
rulers Hamas rejected a cash injection over alleged unacceptable
Israeli conditions. Qatar would now channel millions of dollars in
humanitarian projects "in full coordination with the United
Nations".
   (AFP, 1/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, Russia offered to
mediate between the government and opposition in Venezuela if
necessary, saying it was ready to cooperate with all political
forces that acted responsibly.
   (AP, 1/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, It was reported
that a board game that makes light of last year's nerve agent attack
on a former Russian spy in Britain has gone on sale in Russia.
Players of "Our Guys In Salisbury" roll dice to advance across the
board from Moscow to Salisbury, the city where Britain says two
Russian spies used a chemical weapon to poison Sergei Skripal and
his daughter.
   (Reuters, 1/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, Sudan's main
opposition leader Sadiq al-Mahdi called for President Omar al-Bashir
to step down, throwing his support behind anti-government
demonstrators after weeks of deadly protest. Hundreds of protesters
marched through Omdurman, across the River Nile from the capital,
and police fired teargas to try to break up the rally.
   (AFP, 1/25/19)(Reuters, 1/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, A Turkish court
released Leyla Guven, a Kurdish lawmaker who was jailed last year
for criticizing Ankara's military operation in Syria. She has been
on hunger strike for nearly three months and still faces trial and
up to 31 years' jail over charges of terrorism leadership and
propaganda for her opposition to Turkey's incursion into northwest
Syria's Afrin region.
   (Reuters, 1/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, Turkish forces
shelled YPG militia positions in the northern Syrian region of Tal
Rifaat for a third consecutive day.
   (Reuters, 1/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, The head of
Ukraine's cyber police said hackers likely controlled by Russia are
stepping up efforts to disrupt Ukraine's presidential election in
March with cyber-attacks on electoral servers and personal computers
of election staff.
   (Reuters, 1/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, Yanghee Lee, the
UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Myanmar, said Myanmar's
army chief should be prosecuted for genocide against the Rohingya
Muslim minority, adding that holding perpetrators to account for
crimes was necessary before refugees who fled the country could
return.
   (Reuters, 1/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, The UN human
rights boss Michelle Bachelet called for an independent
investigation into alleged excessive use of force by Venezuelan
security forces or allied militia, citing reports of at least 20
people killed this week.
   (Reuters, 1/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, In Venezuela some
US diplomats left the embassy in Caracas for the airport in a convoy
escorted by police, after President Nicolas Maduro broke off
relations with Washington and ordered American personnel out.
   (Reuters, 1/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, In Venezuela
Jhonny Godoy (29) was pulled outside his home in the Caracas slum of
La Vega and was shot in the abdomen and foot. A disposable diaper
was shoved in his mouth, apparently to suffocate him He had recently
posted a video of his opposition to Pres. Maduro.
   (http://tinyurl.com/yxobxdxh)(SFC, 2/21/19, p.A3)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, In Zimbabwe
reports of a violent crackdown continued as rights groups and others
accused security forces of raping women during house-to-house
searches.
   (AP, 1/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 26, US border
officials found nearly 254 pounds of the synthetic opioid fentanyl
inside a secret compartment of a tractor trailer carrying Mexican
produce into Arizona. Agents also found nearly 395 pounds of
methamphetamine.
   (SFC, 2/1/19, p.A8)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 26, In Louisiana
Dakota Theriot (21) killed his parents and three other people in two
separate shootings and fled the area in a stolen pickup truck. He
was arrested the following day at his grandmother's house in
Virginia.
   (SSFC, 1/27/19, p.A16)(SFC, 1/28/19, p.A4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 26, Afghan officials
said an accidental explosion in northern Baghlan province killed
four insurgents and a civilian near a sporting event in an area
controlled by the Taliban. In Nangarhar province a female university
student was killed when a sticky bomb attached to a vehicle was
detonated.
   (AP, 1/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 26, Taliban officials
said US negotiators agreed a draft peace deal stipulating the
withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan within 18 months of
the agreement being signed. This came at the end of six days of
talks with US special peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad in Qatar aimed at
ending the United States' longest war.
   (Reuters, 1/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 26, In Argentina the
bodies of Pirhya Sarussi (63) of Israel and Australian scientist
Lily Pereg (54) were found on a lot beside the home of Gilad Pereg
near the city of Mendoza. Pereg (36), the son of Sarussi, was
arrested. The two sisters had vanished about two weeks ago.
   (AP, 1/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 26, In Australia
Japan's Naomi Osaka battled past Czech eighth seed Petra Kvitova 7-6
(7/2), 5-7, 6-4 to win her first Australian Open crown and become
the new world number one.
   (AFP, 1/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 26, Tens of thousands
of people rallied across Australia calling for the abolition of the
Jan. 26 national holiday in protests showing a deep division over a
festivity intended to celebrate the birth of modern Australia. The
anniversary marks the 1788 arrival of the "First Fleet" of British
ships at Sydney Cove. Many indigenous Australians regard it as
"Invasion Day".
   (Reuters, 1/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 26, British Foreign
Secretary Jeremy Hunt said Britain will recognize opposition leader
Juan Guaido as president unless the government of President Nicolas
Maduro makes an announcement about new elections within eight days.
Germany, France and Spain made similar announcements.
   (AP, 1/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 26, Britain's
Telegraph newspaper said it has apologized and paid damages to first
lady Melania Trump after publishing an article it said contains many
false statements.
   (SSFC, 1/27/19, p.A4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 26, Canada's PM Justin
Trudeau fired his ambassador to China after the envoy said it would
be "great" if the US dropped its extradition request for a Chinese
tech executive arrested in Canada.
   (AP, 1/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 26, In CongoDRC local
authorities said 600 rebels, whose conflict killed several thousand
people in the restive Kasai region, have ended their war and
surrendered their weapons in a sign of support for new President
Felix Tshisekedi.
   (AFP, 1/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 26, In France "yellow
vest" protesters marched through Paris and other cities on the 11th
weekend of action against the government, suggesting President
Emmanuel Macron has yet to defuse public opposition to some of his
policies.
   (Reuters, 1/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 26, Prolific French
composer Michel Legrand (86) died in Paris. He won three Oscars and
five Grammys during a career spanning more than half a century. His
hits included the score for the '60s romance "The Umbrellas of
Cherbourg." He first won an Academy Award in 1969 for the song "The
Windmills of Your Mind" from Norman Jewison's hit thriller "The
Thomas Crown Affair".
  Â
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michel_Legrand)(AP, 1/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 26, India held
national day celebrations. Thousands of Indians converged on a
ceremonial boulevard in New Delhi to watch a display of the
country's military power and cultural diversity amid tight security.
   (AP, 1/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 26, In Indonesia Eka
Tjipta Widjaja (97), patriarch of one of Asia's richest families and
the founder of the sprawling Sinarmas conglomerate, died. Forbes
last year estimated Widjaja's fortune at $8.6 billion.
   (AP, 1/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 26, In northwestern
Iraq Kurdish protesters stormed a Turkish army position in the
Shiladzeh region late today to protest the deaths of four civilians
they said were killed last week in Turkish bombardment. One Kurdish
protester was killed after Turkish troops opened fire on the
demonstrators.
   (AFP, 1/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 26, In Madagascar six
people from the same family were "killed on the spot" by a lightning
strike while sheltering from a storm.
   (AFP, 1/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 26, In Mexico nine
companies agreed to labor demands after more than 25,000 workers at
dozens of factories in the Matamoros border region went on strike
after owners refused union demands for a 20 percent pay hike and an
annual bonus.
   (SFC, 1/28/19, p.A2)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 26, In Myanmar rainbow
flags flew high and gay anthems blasted out over Yangon’s river as a
flotilla of boats took to the water for the country’s first-ever
Pride boat parade in a sign of growing acceptance for LGBT rights.
   (AFP, 1/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 26, Spain's PM Pedro
Sanchez said he would give Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro
eight days to call elections in the south American country or Spain
would recognizes Juan Guaido as interim leader in charge of calling
an election.
   (Reuters, 1/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 26, In Sudan the group
spearheading protests against President Omar al-Bashir called for
night-time rallies across the country and new demonstrations over
the next few days.
   (AFP, 1/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 26, Syria called on
Turkey to withdraw its troops from Syria's northern territories and
end support for armed opposition groups in order to revive a
two-decade-old bilateral security agreement.
   (AP, 1/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 26, In eastern Syria
five women blew themselves up in various parts of Baghouz, killing
one SDF member and wounding three others.
   (AFP, 1/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 26, Turkey's Defense
Ministry said a Turkish military base in northern Iraq has come
under attack by Kurdish militants. At least 10 people were wounded
when protesters stormed the Turkish military camp near Dohuk in
Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region, burning two tanks and other
vehicles.
   (AP, 1/26/19)(Reuters, 1/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 26, Venezuela's
political showdown moved to the United Nations where a Security
Council meeting called by the United States pit backers of President
Nicolas Maduro against the Trump administration and supporters of
the country's self-declared interim leader Juan Guaido.
   (AP, 1/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 26, In Yemen eight
civilians were killed and 30 others wounded in a "shocking" bomb
attack against a center for displaced people in the northwestern
province of Hajja.
   (AFP, 1/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 27, In San Francisco
Peter A. Magowan (b.1942), the former CEO of Safeway (1979-1993),
died at his home in Pacific Heights. In 1992 he led a group of
investors that purchased the SF Giants ensuring that they would stay
in the city.
   (SFC, 1/28/19, p.A1)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 27, The state-owned
Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. said it has signed agreements worth $5.8
billion with Italy's Eni and Austria's OMV for a share in the firm's
refining unit and for the creation of a new trading venture.
   (AP, 1/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 27, In Belgium at
least 70,000 people braved the cold and rain to demand that their
government increase its efforts to fight climate change.
   (AP, 1/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 27, Brazilian
officials suspended the search for potential survivors of a dam
collapse that has killed at least 40 people amid fears that another
nearby dam owned by the same company was also at risk of breaching.
Firefighters called for the evacuation of some 24,000 people from
Brumadinho, Minas Gerais state.
   (AP, 1/27/19)(Reuters, 1/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 27, The Minas Gerais
state court in Brazil blocked 5 billion reais ($1.33 billion) in
Vale SA assets to pay for damages from a tailings dam that burst at
an iron ore mine.
   (Reuters, 1/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 27, Bulgarian Vice
President Iliana Yotova said she had signed the final document
revoking the citizenship of Russian millionaire Sergey Adonev (57)
in May 2018. According to Bulgarian law, her office has the final
say about granting or revoking citizenship. It was revoked over a
20-year-old fraud conviction in the United States.
   (AP, 1/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 27, In Burkina Faso
nearly a dozen gunmen opened fire on civilians at a market in the
Soum province, killing at least 10 people.
   (AP, 1/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 27, In Cuba a rare
tornado ripped through several working class districts of eastern
Havana late today, leaving at least three dead and scores injured as
it reduced some buildings to rubble.
   (Reuters, 1/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 27, Egypt hosted
embattled Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, saying it supports
stability in the country undergoing popular demonstrations against
al-Bashir's 29-year rule.
   (AP, 1/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 27, Egypt says its air
force has killed several militants, including two local commanders,
in the restive northern part of the Sinai Peninsula.
   (AP, 1/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 27, In France hundreds
of people wearing red scarves marched through Paris to protest acts
of violence and vandalism that took place during the largely
peaceful yellow vest movement's two months of anti-government
demonstrations.
   (AP, 1/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 27, Berlin and Moscow
announced that Germany had provided 12 million euros to help Russian
World War II veterans and siege survivors but Moscow said it was not
enough.
   (AFP, 1/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 27, Israel gave final
approval to a law permitting the export of medical marijuana, a move
the government expects will catapult investment in local industry
and agriculture.
   (AP, 1/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 27, Israel officially
recognized Venezuela's National Assembly chief Juan Guaido as
president.
   (AFP, 1/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 27, In Panama Pope
Francis celebrated mass with hundreds of thousands of young pilgrims
as he wound up a five-day visit during which he defended Central
American migrants and acknowledged the Church had been hurt by sex
abuse scandals.
   (AFP, 1/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 27, In Peru 15 people
were killed at a wedding after a wall at the Hotel Alhambra
collapsed under heavy rains in the town of Abancay.
   (Reuters, 1/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 27, In the Philippines
twin bombings killed 20 people during a church service in the
country's restive south, six days after a referendum on autonomy for
the mainly Muslim region returned an overwhelming "yes" vote. In
July Indonesian police reported that a husband and wife team,
members of the banned Jemaah Anshorut Daulah extremist group, had
carried out the bombing.
   (AP, 1/27/19)(SFC, 7/24/19, p.A4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 27, Russia marked the
75th anniversary of the end of the World War II siege of Leningrad,
which claimed more than 800,000 lives.
   (AFP, 1/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 27, In Saudi Arabia
Mohammed Hussein al-Amoudi, a Saudi-Ethiopian businessman arrested
more than 14 months ago in a crackdown on corruption, was released
from detention.
   (Reuters, 1/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 27, In Tunisia secular
government leaders announced a new party called Long Live Tunisia
which is to be led by PM Youssef Chahed and will compete with
moderate Islamists in upcoming elections.
   (Reuters, 1/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 27, Venezuela's
President Nicolas Maduro rejected an international ultimatum to call
elections within eight days and said opposition leader Juan Guaido
violated the constitution by declaring himself interim leader.
   (Reuters, 1/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 27, Venezuela defused
a potential showdown with the United States, suspending a demand
that US diplomats leave the country as Washington called on the
world to "pick a side" in the South American nation's fast-moving
crisis.
   (AP, 1/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 28, The US imposed
restrictions on Venezuelan state-oil company PDVSA with the goal of
curbing some $11 billion of crude exports from the OPEC member to
the United States this year.
   (Reuters, 1/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 28, Blizzard-like
conditions in the US Midwest caused the cancellation of some 1,000
flights at Chicago's airports and the closure of hundreds of
schools.
   (SFC, 1/29/19, p.A10)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 28, In Texas four
undercover narcotics officers were shot and wounded during a gun
battle that broke out when they tried to serve a search warrant at a
home in the Houston area where drugs, including black tar heroin,
were being dealt. A 5th police officer was also injured. Two
suspects were killed.
   (SFC, 1/29/19, p.A5)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 28, Facebook said it
is tightening requirements for political ads in the European Union
ahead of bloc-wide elections scheduled for the spring, its latest
effort to fight misinformation and increase transparency on its
platforms.
   (AP, 1/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 28, It was reported
that Freedom Forum is selling its Newseum, a Washington DC museum
devoted to journalism and the First Amendment, to Baltimore-based
Johns Hopkins Univ. for $372.5 million.
   (SFC, 1/28/19, p.A4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 28, Afghan Pres.
Ashraf Ghani assured his people that their rights will not be
compromised in the name of peace with the Taliban, days after the US
envoy tasked with resolving America's longest war reported
significant progress in talks with the insurgents.
   (AP, 1/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 28, Bahrain's supreme
court upheld a life sentence for opposition leader Sheikh Ali Salman
for spying for Gulf rival Qatar, a decision his party slammed as
"political revenge".
   (AFP, 1/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 28, In Brazil the
confirmed death toll rose to 60, with 292 people still missing for
the Jan. 25 dam break in Minas Gerais state.
   (AP, 1/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 28, In Cameroon
Maurice Kamto, leader of the opposition MRC, was arrested in the
country's economic capital Douala. Party treasurer Alain Fogue was
also arrested and over the weekend, Paul-Eric Kingue, who ran
Kamto's election campaign, and rapper Valsero were also detained
alongside 115 others for attending opposition protest marches in
several towns.
   (AP, 1/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 28, Central African
Rep. PM Mathieu Simplice Sarandji led a rally of around 3,000 people
calling for a global arms embargo to be lifted ahead of a UN meeting
later this week.
   (AFP, 1/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 28, In China prominent
human rights lawyer Wang Quanzhang was sentenced to 4½ years in
prison on the charge of subversion of state power, more than three
years after he was detained in a sweeping crackdown on the legal
profession.
   (AP, 1/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 28, Denmark began
erecting a 70-km (43.4-mile) fence along the German border to keep
out wild boars in an attempt to prevent the spread of African swine
fever, which could jeopardize the country's valuable pork industry.
   (AP, 1/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 28, In Egypt French
President Emmanuel Macron called for "respect for individual
freedoms" as he met with his Pres. Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo.
   (AFP, 1/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 28, In France two
armed men attacked a van carrying a jailed prisoner on his way to a
court, firing shots at the vehicle and striking a guard before
making their getaway in the southern town of Tarascon.
   (AFP, 1/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 28, In western Germany
three Polish men were killed when their car collided with a truck
transporting pigs.
   (AP, 1/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 28, Greece announced
plans to return to bond markets and increase the minimum wage, amid
protests against bailout-era measures by farmers who used tractors
to block the country's main highway. PM Alexis Tsipras announced an
11-percent rise in the minimum wage, the first after a decade of
austerity and months ahead of legislative elections.
   (AP, 1/28/19)(AFP, 1/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 28, In Indonesia
separatists opened fire on an aircraft carrying military personnel
and local government officials in the easternmost Papua region,
killing one soldier.
   (AP, 1/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 28, In Japan Toshiba
Corp. unveiled a remote-controlled robot with tongs that it hopes
will be able to probe the inside of one of the three damaged
reactors at the tsunami-hit Fukushima nuclear plant and grip chunks
of highly radioactive melted fuel.
   (AP, 1/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 28, Malaysian
prosecutors charged former prime minister Najib Razak with three
more counts of money laundering, allegedly receiving the proceeds of
illegal activities in his personal bank accounts.
   (Reuters, 1/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 28, Mexican officials
said the death toll from the Juan. 18 fire at an illegally tapped
pipeline in Hidalgo state has risen to 115.
   (AP, 1/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 28, The Netherlands
refused an Italian request to take in 47 migrants on a humanitarian
ship that is being blocked from Italian ports, saying there was a
need to distinguish between genuine refugees and economic migrants.
   (Reuters, 1/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 28, In Nigeria the
militant group Boko Haram killed at least 60 people when it renewed
its attack on the northeastern town of Rann.
   (AP, 2/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 28, Poland's
anti-corruption bureau says it has detained six suspects as part of
an investigation into a state-owned arms company, including an
ex-lawmaker and former employees from the Defense Ministry.
   (AP, 1/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 28, Singapore's health
ministry accused American Mikhy K. Farrera Brochez of stealing and
leaking the records of 14,200 people infected with HIV, the virus
that causes AIDS, before January 2013. Brochez worked in Singapore
as a lecturer for a period before he was jailed for several drug and
fraud-related offenses and deported last year.
   (AP, 1/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 28, Sudanese President
Omar al-Bashir extended ceasefires in the conflict-hit states of
South Kordofan and Blue Nile, where protest leaders pushed for
anti-government rallies.
   (AFP, 1/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 28, In eastern Syria
Kurdish-led fighters pressed their assault against the Islamic State
group, boxing the jihadists into a tiny last pocket of land along
the Euphrates River.
   (AFP, 1/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 28, Pope Francis said
celibacy for priests was a "gift to the Church" and not "optional",
while returning to the Vatican from Panama. Francis said there's
reason to consider ordaining older, married men in remote
communities where priests are in short supply. Celibacy was imposed
in the 11th century, possibly partly to prevent descendants of
priests inheriting church property.
   (AP, 1/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, US intelligence
agencies told Congress that North Korea is unlikely to entirely
dismantle its nuclear arsenal.
   (AP, 1/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, The United States
said that it has handed control of Venezuela's bank accounts in the
United States to Juan Guaido, the opposition leader whom Washington
has recognized as interim president.
   (AFP, 1/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, Longtime Donald
Trump advisor Roger Stone (66) pleaded not guilty to charges
stemming from the ongoing investigation into whether the president's
campaign colluded with Russia in the 2016 election.
   (AFP, 1/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, In California
Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) and its parent filed for
Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection because of mounting tolls from
fires over the last two years.
   (SFC, 1/30/19, p.A1)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, In Maryland the
state's attorney in Baltimore said her office will no longer
prosecute any marijuana possession cases.
   (SFC, 1/30/19, p.A4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, Australian company
TPG Telecom said it had abandoned the rollout of what would have
been the country's fourth mobile network because of a ban on Chinese
giant Huawei, which would have been the main equipment vendor.
   (AP, 1/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, Brazilian
prosecutors arrested three employees of miner Vale SA and two
contractors, as a criminal investigation began after a devastating
dam rupture expected to leave a death toll of more than 300 people.
   (Reuters, 1/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, British Investment
manager Man Group PLC says it will stop funding the Man Booker and
Man Booker International prizes after 2019. The firm says it has
donated 25 million pounds ($33 million) to the Booker Prize
Foundation since 2002.
   (AP, 1/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, British mining
group Gemfields said it will pay 5.8 million pounds in compensation
to nearly 300 miners over accusations of torture around a ruby mine
in Mozambique, but denied liability.
   (AFP, 1/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, In Canada Bruce
McArthur (67), charged with the murder of eight gay men who
disappeared over several years, pleaded guilty in Toronto to the
charges. On Jan. 8 he was sentenced to life in prison.
   (http://tinyurl.com/y4yhyhk5)(Reuters,
1/29/19)(SFC, 2/9/19, p.A2)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, China called on
the US government to "stop the unreasonable crackdown" on Huawei
after the US stepped up pressure on the tech giant by indicting it
on charges of stealing technology and violating sanctions on Iran,
complicating high-level trade talks between the countries about to
begin in Washington.
   (AP, 1/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, Congo DRC army and
health sources said two soldiers in Beni have died after catching
Ebola in an outbreak that has killed hundreds in the eastern region.
The deaths of the soldiers brought the total toll to 459 recorded
deaths.
   (AP, 1/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, Three Congo DRC
militia leaders, including a man accused of murdering 39 police
officers, surrendered in a show of support for new President Felix
Tshisekedi.
   (AFP, 1/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, Denmark said it
will raise its military spending to 1.5 percent of its gross
domestic product in 2023, up from 1.35 percent planned this year.
   (Reuters, 1/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, Two migrant boats
sank in heavy seas off the coast of Djibouti. 16 people were
rescued. The death toll soon rose to 52 with scores still missing.
   (AFP, 1/30/19)(AFP, 1/31/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, Egypt's interior
ministry said security forces have arrested 54 people, including
suspected members of the Muslim Brotherhood, for planning to hold
protests and commit violence on the anniversary of the 2011
uprising.
   (Reuters, 1/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, In Egypt French
President Emmanuel Macron held a surprise second meeting with Pres.
Abdel Fattah al-Sisi after talks with the country's top clerics,
ending a three-day visit aimed at boosting ties while raising human
rights concerns. During the visit, Macron and Sisi oversaw the
signing of some 30 deals worth nearly a billion euros (dollars)
including in transportation, education and health.
   (AFP, 1/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, In Egypt prominent
atheist video blogger Sherif Gaber launched a crowdfunding page
called "Help Me Escape Egypt" to aid him in purchasing another
nationality so he can override an exit ban imposed by the secret
police. Gaber has been repeatedly detained by authorities accusing
him of blasphemy, which is sometimes prosecuted in Egypt under laws
against "insulting religion".
   (AP, 1/30/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, The EU approved US
soybean exports to be used in the production of biofuels in an
effort to boost such imports following last summer's trans-Atlantic
meeting between Pres. Donald Trump and his EU Commission counterpart
Jean-Claude Juncker.
   (AP, 1/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, French man
Jean-Luc Van Den Heede (73) arrived in the harbor of Les Sables
d'Olonne in his Rustler 36, the first to finish the 30,000-mile
Golden Globe race. Of the 19 sailors who started out last July, only
five were still in the race.
   (AP, 1/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, Israel's PM
Benjamin Netanyahu met late today with Lithuanian PM Saulius
Skvernelis, stressing joint interests between the two nations.
   (http://tinyurl.com/y7ft26y5)(SFC, 1/31/19, p.A2)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, Myanmar's
parliament voted to create a committee to propose amendments to the
country's military-enacted constitution, which grants the armed
forces the power to block any change.
   (AP, 1/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, Pakistan's top
court upheld the acquittal of Asia Bibi, the Christian woman at the
center of a blasphemy row which has ignited violent protests, been
linked to two assassinations and spotlighted religious extremism.
She was expected to leave the country soon.
   (AFP, 1/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, Pakistani Taliban
militants armed with guns and grenades attacked a regional police
station in the southwestern Baluchistan province, triggering a
shootout that killed eight police officers and a civilian and
wounded 17 others. Two of the four militants were reported killed.
   (AP, 1/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, The Palestinian
government submitted its resignation, a statement said, a move seen
as a bid by president Mahmud Abbas to strengthen his position as a
decade-old political split deepens. PM Rami Hamdallah's government
will remain in place while a new administration is formed.
   (AFP, 1/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, The Palestinian
Authority asked the UN to deploy a permanent international force in
the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem, after Israel announced it
was suspending operations of an observer force that had been in the
city of Hebron for more than 20 years.
   (AP, 1/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, In Sudan police
used tear gas to disperse dozens of demonstrators in Khartoum's
Burri neighborhood and hundreds who gathered in its twin city of
Omdurman. Sudan's information ministry said security chief Salah
Abdallah Mohamed Saleh has ordered the release of people detained
during weeks of anti-government protests.
   (Reuters, 1/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, Syria's Pres.
Bashar Assad, during a meeting with visiting Iranian First Vice
President Eshaq Jahangiri, said that new trade agreements with Iran
will help the two countries face the "economic war" waged against
them by the West. The two countries have signed 11 agreements and
memoranda of understanding to promote cooperation in Syria's
reconstruction after eight years of civil war.
   (AP, 1/29/19)  Â
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, Syrian government
forces shelled a northwestern town held by al-Qaida-linked
militants, killing at least 10 people and wounding others. A blast
hit the governing council of insurgent-held Idlib killing one person
and injured three others. The Islamic State later denied being
behind a suicide blast.
   (AP, 1/29/19)(Reuters, 1/31/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, In Syria militant
Muhammad Saifuddin of Indonesia, who used the aliases Abu Walid and
Mohammed Karim Yusop Faiz, was killed in eastern Deir Ezzor province
where an international coalition fought to defeat remaining pockets
of IS group extremists.
   (AP, 2/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, It was reported
that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has been chosen as the
winner of Germany's prestigious International Charlemagne Prize for
contributions to European unity.
   (AP, 1/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, The United Nations
refugee agency says more than 30,000 Nigerians fled the border town
of Rann over the weekend to seek safety in Cameroon as attacks by
Boko Haram extremists continue. Spokesman Babar Baloch said
thousands more have fled to neighboring Chad because of the violence
in northeastern Nigeria.
   (AP, 1/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, The Vatican said
that Father Hermann Geissler, an Austrian section head in the
Vatican doctrinal office, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the
Faith (CDF), had submitted his resignation. He denied accusations by
a former nun of soliciting sex from her a decade ago while hearing
her confession.
   (Reuters, 1/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, Venezuela's Pres.
Nicolas Maduro sought OPEC support against US sanctions imposed on
his country's oil industry in a letter sent to OPEC
Secretary-General Mohammad Barkindo.
   (Reuters, 2/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, Yemen's Huthi
rebels released the first prisoner, a sick Saudi soldier, under an
agreement with the government brokered last month.
   (AFP, 1/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, Zimbabwe's high
court ordered the release on bail of activist pastor Evan Mawarire,
who was arrested on charges of subversion amid violent
anti-government protests. Lawyers marched on the constitutional
court to protest the alleged denial of justice for hundreds of
people arrested in a violent crackdown on protests that shut down
the country.
   (Reuters, 1/29/19)(AP, 1/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 30, US and Chinese
negotiators start two days of high-level talks aimed at settling a
six-month trade war that has weakened both sides, shaken financial
markets and clouded the outlook for the global economy.
   (AP, 1/30/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 30, Texas inmate
Robert Jennings (61) was executed for the July 1988 fatal shooting
of Officer Elston Howard during a robbery at an adult bookstore.
   (SFC, 1/31/19, p.A5)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 30, An Amnesty
International report said digital tourism giants Airbnb,
Booking.com, Expedia and TripAdvisor are profiting from "war crimes"
by offering services in Israeli settlements. Israel threatened a day
earlier to bar Amnesty International from access to the Jewish state
over its charges.
   (AFP, 1/30/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 30, In Brazil three
state and federal agencies asked that residents refrain from using
water directly from the Paraopeba River or 100-meters (109 yards)
around it following the Jan. 18 Vale mining dam collapse in
Brumadinho.
   (AP, 1/31/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 30, An Egyptian court
sentenced Souad el-Kholy, the deputy governor of the Alexandria, to
12 years in prison on corruption charges. The Cairo criminal court
also sentenced her to a one-year suspended sentence for bribery,
profiteering and squandering public funds.
   (AP, 1/30/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 30, A rights lawyer
said Egypt has rounded up at least six activists in the last couple
of days in a wave of arrests coinciding with the anniversary of the
2011 uprising.
   (AP, 1/30/19)  Â
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 30, Ethiopian
prosecutors charged Abdi Mohammed Omer, the former president of the
Somali Region, and 46 others with instigating ethnic violence there
last year.
   (Reuters, 1/30/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 30, European
Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker told British PM Theresa May
that the bloc's Brexit divorce deal with London cannot be
renegotiated.
   (Reuters, 1/30/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 30, German authorities
arrested three Iraqi refugees on allegations they were planning an
Islamic extremist bombing attack, and searched properties in three
states in connection with their investigation.
   (AP, 1/30/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 30, A German appeals
court in Koblenz rejected the complaint of a Jewish man against a
decision by the town of Herxheim am Berg to allow a bell dedicated
to Adolf Hitler to continue to hang in a church tower.
   (AP, 1/30/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 30, Israeli forces
shot dead a 16-year-old Palestinian girl who tried to carry out a
stabbing attack at a checkpoint between the occupied West Bank and
Jerusalem.
   (Reuters, 1/30/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 30, Italy's PM
Giuseppe Conte said that 47 rescued migrants aboard the Sea Watch
NGO vessel could finally disembark after Italy and six other
countries (France, Germany, Malta, Portugal, Romania and Luxembourg)
agreed to take them in.
   (AFP, 1/30/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 30, In the Netherlands
a round-the-clock prayer service to stop an Armenian family being
deported was ended after 96 days, after the government agreed to
make an exception to immigration rules. Hundreds of supporters of
the Tamrazyan family have held rites non-stop at the Bethel church
in The Hague since Oct. 26 to block their deportation.
   (Reuters, 1/30/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 30, In the southern
Philippines a grenade was thrown into a mosque where Muslim teachers
were sleeping early today, killing two of them and injuring four in
Zamboanga city.
   (AP, 1/30/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 30, Russian lawmaker
Rauf Arashukov (32) was arrested during a session of the upper house
of parliament and was led away to face questions over two murders
after failing in a bid to flee the chamber.
   (Reuters, 1/30/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 30, In Somalia a US
airstrike killed 24 al-Shabab extremists near Shebeeley in the
central Hiran region.
   (AP, 1/31/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 30, In South Korea Kim
Kyoung-soo, the governor or South Gyeongsang and a political ally of
President Moon Jae-in, received a two-year prison term for his
involvement in an online opinion rigging scandal.
   (AP, 1/30/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 30, Spanish police
said they have arrested 37 people as part of a drug bust in southern
Spain and the capital of Madrid.
   (AP, 1/30/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 30, Spanish
authorities seized more than three tons of cocaine and arrested 11
people off Portugal's Atlantic coast, dismantling a drug smuggling
gang that operated across international waters from a cargo vessel.
   (Reuters, 2/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 30, Sweden's state
employment agency said it would lay off a third of its own workers,
in the first sign of budget cuts and reforms under a newly-formed
government propped up by two center-right parties.
   (Reuters, 1/30/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 30, Taiwan-based
Foxconn Technology Group said it is shifting the focus of its
planned Wisconsin campus away from blue-collar manufacturing to a
research hub, while insisting it remains committed to creating
13,000 jobs as promised.
   (AP, 1/30/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 30, Tanzania's home
affairs minister said a manhunt has been launched for suspects in
the abduction and murder of up to 10 children this month in cases
believed to be linked to witchcraft. Local media this week reported
at least four dead bodies of missing children had been found
abandoned near bushes with missing body parts, believed to be used
in rituals.
   (Reuters, 1/30/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 30, In Thailand more
than 400 schools in Bangkok were shut for the rest of the week due
to increasing concern over dangerously unhealthy air pollution.
   (AP, 1/30/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 30, Turkish citizen,
Hamza Ulucay, who worked as a translator for the US Consulate in
Adana, was convicted in Turkey's Mardin province on terror charges
and sentenced to 4 ½ years in prison, but will be freed from prison
with credit for the nearly two years he spent in pre-trial
detention.
   (AP, 1/30/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 31, US court records
made public that a group of travel agents have been charged with
running illicit "birth tourism" schemes across southern California
that allegedly brought in hundreds of pregnant Chinese clients to
the US illegally so they could deliver their children on American
soil.
   (SFC, 2/1/19, p.A8)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 31, Officials said
cold temperatures across the US Midwest have left at least 20 people
dead.
   (SFC, 2/1/19, p.A9)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 31, It was reported
that officials were force-feeding six migrants through plastic nasal
tubes at a Texas location, following hunger strikes over the past
month to protest conditions inside detention facilities.
   (AP, 1/31/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 31, The US Special
Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction reported to
Congress and said the Afghan government controls or influences 54
percent of districts, down from 56 percent a year earlier, and the
Taliban's share slipped from 14 percent to 12 percent.
   (AP, 1/31/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 31, Texas-based Valero
Energy Corp. said it has stopped taking deliveries of Venezuelan
crude oil after the Trump administration slapped sanctions on
Venezuela's state-owned oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela S.A.
   (AP, 2/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 31, In northern
Afghanistan the Taliban attacked an army checkpoint late today in
Sari Pul province, killing at least six soldiers. Nine Taliban
fighters were reported killed and 13 wounded in a gun battle that
followed the attack.
   (AP, 2/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 31, Bangladesh
activist Kalpona Akter said more than 5,000 workers who demanded
higher wages have been fired by factory owners, and hundreds faced
police charges in the world's second-largest garment export industry
after China.
   (AP, 1/31/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 31, In Belgium
thousands of teenagers skipped school for the fourth week in a row
in an attempt to push authorities into providing better protection
for the world's climate.
   (AP, 1/31/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 31, Brazil's Minas
Gerais state labor prosecutors' office said it had frozen more than
800 million reais ($219 million) of miner Vale's funds as
compensation for victims of the Jan. 25 deadly tailings dam burst.
   (Reuters, 1/31/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 31, Britain, France
and Germany launched a special payment mechanism that the EU hopes
will help save a nuclear deal with Iran by bypassing US sanctions.
   (AFP, 1/31/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 31, In Pakistan the
British High Commission in Islamabad said convicted child-sex
offender Choudhry Ikhalaq Hussain (41), who was part of a gang that
exploited teenage girls in a northern English town, has been
arrested in Pakistan where he fled during his trial.
   (Reuters, 1/31/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 31, Cameroon
authorities banned planned protest marches in the capital Yaounde
after a series of unauthorized anti-government demonstrations and
some 200 arrests, including the detention of main opposition leader
Maurice Kamto.
   (AFP, 1/31/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 31, Chinese President
Xi Jinping called for a return to "unity and harmony" on as he
welcomed gas-rich Qatar's emir to Beijing, amid a dispute that has
seen some Arab states led by Saudi Arabia severing relations with
Doha. Qatar's Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani signed several
memorandums of understanding with Pres. Xi Jinping.
   (Reuters, 1/31/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 31, The European
Parliament recognized Venezuela's self-declared interim president
Juan Guaido as de facto head of state, heightening international
pressure on the OPEC member's socialist President Nicolas Maduro.
   (Reuters, 1/31/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 31, A French court
upheld a decision by doctors to withdraw life support for Vincent
Lambert (42), a tetraplegic man kept alive in a vegetative state for
a decade, after the latest legal challenge by the patient's parents
in a divisive right-to-die case.
   (AFP, 1/31/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 31, Israel began work
to strengthen its border with the Gaza Strip with construction
starting on a massive new barrier along the frontier.
   (AFP, 2/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 31, Italy's national
statistics agency said its economy, the third-largest in the
eurozone, contracted by a quarterly rate of 0.2 percent in the
fourth quarter of 2018. Following a 0.1 percent drop in the previous
three-month period that means Italy is in a technical recession.
   (AP, 1/31/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 31, Lebanese leaders
reached a deal to set up a new unity government, three political
sources from different factions said, ending nine months of
wrangling over how to share out cabinet portfolios in the heavily
indebted state.
   (Reuters, 1/31/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 31, Readers of the
Lebanese daily Al-Mustaqbal leafed through its last print edition,
its move online underscoring the challenges ailing Lebanon's press
industry.
   (Reuters, 1/31/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 31, In Mexico a
message allegedly from the leader of a fuel theft ring in Guanajuato
threatened Lopez Obrador and was found hung some distance from a
refinery. Soldiers destroyed explosives found near the refinery.
   (AP, 2/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 31, Poland's top state
veterinary official said about 2,500 kg (5,500 pounds) of meat from
sick cows who were slaughtered illegally in Poland has been exported
to 10 other European Union countries. The Polish veterinary
inspectorate stripped the slaughterhouse in Ostrow Mazowiecka of
permission to operate earlier this week.
   (AP, 1/31/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 31, Russian news
agencies reported that the state communications regulator said that
the BBC World News channel had committed "certain violations" while
operating in Russia.
   (Reuters, 1/31/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 31, Saudi Arabia said
that it has concluded a crackdown on high-level corruption that
began 15 months ago.
   (SFC, 2/1/19, p.A4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 31, South Africa's
cash-strapped public broadcaster (SABC) announced it would drop
plans to lay off a third of its full-time employees as it looks for
other savings to cut mounting debts.
   (AFP, 1/31/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 31, In Spain
ride-hailing companies Uber and Cabify said that they would stop
operating in Barcelona after the regional government passed tighter
regulations to appease taxi drivers.
   (AP, 1/31/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 31, A Spanish court
approved the temporary extradition to the United States of a former
Venezuelan official being investigated in a bribery scheme involving
Venezuela's state oil company, PDVSA. The extradition of Nervis
Villalobos would be for a maximum of six months.
   (AP, 1/31/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 31, Sudanese police
fired tear gas at crowds of demonstrators in the capital and other
cities, as fresh protests demanded an end to President Omar
al-Bashir's three-decade rule. Protester Ahmed al-Khair, a
33-year-old school teacher, was detained. He was pronounced dead in
custody the following evening. Relatives said his body, including
his groin area, was covered in bruises. There were also signs of
rectal bleeding.
   (AP, 1/31/19)(AP, 2/2/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 31, In Thailand a
fleet of drones, trucks and small planes sprayed water to try to
reduce air pollution around Bangkok while the city's governor
invited critics to brainstorm better ideas to improve the air
quality in the capital.
   (AP, 1/31/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 31, Uganda's revenue
agency said authorities have seized 750 pieces of ivory and
thousands of pangolin scales being smuggled from neighboring South
Sudan, in one of the largest seizures of wildlife contraband in the
East African country. Two Vietnamese nationals were in custody over
the contraband.
   (AP, 1/31/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 31, The UN said cold
weather has killed close to 30 children in two months among the
civilians who have been fleeing the last jihadist pocket in eastern
Syria.
   (AFP, 1/31/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 31, Venezuelan
security agents detained three foreign journalists -- a Colombian
photographer, Spanish reporter and Colombian TV producer -- who had
been covering the U.S.-backed effort to oust President Nicolas
Maduro for the Spanish news agency EFE. Two detained French
journalists were freed.
   (Reuters, 1/31/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 31, Yemeni security
officials said seven Houthi rebel prisoners have been released by
Saudi Arabia and returned to Sanaa.
   (SFC, 2/1/19, p.A2)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan, A Washington judge
hit Syria with a $302 million judgment over the 2012 death of Marie
Colvin of The Sunday Times.
   (AP, 2/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan, In San Francisco a
one-night street count of the homeless was conducted. Results of the
count later pegged the number of homeless at 8,011, based on federal
guidelines. A more complete count was expected to be released in
July.
   (SFC, 5/17/19, p.A1)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan, In New York state
Vincent Vetromile (19), Brian Colaneri (20), Andrew Crysel (18), and
a 16-year-old who wasn’t named because of his age were arrested.
They had set an imminent or specific date for an attack on the
Muslim community of Islamberg. In June the three older men pleaded
guilty and faced up to 12 years in prison.
   (SFC, 7/1/19, p.A6)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan, In Belarus the
remains of at least 1,214 people were found in the center of Brest,
which was home to a large, vibrant Jewish community before the
Second World War. Their remains were buried at local cemetery on May
22.
   (AP, 5/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan, The European Court of
Human Rights ordered Russia to pay Georgia 10 million euros ($11.5
million) over the mass deportation of Georgian citizens from Russia
in 2006. The court found that Moscow carried out a coordinated
policy of targeting at least 1,500 Georgian nationals for expulsion.
   (Reuters, 2/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan, Georgia arrested and
soon extradited Oleg Tishchenko (42), a Russian software developer,
to the United States. He was reported to have been arrested on a US
warrant while attending a dance festival. He was indicted in
absentia in 2016 for smuggling F-16 fighter jet manuals into Russia
in breach of US arms export law.
   (http://tinyurl.com/y4qjenvk)(Reuters, 5/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan, In South Korea Kim
Yong-kyun (24) died after being sucked into a coal conveyor belt. He
was working as a contractor at a power plant 110 km (70 miles) south
of Seoul. His death triggered uproar in South Korea where critics
say work safety is compromised for temporary or contract workers.
   (AFP, 2/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan, Mohammed Khalifa, a
Saudi-born Canadian citizen and a leading figure in the Islamic
State of Iraq, was captured overseas by the Syrian Democratic
Forces. In 2021 he was transferred into FBI custody, brought to the
Eastern District of Virginia and charged in federal court with
conspiring to provide material support to a foreign terrorist
organization.
  Â
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammed_Khalifa)(AP, 10/2/21)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 1, US officials said
the US Agency for International Development (USAID) has ceased all
assistance to Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza. The
halt was requested by the Palestinian Authority and was linked to a
Jan. 31 deadline set by new US legislation under which foreign aid
recipients would be more exposed to anti-terrorism lawsuits.
   (Reuters, 2/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 1, The United States
announced that it was pulling out of a landmark nuclear arms control
treaty with Russia, accusing Moscow of violating the Cold War-era
pact with "impunity" by continuing to develop banned missiles.
   (AP, 2/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 1, In San Francisco
federal Judge Richard Seeborg ruled that Ndume, the Gorilla
Foundation's companion gorilla to the late Koko, must go back to the
Cincinnati Zoo in accordance with a 2015 agreement. Ndume returned
to Cincinnati on June 14.
   (SFC, 2/4/19, p.C3)(SFC, 6/15/19, p.C1)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 1, Virginia's Gov.
Ralph Northam acknowledged that he was photographed more than 30
years ago in a costume that was racist and offensive on his 1984
medical yearbook page. The next day he denied appearing in KKK robes
or in blackface in the yearbook, but revealed that he had darkened
his face in the 1980s at a Michael Jackson inspired dance party when
he was a young army officer.
   (SFC, 2/2/19, p.A6)(SSFC, 2/3/19, p.A12)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 1, Bangladesh's
central bank said it has filed a lawsuit in a New York court against
a Philippine bank, seeking damages and the return of $81 million
stolen from its account with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York in
2016.
   (AP, 2/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 1, Belarusian model
Anastasia Vashukevich, who claims to have information on the ties
between Russia and Donald Trump's election campaign, said she has
turned it over to Russian billionaire businessman Oleg Deripaska.
   (AP, 2/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 1, Brazilians payed
homage to the 110 victims killed and 238 who are still missing after
a Vale mining dam collapsed a week ago in the city of Brumadinho,
Minas Gerais state.
   (AP, 2/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 1, Britain complained
about the EU calling Gibraltar a "colony" in a piece of draft
legislation, highlighting how the EU is lining up behind Spain in
its territorial dispute as Britain quits the bloc.
   (Reuters, 2/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 1, In London a Ugandan
mother (37) was convicted of abusing her 3-year-old daughter in
Britain's first successful prosecution for female genital
mutilation.
   (AP, 2/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 1, A French priest was
sentenced to five years, two without parole, for sexually assaulting
four young female parishioners, one of whom was just nine when the
offences started, and embezzling 100,000 euros ($115,000) to pay one
of his victims.
   (AFP, 2/2/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 1, German police
caught a suspect over the theft of watches worth some 125,000 euros
($143,000) from an Amsterdam jeweler. The 34-year-old Estonian man
was arrested this evening as he crossed the border hours after the
robbery.
   (AP, 2/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 1, Hong Kong's High
Court refused to allow three transgender men to be recognized as
males on their official identity cards because they have not
undergone full sex-change operations.
   (AP, 2/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 1, The head of
Hungary's nationalistic Jobbik party said fines of nearly 1 billion
forints ($3.6 million) meted out by the state audit office for
alleged financial irregularities may force the party to shut down.
Jobbik's 20 lawmakers could continue as independents if the party
itself shuts down.
   (AP, 2/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 1, An Indian air force
Mirage 2000 trainer aircraft crashed in Bangalore while taking off
after being upgraded by a state aerospace company, killing the two
pilots.
   (AP, 2/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 1, TIPH (Temporary
International Presence in Hebron) countries Switzerland, Sweden,
Norway, Italy and Turkey, condemned in a joint statement the Israeli
government's unilateral decision not to extend the observer force's
mission in the flashpoint city.
   (AP, 2/2/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 1, Former Ivory Coast
president Laurent Gbagbo and co-defendant Charles Blé Goudé were
freed from detention by the International Criminal Court.
   (Reuters, 2/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 1, The Israeli army
said approximately "10,000 rioters and demonstrators" gathered in
different locations along the fence separating the Gaza Strip from
Israel. 32 Palestinians were shot and wounded by Israeli troops in
the renewed clashes.
   (AFP, 2/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 1, At least four
Libyan soldiers were killed when forces loyal to Khalifa Haftar
fought for hours with a local armed group as they sought to expand
south.
   (Reuters, 2/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 1, Mexican President
Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador launched an ambitious forestry program
to plant fruit and timber trees, as well as cacao and coffee, on
nearly 1.5 million acres (570,000 hectares) in the country's south.
   (AP, 2/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 1, In southern Niger
Boko Haram islamists shot dead six people late today in Bague
Djaradi, a village near the border with Nigeria.
   (AFP, 2/2/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 1, Pakistani police
fired tear gas and wielded batons to disperse a rally by Islamic
radicals in the southern port city of Karachi against the acquittal
of a Christian woman sentenced to death for blasphemy. Nationwide
rallies the extremists had called for against Aasia Bibi's freedom
mostly fizzled.
   (AP, 2/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 1, In South Africa at
least three students were killed and 23 injured after a walkway
collapsed at a school outside Johannesburg.
   (AP, 2/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 1, It was reported
that a special airlift for thousands of baby flamingos is under way
in South Africa as drought has put their breeding ground in peril.
   (AP, 2/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 1, A South Korean
appeals court sentenced former provincial governor Ahn Hee-jung (54)
to 3½ years in prison on charges of sexually abusing his secretary.
   (AP, 2/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 1, Sudanese police
fired tear gas at hundreds of protesters in Omdurman, across the
Nile from Khartoum. Demonstrators frustrated with a worsening
economic crisis have been on the streets near-daily since Dec. 19
calling for an end to the 30-year rule of President Omar al-Bashir.
   (Reuters, 2/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 1, A Turkish court
sentenced two Kurdish politicians to lengthy jail terms on charges
of belonging to a terrorist organization and disseminating terrorist
propaganda. Former parliamentarian Gultan Kisanak, arrested in 2016
when she was the joint mayor of Diyarbakir, was jailed for 14 years
and three months. Sebahat Tuncel, who had also served in parliament,
was jailed for 15 years.
   (Reuters, 2/2/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 1, Venezuelan
opposition leader Juan Guaido said he's respectfully declining
offers from the presidents of Mexico and Uruguay to negotiate with
Pres. Nicolas Maduro.
   (AP, 2/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 2, Avalanches in
Austria, France and Switzerland killed four people.
   (AFP, 2/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 2, Belgium said it has
agreed to host Ivory Coast ex-president Laurent Gbagbo pending a
possible appeal against his acquittal by the International Criminal
Court in The Hague on charges of crimes against humanity.
   (AFP, 2/2/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 2, In Bolivia a
landslide buried cars on a highway northeast of the capital. Eight
bodies were soon recovered. At least 18 other people were injured.
   (AP, 2/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 2, Officials in Brazil
said the death toll from the collapse of a dam holding back mining
waste rose to 121. Another 226 people remained missing.
   (AP, 2/2/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 2, It was reported
that Cape Verde police have detained 11 Russian sailors for the
suspected smuggling of more than nine tons of cocaine.
   (Reuters, 2/2/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 2, China called for
Washington to negotiate with Russia instead of pulling out of the
1987 nuclear arms treaty the Trump administration sees as a
restraint on its ability to compete with Beijing and Moscow.
   (AP, 2/2/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 2, Colombia's armed
forces clashed with FARC dissident rebels, killing 10 from the group
that split from the 2016 peace process.
   (AFP, 2/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 2, In Cuba the death
toll from a rare tornado that struck Havana on Jan. 27 rose to six
after two injured victims died in hospital.
   (AP, 2/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 2, In France several
thousand "yellow vest" protesters marched through Paris and other
cities on the 12th weekend of action against the government, despite
opinion polls pointing to a recovery in President Emmanuel Macron's
popularity.
   (Reuters, 2/2/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 2, Iran announced the
"successful test" of a new cruise missile with a range of over 1,350
km, coinciding with celebrations for the country's 1979 Islamic
revolution. In the southeast one member of the Revolutionary Guards
was killed and five were wounded in an attack on a paramilitary base
in Nik Shahr.
   (AFP, 2/2/19)(Reuters, 2/2/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 2, Iraq and Jordan
inaugurated a joint industrial area on the border between the
neighboring countries. The border crossing was formally reopened.
   (AP, 2/2/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 2, In Iraq a
motorcycle gunman shot dead novelist Alaa Mashzoub (50) late today
close to his house in the Shi'ite Muslim city of Kerbala.
   (Reuters, 2/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 2, In Jamaica the body
of Dr. Lynvale Bloomfield (59), a member of Parliament, was found at
his home in the northeast district of Portland.
   (AP, 2/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 2, In Mexico an
American anarchist who went by the name John Galton was shot dead at
his home in the resort of Acapulco. Mexican police found equipment
to process drugs, glass pipes and marijuana plants at the home.
   (AP, 2/2/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 2, Philippine troops
clashed with Abu Sayyaf gunmen in fierce jungle fighting that left
five soldiers and three militants dead, as the military pushed
forward with a fresh offensive following a deadly church bombing
last weekend..
   (AP, 2/2/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 2, President Vladimir
Putin said Russia will abandon a centerpiece nuclear arms treaty but
will only deploy intermediate-range nuclear missiles if Washington
does so. US President Donald Trump accused Moscow a day earlier of
violating the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty
with "impunity" by deploying banned missiles.
   (AP, 2/2/19)(Econ., 1/23/21, p.41)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 2, In southern Somalia
a suicide car bomb exploded outside a military base for Ethiopian
soldiers, leaving an unspecified number of casualties.
   (Reuters, 2/2/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 2, In Spain thousands
of elderly people are marching through downtown Madrid to demand
better public pensions.
   (AP, 2/2/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 2, In Spain the film
"Campeones" ("Champions"), a comedy about a basketball team
featuring actors with mental disabilities, won best picture at the
Spanish Film Academy's Goya Awards.
   (AP, 2/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 2, In Sudan thousands
of residents poured out onto the streets of the eastern province of
Kassala to denounce the death of a protester last week following
demonstrations calling for the president's ouster.
   (AP, 2/2/19)  Â
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 2, In Syria a building
damaged during years of war collapsed in the northern city of
Aleppo, killing 11 people, including four children. In the northeast
a roadside bomb struck a bus carrying teachers in Manbij killing one
person.
   (AP, 2/2/19)(AFP, 2/2/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 2, In Syria the US-led
coalition reportedly attacked one of its artillery positions in the
country's east, wounding two soldiers and destroying a cannon.
Militants, holed up in a small area on the Euphrates' eastern bank,
launched an attack against government forces and allied
Iranian-backed troops in an apparent attempt to clear an escape
route westward toward the desert. The IS attacks lasted for hours
and left at least 11 militants, including three suicide bombers,
dead.
   (AP, 2/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 2, In eastern Syria
US-backed Syrian fighters killed nine civilians, including six
children, who were trying to flee the last area controlled by the
Islamic State group. The civilians had reportedly paid money to
smugglers to take them out of the area controlled by the extremists.
   (AP, 2/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 2, Turkish security
forces arrested Hatice Kilic, a suspect in an armed attack on the US
consulate in Istanbul In August 2015.
   (Reuters, 2/2/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 2, The UN and African
Union announced that a peace deal has been reached between the
Central African Republic government and 14 armed groups after their
first-ever direct dialogue aimed at ending years of conflict.
   (AP, 2/2/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 2, Venezuelan air
force Gen. Francisco Yanez defected from the administration of
President Nicolas Maduro and called on his compatriots to
participate in protests against the socialist leader's rule. Rival
marches took place in different districts of Caracas. Tens of
thousands joined opposition protests against Maduro in Caracas and
other cities.
   (AP, 2/2/19)(AFP, 2/2/19)(AP, 2/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 3, The New England
Patriots won their sixth title by lumbering their way to a 13-3
victory over the Los Angeles Rams.
   (AP, 2/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 3, In southern
California a small plane crashed into a home in Yorba Linda killing
the pilot and four people in the home.
   (SFC, 2/4/19, p.A4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 3, In San Francisco
two people were killed early today when a car entered Hwy. 101 at
the Vermont St. exit going the wrong way. Driver Kayla Wilson (21)
was killed along with Waheedullah Etimad, the driver of a minivan
carrying 6 people.
   (SFC, 2/4/19, p.C1)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 3, Rapper 21 Savage
was taken into federal immigration custody in the Atlanta area. The
Grammy-nominated artist is a British citizen who entered the US
legally in 2005 but overstayed his visa.
   (SFC, 2/4/19, p.A4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 3, Barbra Siperstein
(76), a crusader for transgender rights, died in New Jersey. Two
days earlier a New Jersey bill, named in her honor, went into effect
granting states residents the right to amend their gender on birth
certificates without proof of surgery.
   (SSFC, 2/10/19, p.C9)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 3, In Ohio detective
Bill Brewer was fatally shot during a standoff that started last
evening in an apartment complex in Pierce Township. Suspected gunman
Wade Edward Winn (23) was taken into custody early today.
   (SFC, 2/4/19, p.A4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 3, In Texas two men
and two children were found dead in a house under construction in
Dallas. Carbon monoxide poisoning was suspected.
   (SFC, 2/5/19, p.A5)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 3, Australia announced
that the last four child refugees held on the Pacific atoll of Nauru
will soon be sent to the United States, ending the banishment of
children under the government's harsh asylum-seeker policy.
   (AP, 2/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 3, Austria's
Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said he has spoken with Venezuelan
opposition leader Juan Guaido and is joining several other European
Union nations in saying he will recognize Guaido as interim
president unless new presidential elections are called.
   (AP, 2/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 3, Belgium police
reacted to a warning call at a BNP Paribas bank in Antwerp's famed
diamond center. They found the vault door still secured. It was only
after they forced their way inside that they realized the sheer
audacity of the robbery that had taken place — some 30 empty deposit
boxes, a hole in the floor, a tunnel to the sewage system.
   (AP, 2/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 3, It was reported
that Britain's brown hares are dying from a pathogen found to be the
deadly rabbit hemorrhagic disease Type 2. Numbers of the animals
have plummeted by about 80 percent in recent decades due to
intensive agriculture that has destroyed their habitats and food
supplies.
   (SSFC, 2/3/19, p.A20)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 3, El Salvador with a
population of some 6.5 million held presidential elections. The
World Bank says per capita income is $3,560. Nayib Bukele (37),
former San Salvador mayor, was elected president, crushing a
two-party system in place since civil war ended in 1992.
   (AP, 2/3/19)(AFP, 2/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 3, In France
Anne-Sophie Schmidt, one of 10 women in three countries who say they
were assaulted, harassed or in one case raped by conductor Charles
Dutoit, issued a statement calling attention to the allegations
ahead of his first major concert since the allegations surfaced in
2017.
   (AP, 2/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 3, French warplanes
struck a rebel convoy in northern Chad, helping local troops repel
an incursion across the border from Libya, a sign France's support
for President Idriss Deby goes beyond fighting Islamist militants.
   (Reuters, 2/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 3, India's PM Narendra
Modi paid a daylong visit to disputed Kashmir to review development
work as separatists fighting Indian rule called for a shutdown in
the Himalayan region.
   (AP, 2/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 3, Indian news reports
said as many as 129 Indians were among those detained Jan. 30 by US
immigration authorities in connection with enrollment at a fake
university.
   (AP, 2/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 3, In eastern India
seven people were killed and 29 injured when nine coaches of a New
Delhi-bound train derailed early today.
   (AP, 2/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 3, In Indonesia the
1,784-meter (5,853-foot) Mount Karangetang volcano located on Siau
island of North Sulawesi province started spitting clouds of gas and
lava.
   (AP, 2/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 3, Iran's state-run
IRNA news agency reported that a court has handed down prison
sentences for 13 protesters arrested during the August 2017
demonstrations over economic hardships.
   (AP, 2/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 3, Iran's
semi-official ISNA news agency reported that a fire in the country's
space research center has killed three scientists.
   (AP, 2/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 3, Four skiers went
missing in the Italian Alps. Their bodies were found the next day.
Two other Italian skiers were killed by avalanches, one in the Valle
d'Aosta region, the other in the Alto Adige (South Tyrol) region.
   (AP, 2/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 3, Japan-based Nissan
announced it has cancelled plans to make its X-Trail SUV in the UK.
That reverses a decision in late 2016 to build the SUV at Nissan's
Sunderland plant in northern England, which employs 7,000 workers.
   (AP, 2/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 3, Hamas chief Ismail
Haniyeh passed through the Rafah crossing, along with dozens of
other Palestinians to meet with Egyptian security officials in
Cairo.
   (Reuters, 2/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 3, In Russia a bus
crashed south of Moscow killing at least seven people, four of them
children, and sending 32 others to the hospital with injuries.
   (AP, 2/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 3, South Africa
expressed disappointment after the United States and other Western
powers wrote to President Cyril Ramaphosa urging him to tackle
corruption, and said those countries had breached diplomatic
protocol.
   (Reuters, 2/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 3, The head of the UN
mission in Yemen launched talks between the government and Huthi
rebels aboard a boat in the Red Sea aimed at shoring up a ceasefire.
   (AFP, 2/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 3, Pope Francis headed
to the UAE for the first ever papal visit to the Arabian Peninsula,
birthplace of Islam, where he will hold an open-air mass for tens of
thousands of Catholics.
   (AFP, 2/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 3, Yemen's deputy
chief of staff died from wounds sustained last month in a drone
attack by Huthi rebels on the country's largest air base. Major
General Saleh al-Zandan was among 11 wounded in the January 10 drone
attack on a military parade at the base in Lahij.
   (AFP, 2/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 4, It was reported
that the California Highway Patrol has suspended the police powers
of dozens of officers after an investigation revealed at least
$360,000 in fraudulent overtime pay in East Los Angeles from March
2016 into 2018.
   (SFC, 2/4/19, p.A4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 4, In Nebraska Lisa
Kwapniowski (49), a former pharmacy director, pleaded guilty to
stealing more than $4.6 million from an Omaha hospital between 2012
and 2018.
   (SFC, 2/6/19, p.A5)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 4, A report by the
International Center for Integrated Mountain Development said that
one-third of Himalayan glaciers will melt by the end of the century
due to climate change, threatening water sources for 1.9 billion
people, even if current efforts to reduce climate change succeed.
   (AP, 2/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 4, In northern
Australia emergency workers used boats and helicopters to rescue
people from flooded areas where forecasts call for more heavy
rainfall.
   (AP, 2/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 4, In Brazil the death
toll from the failure of a tailings dam operated by miner Vale SA
rose to 134 while 199 people are still unaccounted for.
   (Reuters, 2/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 4, British air
accident investigators said they had found the wreckage of the
missing aircraft carrying Premier League soccer player Emiliano Sala
on the seabed near Guernsey and that a body was visible inside. The
plane is believed to have crashed into the sea on Jan. 21.
   (Reuters, 2/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 4, A British official
signed an order that paves the way for tycoon Vijay Mallya's
extradition to India to face financial fraud allegations. Mallya has
14 days to appeal.
   (AP, 2/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 4, In Burkina Faso
armed men attacked Kain village in Yatenga province early today,
killing 14 people. In response Burkina Faso's armed forces killed
146 jihadists in three counterterror operations in the northwest.
Human Rights Watch later said some of the so-called terrorists were
executed in front of the families.
   (AP, 2/5/19)(AP, 2/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 4, Canadian PM Justin
Trudeau pledged Can$53 million (US$40 million) in humanitarian aid
for Venezuelans amid a deepening crisis. Trudeau spoke in Ottawa at
a gathering of the Lima Group of nations. Created in 2017, the Lima
Group includes Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa
Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico (which did not recognize Guaido),
Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Guyana and Saint Lucia.
   (AFP, 2/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 4, Congo DRC's
outgoing government defended decrees granting former ministers
lifetime salaries and other benefits following strong criticism in a
country where most of the population lives in poverty.
   (Reuters, 2/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 4, The Czech Republic
joined Germany, Spain, France, Sweden, Austria, Denmark and Britain
in recognizing Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido as
president, arguing that Pres. Nicolas Maduro's re-election was
illegitimate.
   (AP, 2/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 4, EU investigators
began a weeklong inspection in Poland based on a media report that
beef from unfit animals was exported to more than a dozen countries.
   (AP, 2/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 4, A Hungarian court
sentenced to prison two former executives of an alumina plant
involved in the Oct. 4, 2010 red sludge flood, an industrial
disaster which killed eight people and injured more than 220.
   (AP, 2/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 4, Iran's
semi-official Tasnim news agency reported the country's top judge
said that Tehran would never accept the "humiliating conditions" set
by the European Union for non-dollar trade intended to evade US
sanctions.
   (Reuters, 2/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 4, Iraqi President
Barham Salih said that President Donald Trump did not ask Iraq's
permission for US troops stationed there to "watch Iran".
   (Reuters, 2/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 4, Italy blocked a
joint European Union position to recognize Venezuela's National
Assembly head Juan Guaido as interim president.
   (AP, 2/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 4, Japanese PM Shinzo
Abe said that he and visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel share
a responsibility to work towards global peace and prosperity, with
both hoping for a prompt, democratic solution to Venezuela's
leadership crisis.
   (Reuters, 2/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 4, The national police
chief of the Philippines said five suspected Abu Sayyaf militants
accused of involvement in the deadly Jan. 27 suicide attack at a
Roman Catholic cathedral in Jolo town have surrendered to
authorities.
   (AP, 2/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 4, Saudi media
reported that Saudi Arabia will study how its male guardianship
system is being abused, after the flight of an 18-year-old woman to
Thailand last month focused global attention on the issue.
   (Reuters, 2/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 4, Saudi state media
reported that the government has launched a new office to monitor
state spending, saying it would help keep up the fight against
corruption after the closing of a 15-month crackdown.
   (Reuters, 2/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 4, Somalia's
Al-Shabaab militants shot dead Paul Anthony Formosa, the Maltese
manager of the Bossaso port in semi-autonomous Puntland state, and
detonated a car bomb in Mogadishu, killing at least nine people.
Al-Shabab soon claimed responsibility.
   (AFP, 2/4/19)(SFC, 2/5/19, p.A2)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 4, In Sudan crowds of
protesters chanted "freedom, freedom," as riot police fired tear gas
on anti-government rallies in the capital and its twin city of
Omdurman.
   (AP, 2/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 4, In the UAE Sheikh
Ahmed al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Egypt’s Al-Azhar mosque and
university, called on Muslims in the Middle East to "embrace" local
Christian communities during a ceremony in Abu Dhabi also attended
by Pope Francis. The Vatican and Egypt's Al-Azhar mosque and
university signed a document on fighting extremism. Pope Francis
called for an end to wars in the Middle East.
   (Reuters, 2/4/19)(AFP, 2/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 4, The UN Human Rights
Committee ruled that Finland has breached the political rights of
its Sami population, charging that Helsinki had violated the
indigenous people's right to "internal self-determination."
According to the Finnish Sami parliament, there are 10,000 Sami in
Finland.
   (AFP, 2/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 4, Venezuela's
opposition leader Juan Guaido accused the military of planning to
divert aid being stockpiled in Colombia, Brazil and an unidentified
Caribbean island, in order to distribute it through the socialist
government's subsidized food program for its own supporters.
   (AFP, 2/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 4, In Vietnam a
college student (20) was killed on the eve of the Lunar New year.
She had been taken hostage and raped by five men for two days. A
spiritual leader later blamed the victim saying she had bad karma
from a past life. Authorities later ordered monks to stop "soul
summoning" and "bad karma eviction" ceremonies after an
investigation found the rituals to be a swindle.
   (SSFC, 3/24/19, p.A2)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 5, President Donald
Trump announced during his State of the Union address that he
intends to meet hold his second summit with North Korean leader Kim
Jong Un on Feb. 27-28 in Vietnam.
   (AP, 2/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 5, The US Coast Guard
off-loaded nearly 35,000 pounds of cocaine it had seized from 21
separate vessels over the last three months in Pacific waters off
Mexico and Central America.
   (SFC, 2/6/19, p.A5)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 5, The US FBI said 169
people have been arrested as a result of an 11-day effort targeting
human trafficking in the lead-up to the Super Bowl in Atlanta. The
agency said nine juvenile victims were recovered.
   (SFC, 2/6/19, p.A5)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 5, Apple said it has
reached an agreement with French authorities over 10 years of back
taxes, confirming information published by the French magazine
L'Express. The magazine reported that the firm paid nearly 500
million euros ($570 million) to resolve the case in a confidential
settlement reached in December.
   (AFP, 2/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 5, Exxon Mobil and
Qatar Petroleum announced that they will go ahead with a $10 billion
project to export liquified natural gas from a plant on Texas Gulf
Coast.
   (SFC, 2/6/19, p.D3)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 5, In northern
Afghanistan the Taliban launched a pre-dawn attack on an army base
in Kunduz province, killing 26 members of the security forces.
   (AP, 2/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 5, Asia welcomed the
lunar Year of the Pig with visits to temples, family banquets and
the world's biggest travel spree. Celebrations took place throughout
the region, from Beijing and Seoul to Hanoi and Singapore.
   (AP, 2/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 5, In Australia
floodwater receded in Townsville, but overnight monsoonal rain
created flash-flooding in communities to the north where authorities
have warned residents to move to higher ground. Two bodies were
reportedly found near a drain in the flood-stricken city of
Townsville.
   (AP, 2/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 5, Baku renewed its
contract to host the Azerbaijan Grand Prix through 2023, prolonging
the stay of a circuit which initially struggled for acceptance in
Formula One but has since become a fan favorite.
   (AP, 2/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 5, In Bangladesh
Hollywood star Angelina Jolie visited sprawling camps that are home
to 1 million Rohingya refugees. She urged Myanmar to show a genuine
commitment to ending violence and displacement in its Rakhine state.
   (AP, 2/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 5, Administrators KPMG
announced that Canadian company Sunrise Records has agreed to buy
ailing British music retailer HMV, safeguarding hundreds of jobs.
HMV, launched by English composer Edward Elgar in 1921, collapsed
close to bankruptcy just before the new year after weak Christmas
sales and amid a declining market for CDs and DVDs.
   (AFP, 2/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 5, Central African
Republic's government initialed a peace deal with 14 armed groups
following unprecedented talks aimed at ending more than five years
of conflict.
   (AP, 2/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 5, In southern China
five people were killed after an explosion at an illegal fireworks
stand. The operator of the stand in the southern region of Guangxi
was soon arrested on for causing an accident through the use of
dangerous articles.
   (AP, 2/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 5, The IMF said it has
approved a $2 billion loan payment to Egypt, the latest in the
country's three-year aid program.
   (AP, 2/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 5, In France a
suspected arson attack on a Paris residential building that left at
least 10 people dead. A suspect was detained after she allegedly
tried to torch a car nearby.
   (AP, 2/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 5, Greek Prime
Minister Alexis Tsipras visited Turkey where he will meet Turkish
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for talks to ease tensions over
bilateral disputes and the long-running Cyprus problem.
   (AFP, 2/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 5, Indonesian police
found 193 Bangladeshis locked up in a shop house in Medan on the
island of Sumatra, after human traffickers had lured them with the
promise of getting them to Malaysia. Some of the group had been held
by the traffickers for three months.
   (Reuters, 2/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 5, Iran ruled out
linkage between a new EU mechanism to trade with Tehran bypassing US
sanctions and an anti-money laundering bill.
   (AFP, 2/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 5, The Jerusalem
District Prosecutor's Office said that Ilan Levy-Neumand, a dual
French-Israeli citizen and resident of a West Bank settlement, was
arrested and that prosecutors petitioned the court for his
extradition. In 2010, Levy-Neumand was convicted in absentia by a
French court for sexual offenses against eight girls and sentenced
to 15 years in prison. He fled France for Israel after his arrest in
2002.
   (AP, 2/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 5, Pakistan's PM Imran
Khan and President Arif Alvi offered support for rebels in the
Indian part of the disputed Himalayan territory of Kashmir as the
country staged rallies marking the annual Day of Solidarity with
Kashmir.
   (AP, 2/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 5, It was reported
that activists in Russia are expressing alarm about more than 100
whales that are being kept in small, crowded pools in what
environmentalists are calling a "whale prison," off the coast of the
Russian Far East.
   (AP, 2/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 5, In the Solomon
Islands the MV Solomon Trader ran aground on a reef off Rennell
Island, near the largest raised coral atoll in the world, a UNESCO
World Heritage site, and soon began leaking oil. Experts later
estimated that over 8 tons of oil had leaked into the sea and that
more than 660 tons of oil remained onboard. The ship was refloated
on May 11 after leaking a huge amount of oil into the sea.
   (SFC, 3/2/19, p.A2)(AFP, 5/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 5, In Sri Lanka food
importers and wholesalers shut their shops in Colombo to demand the
government resolve a "work to rule" action by custom officials at
the island nation's main seaport.
   (AP, 2/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 5, Turkey put up
bounties for the capture of eight Turkish servicemen who fled to
Greece following a failed coup in 2016.
   (AP, 2/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 5, Pope Francis
concluded his historic visit to the Arabian Peninsula with the
first-ever papal Mass in the birthplace of Islam. Authorities in the
United Arab Emirates said some 180,000 people attended the Mass.
   (AP, 2/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 5, Pope Francis said
Catholic priests and bishops had been sexually abusing nuns, and
that his predecessor Benedict XVI had dissolved a religious order of
women because of "sexual slavery on the part of priests and the
founder".
   (AFP, 2/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 5, Some Zimbabwean
teachers stayed at home while others went slow on the job as an
indefinite strike at state schools got off to a patchy start amid
fears of further intimidation by security forces who cracked down
hard on protests last month.
   (Reuters, 2/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 5, Officials in Key
West, Florida, voted to ban sunscreens containing two ingredients
(oxybenzone and octinoxate) that scientists have said are harmful to
the coral reef ecosystem. The ban on would begin Jan 1, 2021.
   (SFC, 2/7/19, p.A7)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, US Pres. Donald
Trump told foreign ministers and senior officials from a 79-member
US-led coalition battling the Islamic State that he expects to
announce next week that the coalition has reclaimed all of the IS
caliphate.
   (SFC, 2/7/19, p.A2)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, The United States
said it has cut defense assistance to Cameroon -- including plans to
supply armored vehicles -- due to concerns over human rights
violations.
   (AFP, 2/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, In San Francisco
five buildings at Geary Boulevard and Parker Ave. were damaged after
crews for Verizon struck a PG&E gas line setting off an
explosion.
   (SFC, 2/7/19, p.A1)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, Craig Newmark, the
founder of SF-based Craig's List, said he will donate $10 million to
Columbia Univ. and $5 million to the Florida-based Poynter Institute
think tank for separate efforts promoting ethics in journalism.
   (SFC, 2/7/19, p.A7)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, In Missouri an oil
leak attributed to the Keystone pipeline was discovered near St.
Louis. Sections of both the Keystone pipeline and the Enbridge
Inc.'s Platte pipeline were closed as crews sought the source of the
leak. TransCanada later said at least 1,800 gallons had leaked.
   (SSFC, 2/10/19, p.A8)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, Virginia's Attorney
General Mark Herring admitted to he wore brown makeup and a wig in
1980 to look like a rapper during a party as a student (19) at the
Univ. of Virginia. Within hours Vanessa Tyson, issued a detailed
statement saying Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax had forced her to perform
oral sex on him in a hotel room in 2004.
   (SFC, 2/7/19, p.A8)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, In Virginia a grand
jury indicted Troy George Skinner (25) of New Zealand on four counts
of production of child pornography, kidnapping and attempted
kidnapping. Skinner was shot and wounded by the 14-year-old girl's
mother after arriving uninvited in June and smashing a glass door to
try to get inside.
   (AP, 2/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, US FBI agents
raided a bank in Puerto Rico amid allegations over violations of US
sanctions imposed on those who do business with Venezuela's
government.
   (AP, 2/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, It was reported
that two tiny satellites have fallen silent millions of miles away,
after proving new technology at Mars. The twin CubeSats, nicknamed
WALL-E and EVE, shadowed NASA's InSight lander to Mars last year.
This week, NASA said it hasn't heard from them for more than a month
now — and doubts it ever will.
   (AP, 2/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, A Taliban official
said that the US has promised to withdraw half of its troops from
Afghanistan by the end of April, but the US military said it has
received no orders to begin packing up.
   (AP, 2/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, In Congo DRC
stoppages that hit transport, a key port, television, insurance and
the fire service continuing as Pres. Tshisekedi visited Kenya on his
first foreign tour.
   (AFP, 2/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, Estonia extradited
to the United States a man suspected of trafficking hundreds of kg
of heroin to the New York area and using the profits to fund the
Taliban. Haji Abdul Satar Abdul Manaf was detained in Tallinn on
Oct. 9.
   (AP, 2/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, France and Germany
announced a 65 million euro ($74 million) contract financed equally
by both countries over two years as the first act of the joint
program to design a next-generation combat jet.
   (Reuters, 2/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, A German court
scaled back a marathon trial over the 2010 deaths of 21 young people
in a stampede at a techno music festival in Duisburg, sparking anger
from bereaved relatives. The negligent homicide case was terminated
for seven of the 10 defendants,
   (AFP, 2/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, India's Petroleum
Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that imports of liquefied petroleum
gas (LPG) grew 12.5 percent over the past five years to 12 million
metric tons (13 million tons) in 2018-19, surpassing Japan and
putting India in second place behind China.
   (AP, 2/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, In southern India
the board of the ancient Hindu Sabarimala hill temple said it now
favored allowing female worshippers of menstruating age to enter,
reversing its previous support for a centuries-old ban.
   (Reuters, 2/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, An Indonesian court
jailed Auj-e Taqaddas (42), a British woman, for six months for
slapping an immigration officer in an argument over a fine for
overstaying her visa.
   (Reuters, 2/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, In Iran gunmen
killed a policeman and wounded another officer in a shootout in
Lorestan province during which a stray bullet hit a fuel tanker,
causing it to explode. Five suspects were soon arrested.
   (AP, 2/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, Lebanese Parliament
Speaker Nabih Berri said Israel has breached Lebanon's waters by
licensing a company to "exploit an area" for oil and gas near
disputed borders.
   (Reuters, 2/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, Raya El Hassan,
Lebanon's new interior minister, assumed her post, becoming her
country's and the Arab world's first female official in charge of
powerful security agencies.
   (AP, 2/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, The International
Organization for Migration said more than 16,000 migrants returned
home from conflict-wracked Libya in 2018 under its "voluntary
return" program.
   (AFP, 2/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, Macedonia moved a
step closer to NATO membership, signing accession papers after
resolving a long-running name row with Greece.
   (AFP, 2/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, In the Netherlands
a man (31) was fatally shot by police near the central bank in
Amsterdam. Detectives the next day said he was carrying a fake
weapon and may have been attempting to incite officers into killing
him.
   (AP, 2/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, The Dutch water
authority said that at least 345 containers fell off the MSC Zoe
freighter on Jan. 2. The previous estimate was 291. The ship's owner
raised the estimate after unloading the final containers at the port
of Gdansk in Poland.
   (AP, 2/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, Cyber security
researchers said hackers working on behalf of Chinese intelligence
breached the network of Norwegian software firm Visma to steal
secrets from its clients. The hacking campaign, which is known as
Cloudhopper, targets technology service and software providers in
order reach their clients. Cyber security firms and Western
governments have warned about Cloudhopper several times since 2017
but have not disclosed the identities of the companies affected.
   (Reuters, 2/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, Pakistan's top
court warned the military and intelligence agencies they must not
exceed their mandate and meddle in politics, an apparent rebuke over
their handling of Islamist protests in 2017.
   (Reuters, 2/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, A regional court in
western Russia sentenced Dennis Christensen, a Danish Jehovah's
Witness, to six years in prison, in arguably the most severe
crackdown on religious freedom in Russia in recent years.
   (AP, 2/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, It was reported
that Russia has finalized a 38 million euro ($43.27 million) loan
for Cuba's defense sector.
   (Reuters, 2/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, Serbia's PM Ana
Brnabi rejected an independent freedom watchdog's report that
downgraded the Balkan country from "free" to "partly free." Every
Saturday for the last nine weeks, tens of thousands of people have
marched in Belgrade and Serbia's other cities and towns to protest
what they say is Pres. Aleksandar Vucic's increasingly autocratic
rule.
   (AP, 2/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, In Somalia US
targeted airstrikes against suspected extremists killed 11 fighters
in the vicinity of Gandarshe, Lower Shabelle region.
   (AP, 2/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, In South Africa a
gas explosion in an unused coal mine in the eastern province of
Mpumalanga killed at least six people. Several people had entered
the mine to steal copper wires that supply electricity for lighting
and ventilation when a gas pipe exploded. More than 20 people were
still stuck underground at the mine in Middelburg and were presumed
dead. Rescuers later retrieved another 13 bodies from the disused
coal mine, raising the confirmed death toll to 18.
   (Reuters, 2/7/19)(Reuters, 2/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, Sri Lanka's Pres.
Maithripala Sirisena told Parliament that executions will resume in
the next two months ending a 43-year moratorium on capital
punishment.
   (SFC, 2/7/19, p.A2)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, Swedish automaker
Volvo Cars, owned by China's Geely holding company, said it is
recalling 167,000 cars worldwide because the hatch lid lift system
on electric trunks can loosen, stop working in cold weather, and
possibly cause damage.
   (AP, 2/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, Thailand's
government insisted it cannot free detained soccer player Hakeem
al-Araibi, who has refugee status in Australia, until hearings on
Bahrain's request for his extradition are completed.
   (AP, 2/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, In Turkey at least
one person was killed and four others were left under rubble after
an eight-storey residential building collapsed in Istanbul.
Officials soon raised death toll in the Kartal district building
collapse to 21 with 14 others were injured. Four people were later
detained in connection with the collapse.
   (Reuters, 2/6/19)(AFP, 2/9/19)(Reuters,
2/10/19)(AP, 2/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, The UN said that
its largest humanitarian aid convoy since the start of the Syrian
conflict has reached Rukban refugee camp, where thousands of
desperate people are stranded in the desert close to the border with
Jordan.
   (Reuters, 2/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, Venezuela's
opposition legislator Carlos Paparoni said the government of
President Nicolas Maduro sold 73 tons of gold to the United Arab
Emirates and Turkey last year without complying with regulations.
   (Reuters, 2/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, ICRC President
Peter Maurer said the International Committee of the Red Cross has
doubled its budget in Venezuela to 18 million Swiss francs in recent
weeks and is also helping Venezuelan migrants in neighboring
Colombia and Brazil.
   (Reuters, 2/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, Zimbabwe's main
opposition snubbed talks with President Emmerson Mnangagwa meant to
try resolve a political and economic crisis, saying any dialogue
with the president would have to be brokered by an independent
outside mediator. Other smaller parties attended the meeting at
Mnangagwa's state house offices in Harare.
   (Reuters, 2/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, The United States
sharply rebuked Germany for deporting Adem Yilmaz, a wanted Islamic
militant, to Turkey instead of extraditing him to New York to stand
trial on terror-related charges. He has been charged by a US federal
grand jury with conspiring to carry out a March 3, 2008, suicide
bombing in Afghanistan, which left two US soldiers dead and 11
others injured.
   (AFP, 2/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, The US Supreme
Court voted 5-4 to stop Louisiana from requiring abortion providers
to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals.
   (SFC, 2/8/19, p.A4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, Former Michigan US
Rep. John Dingell (b.1926), died at his home in Dearborn. Dingell
had set a record for serving 59 years in the US House before
retiring in 2014.
   (SFC, 2/8/19, p.A7)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, Amazon CEO Jeff
Bezos said he was the target of extortion and blackmail by American
Media Inc., the publisher of the National Enquirer. The tabloid had
published a story of his extramarital affair last month.
   (SFC, 2/8/19, p.A6)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, The government of
Bosnia's autonomous Serb Republic set up panels to re-examine the
number of victims in Srebrenica and Sarajevo during Bosnia's
1992-1995 war, a move Western countries viewed as a push to revise
history.
   (Reuters, 2/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, In Brazil
torrential downpours and strong winds killed at least five people
and left a trail of destruction in Rio de Janeiro.
   (AP, 2/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, British writer
Rosamunde Pilcher (94) died overnight in Scotland. She wrote more
than 12 novels including the family saga "The Shell Seekers" (1987),
which sold millions of copies around the world.
   (AP, 2/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, Veteran British
actor Albert Finney (b.1936) died in London after a short illness.
His films included "Two for the Road" (1967), "Wolfen" (1981),
"Shoot the Moon" (1982) and "Erin Brockovich" (2000). His four best
actor Academy Award nominations were for "Tom Jones" (1963), as
Poirot in "Murder on the Orient Express" (1974), "The Dresser"
(1983) and "Under the Volcano" (1984). Finney also appeared and sang
in "Scrooge" (1970) and "Annie" (1982), in which he played tycoon
Oliver "Daddy" Warbucks.
   (AP, 2/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, Chadian President
Idriss Deby said a column of rebels which had sought to cross into
the country from Libya had been "destroyed" in a series of strikes
carried out by French warplanes. The French military has said Mirage
2000 jets struck an armed convoy on three days this week, destroying
about 20 of roughly 50 pickup trucks.
   (AFP, 2/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, Police in Chile
arrested retired Gen. Juan Emilio Cheyre, a former army chief, on
charges of torturing 24 people in 1973, shortly after the coup that
brought dictator Augusto Pinochet to power.
   (AFP, 2/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, Congo's new
President Felix Tshisekedi landed in Brazzaville, the capital of
neighboring Republic of the Congo, to start his first international
trip since being elected president in late January.
   (AP, 2/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, In Costa Rica a
second woman accused former president and Nobel Peace laureate Oscar
Arias (78) of sexual assault in 2015. The former Miss Costa Rica
said he "grabbed" her head and pulled her close to him before "he
touched my breasts over my clothes and then gave me a kiss against
my will".
   (AP, 2/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, A Danish court
sentenced a 36-year-old woman to four years in jail for having
drained 500 milliliters (more than a pint) of blood from her young
son as often as once a week over a five-year period. A psychiatric
report said she suffers from Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a mental
condition where caregivers make a child ill in order to attract
attention to themselves.
   (AP, 2/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, Egypt executed
three Muslim Brotherhood members sentenced to death following
torture and beatings to extract confessions. The three were
convicted last year for the 2014 killing of a judge's son in the
Nile Delta town of Mansoura.
   (AP, 2/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, France said its
defense cooperation with Cameroon was continuing a day after the
United States said it was halting some military assistance to the
West African country over allegations of human rights violations by
its security forces.
   (Reuters, 2/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, France's foreign
ministry recalled its ambassador to Rome for consultations over a
series of comments from Italy's deputy prime ministers, Luigi Di
Maio and Matteo Salvini. Salvini and De Maio have angered Macron in
particular by publicly supporting the "yellow vest" protesters who
have taken to the streets to denounce high living costs and a
perceived indifference by the government to rural and small-town
France.
   (AFP, 2/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, German authorities
ruled that Facebook should not be allowed to use customer data from
other apps and websites to help target advertisements shown on their
Facebook pages without their explicit consent, saying it was
exploiting its dominant position in social media. Facebook said it
rejected the decision, and would appeal within the one-month frame
before it becomes final.
   (AP, 2/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, Reporters Without
Borders said that Iranian authorities arrested, jailed and sometimes
executed 1.7 million people around the capital Tehran alone in the
first 30 years after the 1979 Islamic revolution. At least 860
journalists were arrested, imprisoned or executed over the same
period.
   (AP, 2/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, Israel's
prestigious $1 million Dan David Prize was awarded to Canadian
author Michael Ignatieff and Reporters Without Borders for their
work in promoting democracy.
   (SFC, 2/8/19, p.A2)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, The body of Israeli
teenager Ori Ansbacher (19) was found in the woods near Jerusalem
with stabbing wounds. Police soon arrested Arafat Erfaiyeh (29), a
Palestinian suspect in the killing.
   (AP, 2/9/19)(SSFC, 2/10/19, p.A6)(AP, 2/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, In Jordan a former
customs chief, an ex-minister and a top businessman were among 29
suspects charged with corruption in a case involving fake
cigarettes. Media reports have said the "tobacco case" had cost
Jordan's treasury hundreds of millions of dollars in lost revenues.
   (AFP, 2/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, In Kosovo hundreds
of protesters called on authorities to jail a police officer accused
of sexually abusing a girl (16).
   (AP, 2/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, Lebanon's new
government approved a policy statement committing to reforms that
are seen as critical to putting the heavily indebted state's
finances on a sustainable path.
   (Reuters, 2/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, Lebanon's
parliament speaker said an Israeli move to license energy
exploration near a disputed maritime boundary threatened to drain
Lebanese oil wealth before its own drilling had started.
   (Reuters, 2/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, Myanmar police
arrested 36 people outside the headquarters of Suu Kyi's National
League for Democracy party in the Kayah state capital of Loikaw
after police broke up the latest protest against a statue of Aung
San. Another 10 people were arrested the following day.
   (Reuters, 2/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, In the Netherlands
thousands of students skipped classes to march for action on climate
change, following the example of young demonstrators in Belgium and
other countries for the first time.
   (AFP, 2/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, Portugal's Health
Minister Marta Temido announced that the government has decided to
order a so-called civil requisition, whereby workers in essential
services are required by law to report for duty in "exceptionally
serious" circumstances.
   (AP, 2/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, The council of
Scotland's capital Edinburgh said it will become the first British
city to introduce a tourist tax to try to better manage the impact
of swelling visitor numbers and booming hotel occupancy. The idea
needs a final sign-off by Scotland's devolved parliament.
   (Reuters, 2/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, Sierra Leone's
Pres. Julius Maada Bio declared a national emergency over rape and
sexual violence, saying perpetrators are getting younger and their
acts more violent.
   (AP, 2/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, In Somalia US
targeted airstrikes against suspected extremists killed 4 more
fighters in the vicinity of Bariire, Lower Shabelle region.
   (AP, 2/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, In Sudan hundreds
of protesters rallied in Khartoum in support of fellow demonstrators
detained in the weeks of rallies against President Omar al-Bashir's
iron-fisted rule.
   (AFP, 2/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, In Syria a
Kurdish-led force arrested 63 suspected militants in the city of
Raqa during an operation against jihadist sleeper cells.
   (AFP, 2/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, Ugandan police
arrested a team of BBC journalists overnight for illegal possession
of prescription drugs. The country's government spokesman said the
reporters had been helping to expose corruption, and demanded their
immediate release.
   (Reuters, 2/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, In Uruguay European
and Latin American leaders gathered in Montevideo to discuss a plan
to solve the deepening crisis in Venezuela, while urging the global
community to back away from direct intervention.
   (Reuters, 2/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, In Uzbekistan
businessman Halemubieke Xiaheman (41) an ethnic Kazakh citizen of
China's Xinjiang province, said in a video apparently recorded
inside Tashkent airport building that he had been harassed by
Chinese security officials to a point where his Russian and Kazakh
clients were scared to work with him.
   (Reuters, 2/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 8, Acting US Attorney
General Matthew Whitaker said that he has "not interfered in any
way" in the special counsel's Russia investigation as he faced a
contentious and partisan congressional hearing in his waning days on
the job.
   (AP, 2/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 8, In southern
California Reuben Franco (24) was found shot dead at a home in
Yucaipa. Two girls, ages 14 and 15, were later arrested in Arizona
in connection with Franco's death after they crashed his car.
   (SFC, 2/12/19, p.A4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 8, In Connecticut
supporters of Sujitno Sajuti (70), a former Fulbright scholar who
took sanctuary at a Hartford church to avoid deportation, rallied to
call on federal immigration officials to allow him to stay in the
US.
   (AP, 2/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 8, New Hampshire's
Supreme Court upheld the conviction of three women who were arrested
for going topless on a beach.
   (SFC, 2/9/19, p.A5)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 8, US media reported
that a second woman has accused Virginia's Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax
of sexual misconduct, further adding to the political turmoil in the
state.
   (AFP, 2/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 8, Virginia's Gov.
Ralph Northam said that he is not going to resign over a racist
photo that appeared in his medical school yearbook.
   (SFC, 2/9/19, p.A7)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 8, In Afghanistan
airstrikes were carried out late today in the Sangin district, where
heavy fighting was underway between NATO-backed Afghan forces and
the Taliban. A lawmaker later said the airstrikes killed 21
civilians, including women and children. The Taliban attacked an
army checkpoint in Sari Pul province late today, killing three
soldiers and wounding four.
   (AP, 2/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 8, Australian police
said they have arrested six people over the last 24 hours after what
authorities said was the largest single seizure of methamphetamine
in the United States and the biggest drug haul bound for Australia.
US Customs and Border Protection said 1,728 kg (3,800 pounds) of the
drug were seized mid-January at the Los Angeles-Long Beach port
complex along with smaller amounts of cocaine and heroin.
   (AP, 2/8/19)(SFC, 2/9/19, p.A5)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 8, In Australia a
cyberattack on Parliament's computing network also affected the
network used by major political parties. PM Scott Morrison later
said a "sophisticated state actor" was behind the attack.
   (AP, 2/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 8, In Brazil a fire
tore through the sleeping quarters of the Flamengo soccer club in
Rio de Janeiro's western region, killing 10 people and injuring
three. The victims were all between 14 and 17 years old.
   (AP, 2/8/19)(AFP, 2/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 8, China's Ministry of
Agriculture and Rural Affairs reported that swine disease had been
detected on a farm in Yongzhou in the central province of Hunan,
where 4,600 pigs were being raised. First detected in August, the
disease has killed more than 1 million pigs in China.
   (AP, 2/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 8, Colombia's
migration office said it has canceled over 300 daily entrance passes
for Venezuelan politicians and their families who support Pres.
Nicolas Maduro.
   (Reuters, 2/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 8, European Union
member states adopted a Franco-German compromise allowing Berlin to
remain the lead negotiator with Russia on the Nord Stream 2 gas
pipeline to Europe.
   (AFP, 2/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 8, The Social
Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela) said a nationwide experiment
with basic income in Finland has not increased employment among
those participating in the two-year trial, but their general
well-being seems to have increased.
   (AP, 2/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 8, In Finland an
independent 248-page investigative report in English, commissioned
by the Finnish government, was released. It said 1,408 Finnish
volunteers served within the SS Panzer Division Wiking during
1941-43, most of them aged between 17 and 20 years old. The report
concluded that the country's volunteer battalion, which served with
Nazi Germany's Waffen-SS, took part in atrocities during World War
II, including participating in the mass murder of Jews.
   (AP, 2/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 8, Germany's
Chancellor Angela Merkel inaugurated the new, fortress-like Berlin
headquarters of the scandal-plagued BND foreign intelligence
service.
   (AFP, 2/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 8, Iceland's
government said Britain and the so-called EEA EFTA countries,
Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, have reached an agreement on
citizens' rights should Britain leave the EU without a withdrawal
agreement.
   (Reuters, 2/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 8, An Indian court
sentenced seven Muslim men to life in prison for the murder of two
Hindu men on Aug. 27, 2013, in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh.
The incident had sparked religious riots killing about 65 people and
displacing thousands.
   (Reuters, 2/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 8, In Italy engineers
started the delicate task of taking apart Genoa's Morandi motorway
bridge almost six months after its partial collapse during a storm
killed 43 people and injured dozens.
   (AFP, 2/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 8, Kashmir officials
said heavy snow caused avalanches and landslides have killed 11
people and trapped another.
   (AP, 2/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 8, Kurdish officials
said there was no progress on repatriating dozens of French
nationals, including accused Islamic State fighters, women, and
children, from prison camps in northern Syria.
   (AFP, 2/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 8, A Libyan official
said authorities in Misrata have arrested Abdel Qader Azuz, a
suspected al Qaeda leader who had fled from the eastern city of
Derna, once a jihadist bastion.
   (Reuters, 2/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 8, In northern
Mozambique local sources said suspected jihadists have killed seven
men and abducted four women in the latest violence to hit the Cabo
Delgado region. The bodies were cut into pieces and left in Piqueue
village.
   (AFP, 2/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 8, Two Palestinian
teenagers were killed by Israeli fire during clashes along the Gaza
border. Another 17 Palestinians were shot and wounded at different
protest sites along the border.
   (AFP, 2/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 8, President Klaus
Iohannis said that Romania had decided to join other EU countries
and allies in recognizing Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido
as president partly because Bucharest currently holds the EU's
rotating presidency.
   (AP, 2/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 8, In Russia a truck
carrying miners to the Raspadskaya coal mine in the Kemerovo region
in central Siberia veered off the road and fell 8 meters (26 feet)
down a slope. Six workers were killed and 16 others were injured and
hospitalized. In the nearby Belovo region of Kemerovo, a section of
a coal mine collapsed, trapping four workers. One of them died of
injuries while three others have been rescued.
   (AP, 2/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 8, Sergei Yursky (83),
a renowned Russian film and stage actor, died in Moscow. He has been
widely recognized as one of the most talented actors of his
generation.
   (AP, 2/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 8, In Spain two
passenger trains rammed head-on into each other on a track near
Barcelona, killing one person and injuring about 100 others, most of
them slightly.
   (AP, 2/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 8, Sudanese protesters
rallied after prayers in an eastern town against the death in
custody of a teacher arrested in connection with anti-government
demonstrations sweeping the country. The doctors' union in Sudan
said that a government crackdown on weeks of protests has left at
least 57 people dead, including three who allegedly died of torture
in police custody.
   (AFP, 2/8/19)(AP, 2/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 8, In Syria a mine
exploded in agricultural land in the central province of Hama
killing seven civilians and wounding another.
   (AP, 2/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 8, Pilots from
Taiwan's China Airlines went on strike in the middle of the Lunar
New Year travel rush, forcing the cancellation of at least 18
flights over coming days and stranding thousands of passengers.
   (AP, 2/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 8, Thailand Princess
Ubolratana Rajakanya Sirivadhana Barnavadi (67) shocked the nation
when she announced she would be the sole prime ministerial candidate
for the party, which is loyal to ousted ex-premier Thaksin
Shinawatra. King Maha Vajiralongkorn called her announcement
inappropriate" and unconstitutional. She lost her special royal
titles more than four decades ago when she married a commoner, an
American, but is still called and widely regarded as a princess.
   (Reuters, 2/8/19)(AP, 2/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 8, Ugandan police
released three journalists who were working for the British
Broadcasting Corporation, after detaining them overnight on
suspicion of illegally possessing government prescription drugs.
   (Reuters, 2/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 9, Police in Vallejo,
Ca., shot dead Willie McCoy (21), a local rapper, after finding him
asleep in a car in a Taco Bell drive-through lane with a handgun in
his lap.
   (SFC, 2/12/19, p.C1)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 9, Ron Miller (85),
former CEO of the Walt Disney Co. (1978-1984), died in Napa, Ca.
   (SFC, 2/12/19, p.C3)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 9, Virginia's
embattled Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax called for authorities, including
the FBI, to investigate sexual assault allegations against him while
defying widespread demands for his resignation.
   (SSFC, 2/10/19, p.A8)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 9, In Afghanistan the
Taliban killed at least eight police in an attack on a checkpoint in
the northern Sari Pul province.
   (AP, 2/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 9, In Bosnia a
policeman was shot dead in Suhodol. Suspect Edin Gacic (42) was also
believed to have killed a grocery store owner near Konjic, southwest
of Sarajevo, a week earlier.
   (AP, 2/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 9, The British Daily
Telegraph published details of allegations of sexual and racial
misconduct by retail tycoon Philip Green (66), after the Topshop
owner dropped a legal bid to stop the claims being reported.
   (AP, 2/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 9, The British
government cancelled a ferry contract it had awarded to a firm with
no ships, ending weeks of public sniggering and indignation. The
Seaborne Freight contract was the smallest of three emergency ferry
deals transport secretary Chris Grayling quietly approved over the
Christmas break.
   (AFP, 2/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 9, UK rising rapper
Cadet (28), aka Blaine Cameron Johnson, was killed in a car crash
early today on the way to a performance in central England.
   (AP, 2/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 9, The Chadian
military said it had captured more than 250 rebels, including some
top leaders, after an operation against a convoy of militants trying
to cross into the country from Libya in late January that also
involved French airstrikes. An anti-Deby rebel group, the Union of
Resistance Forces (UFR), claimed to have crossed into northern Chad
with "three columns" of vehicles.
   (AFP, 2/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 9, China's foreign
ministry condemned Indian PM Narendra Modi's visit to the disputed
northeastern border state of Arunachal Pradesh, saying it
"resolutely opposes" activities by Indian leaders in the region.
   (AP, 2/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 9, China's state media
reported that blizzards in Tibetan areas of western China have left
thousands of head of livestock dead and roads covered in up to 45
centimeters (18 inches) of snow.
   (AP, 2/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 9, In Croatia water
polo team players from Serbia were attacked at a seaside café in
Split. Three people were soon detained over the attack and faced
hate crime charges.
   (AP, 2/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 9, Thousands of French
"yellow vest" demonstrators marched for their 13th weekend of
action, with scuffles in Paris. One demonstrator's hand was blown
off by a flash-ball grenade.
   (Reuters, 2/9/19)(AFP, 2/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 9, In France a woman
and a child were killed in a fire late today in the eastern city of
Lyon believed to have been sparked by a gas blast in a bakery.
   (AFP, 2/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 9, Indian officials
said at least 39 people have died and another 27 fallen sick from
drinking cheap spurious liquor containing toxic methanol in several
villages in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand states.
   (AP, 2/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 9, In Italy hundreds
of thousands of people demonstrated in Rome led by unions demanding
pro-growth policies from the populist government, the biggest such
protest in four years.
   (AFP, 2/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 9, In Latvia several
thousand people, mostly elderly Russian speaking protesters, rallied
in front of Riga City Hall in support of Nils Usakovs, the city's
mayor and leader of the pro-Kremlin Harmony party, who is under
investigation for corruption. The gathering was supported by the
Latvian Union of Russians, a local Putinist party.
   (AFP, 2/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 9, In northeastern
Liberia a gold mine collapsed. Five bodies were recovered on Feb. 13
and 40 people remained trapped.
   (AP, 2/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 9, Eastern Libyan
forces loyal to commander Khalifa Haftar carried out four air
strikes near the El Feel oilfield. The strikes were said to be
warnings directed at rival commander Ali Kennah, who was inside the
compound at the time of the strikes. The Government of National
Accord (GNA), backed by the UN, said in a statement that the strike
targeted a civilian plane that was trying to evacuate a number of
wounded people from the oilfield to Tripoli.
   (Reuters, 2/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 9, Nigeria's main
political opposition said it had been forced to cancel a key
presidential campaign rally in the capital Abuja, and blamed
President Muhammadu Buhari and the ruling party.
   (AFP, 2/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 9, Pakistani
authorities detained rights activist Dr. Ammar Ali Jan, who led a
protest, and journalist Rizwan-ur-Rehman Razi, who allegedly
criticized state agencies on social media.
   (AP, 2/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 9, The US-backed
Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said it had begun to seize the last
four-square-km (one-square-mile) patch from the jihadists in eastern
Syria.
   (AFP, 2/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 9, The Thai Raksa
Chart Party swore loyalty to the king a day after its stunning
decision to nominate the monarch's sister as its candidate for prime
minister backfired when the king called the move inappropriate and
unconstitutional.
   (AP, 2/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 9, A Tunisian court
sentenced seven jihadists to life in prison over attacks at a museum
and on a beach in 2015 that killed 60 people, many of them British
tourists.
   (AFP, 2/9/19)  Â
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 9, Turkey called on
China to close its internment camps for Muslims, saying the camps
which reportedly hold a million ethnic Uighur people are a "great
shame for humanity".
   (Reuters, 2/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 9, It was reported
that shantytowns across the Turks and Caicos grow every day as
thousands of young Haitians try to escape the poorest economy in the
Caribbean, where 60 percent of the population of 11 million people
live on less than $2 a day.
   (AFP, 2/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 9, In Ukraine
far-right activists tried to storm a police station in Kiev after
forty others were detained at a campaign event for presidential
candidate Yulia Tymoshenko. The activists were demanding justice in
the killing of an anti-corruption activist.
   (AP, 2/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 9, Active-duty
Venezuelan army doctor Colonel Ruben Paz Jimenez said in a video he
has dropped his allegiance to President Nicolas Maduro, backing
opposition leader Juan Guaido instead and urged his fellow soldiers
to help allow humanitarian aid into Venezuela.
   (AFP, 2/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 9, Conjoined twin boys
born two weeks ago in Yemen, who were in urgent need of treatment
abroad, died overnight in Houthi-controlled Sanaa.
   (Reuters, 2/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 10, Hollywood stars
and British royalty gathered in London for the British Academy Film
Awards, where "The Favourite" was living up to its name and leading
the race for trophies. The Netflix black-and-white production "Roma"
triumphed at the Bafta film awards, boosting Oscar hopes for the US
streaming giant whose rise poses a serious challenge to the
conventional Hollywood business model.
   (AP, 2/10/19)(AFP, 2/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 10, Jan-Michael
Vincent (b.1945), American TV and film star, died in Ashville, NC.
He became nationally recognizable on the TV series "Airwolf"
(1984-1986). His films included: "The Undefeated" (1969), "The
World's Greatest Athlete" (1973), "Buster and Bille" (1974), "Bite
the Bullet" (1975), "Hooper" (1978) and "Big Wednesday" (1978).
   (SSFC, 3/10/19, p.C11)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 10, Police in China
said accidents on icy highways in central China left at least 13
dead and dozens injured this weekend as millions of families were
heading home from the Lunar New Year holiday.
   (AP, 2/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 10, At the World
Government Summit in Dubai Pakistan's PM Imran Khan said his nation
needed "painful" economic reforms to cut back on its massive debt,
just after meeting the head of the International Monetary Fund.
   (AP, 2/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 10, Speaking in Dubai
IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde warned governments to gear
up for a possible economic storm as growth undershoots expectations.
   (AFP, 2/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 10, In Ethiopia a
statue of Emperor Haile Selassie was unveiled in Addis Ababa at the
headquarters of the African Union.
   (AP, 2/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 10, In Ethiopia
Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who led an active, reformist tenure
as African Union chair, passed the baton to Egyptian President Abdel
Fattah al-Sisi, seen as more likely to focus on security issues than
expanding the body's powers.
   (AFP, 2/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 10, Hungary's PM
Viktor Orban said his government will be increasing financial aid
and subsidies for families with several children in an effort to
reverse the country's population decline.
   (SFC, 2/11/19, p.A3)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 10, Iran's foreign
minister offered his country's military assistance to the US-backed
Lebanese army, saying Iran is ready to cooperate in all sectors
should the Lebanese government want it.
   (AP, 2/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 10, Israel's PM
Benjamin Netanyahu, who seeks re-election, pledged to freeze money
transfers to the Palestinian Authority following a deadly
Palestinian attack on a young Israeli woman. Palestinian civil
affairs minister Hussein al-Sheikh said that the PA would not go
along with Israel withholding any part of the tax money due.
   (AFP, 2/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 10, A Jordanian court
sentenced two brothers to death in connection with a 2016 attack
claimed by the Islamic State group, overturning a life sentence
handed to the men last year. The shooting attack in Karak killed
seven policemen and two Jordanian civilians as well as a female
Canadian tourist, and wounded 34 other people.
   (AFP, 2/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 10, In Kashmir five
rebels were killed in fighting with Indian government forces in the
southern Kulgam area.
   (AP, 2/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 10, In New Zealand
strong winds fanned forest fires that have been burning for a week
through the South Island, forcing thousands of people from their
homes. More residents were expected to flee the Pigeon Valley fire.
   (AP, 2/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 10, Pakistani
journalist Rizwan-ur-Rehman Razi was released on a bond of about
$730. He had been booked for tweeting against state agencies.
   (AP, 2/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 10, Palestinian civil
defense crews retrieved the bodies of two Palestinians, including a
Hamas policeman, who suffocated to death from gas in a cross-border
tunnel under Gaza's frontier with Egypt.
   (AFP, 2/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 10, In Russia
protesters in several cities took to the streets in solidarity with
opposition activist Anastasia Shevchenko, the first person to be
charged under a new law that carries a prison term for
"participation in the activities of an undesirable organization".
   (AP, 2/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 10, A Russian official
said that Moscow had repatriated a fresh batch of 27 children whose
mothers are being held in Iraq for belonging to the Islamic State
group. Thirty other children were sent back to Moscow in late
December.
   (AFP, 2/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 10, South Korea and
the United States struck a new deal that increases Seoul's
contribution for the cost of the American military presence on its
soil.
   (AP, 2/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 10, In Spain tens of
thousands of people waving Spanish flags joined a rally in Madrid
called by right-wing and far-right parties against PM Pedro Sanchez,
who they accuse of treachery over his negotiations with Catalan
separatists.
   (AFP, 2/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 10, Sudanese police
used tear gas to disperse hundreds of protesters who marched on a
women's prison calling for the release of detainees in Omdurman.
   (AFP, 2/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 10, An SDF official
said the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces have seized ground from
Islamic State in a fierce battle to capture its last enclave in
eastern Syria.
   (Reuters, 2/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 10, A strike among
pilots at Taiwan's flag carrier China Airlines dragged into a third
day, resulting in further flight cancellations.
   (AP, 2/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 10, Pope Francis urged
governments to take decisive action against the $150 billion-a-year
human trafficking business and the plight of millions of modern-day
slaves.
   (Reuters, 2/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, US lawmakers in
Washington DC reached an agreement in principle to possibly prevent
another government shutdown. It would some money for barrier
construction along the US-Mexico border, but far less than Pres.
Trump has demanded.
   (SFC, 2/12/19, p.A6)(SFC, 2/13/19, p.A1)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, Teachers in Denver
went on strike for the first time in 25 years over the district's
incentive-based pay system. Teachers returned to their classrooms on
Feb 14 after their union reached a tentative deal raising their pay
as much as 11 percent.
   (SFC, 2/12/19, p.A5)(SFC, 2/15/19, p.A6)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, Federal health
officials warned that a landfill fire, burning for nearly five
months south of Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Int'l. Airport, may
cause headaches and respiratory irritation.
   (SFC, 2/16/19, p.A5)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, Afghan President
Ashraf Ghani rejected an interim government and said the Taliban are
welcome to set up a political office in the capital but that his
government must be included in any peace talks.
   (AP, 2/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, Australia's PM
Scott Morrison described his government as stronger on national
security than the opposition after signing an agreement with the
French government to deliver a fleet of submarines and ahead of
federal elections expected to be held in May.
   (AP, 2/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, In Belarus a
10th-grade high school student stabbed and killed his history
teacher and a classmate at a high school. He also stabbed two
classmates who tried to protect the teacher at a school in the town
of Stolbtsy.
   (AP, 2/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, A Brazilian
Supreme Court justice suspended two criminal proceedings against the
country's leader. The ruling by Justice Luiz Fux puts a hold on
charges of slander and incitation to rape against President Jair
Bolsonaro.
   (AP, 2/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, In western
Cameroon four people died when gunmen raided a hospital and burnt it
to the ground where anglophone separatists have been fighting
troops.
   (AP, 2/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, A court in Estonia
found former Estonian military officer Deniss Metsavas (38) and his
father, Pjotr Volin (65), guilty of treason for spying for Russia.
Metsavas passed information along for a decade and was sentenced to
15½ years in prison. Volin worked with the GRU for approximately
half as long and received a six-year prison term.
   (AP, 2/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, The EU announced
that it is beginning the process to withdraw preferential duty-free
and quota-free status for imports from Cambodia. EU Trade
Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom charged Cambodia with "severe
deficiencies when it comes to human rights and labor rights".
   (AP, 2/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, In France the
left-wing Liberation newspaper suspended two of its journalists,
including Vincent Glad, who founded the closed Facebook group
"League of LOL," a secret "boys club" of journalists that has been
accused of harassing women writers and feminists during a
near-decade long campaign of online bullying.
   (Reuters, 2/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, French cash
delivery driver Adrien Derbez (27) made off with about three million
euros ($3.2 million). He managed to hide half his haul before being
arrested the next day.
   (AFP, 2/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, Kim Phuc (55),
known as the 'Napalm Girl' in an iconic 1972 Vietnam War photo,
received a 10,000 euro ($11,350) award in Germany for her work for
peace. Phuc, who now lives in Canada, was honored for her support of
UNESCO and children wounded in war, and for speaking out publicly
against violence and hatred.
   (AP, 2/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, In Iran vast
crowds marked 40 years since the Islamic revolution at a time of
heightened tensions with the United States.
   (AFP, 2/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, Lebanon said it
will not take part in a Middle East conference in Poland this week
that is widely seen as an effort to isolate Iran.
   (AP, 2/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, East Libyan
military forces were in talks with protesting state guards to take
over the nation's largest oilfield El Sharara peacefully and pass it
to the state oil firm.
   (Reuters, 2/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, A Lithuanian
government official said Saudi terror suspect Mustafa al-Hawsawi
(50), held in Guantanamo, has filed a lawsuit against Lithuania
alleging that he was tortured at a secret CIA jail in the Baltic
state.
   (AFP, 2/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, Activists said an
Emirati woman (42), who says she was threatened by her family for
wanting a divorce, is stuck in a Macedonia migrant center after the
Balkan state rejected her asylum request.
   (AFP, 2/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, Russia and Turkey
agreed that they needed to take decisive measures to stabilize the
situation in Syria's Idlib province after talks between the two
country's defense ministers.
   (Reuters, 2/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, South Africa
introduced its most severe electricity rationing in nearly five
years, presenting President Cyril Ramaphosa with a major political
challenge just months ahead of the May general election.
   (AFP, 2/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, In eastern Syria
13 IS militants, including five suicide attackers, were killed as
well as six SDF fighters as Syrian Democratic Forces pushed to clear
the village of Baghouz and nearby areas from the Islamic State.
US-led coalition warplanes struck the mosque in Baghouz in support
of the Kurdish-led SDF. The airstrike occurred as the Islamic State
was using the mosque to direct attacks and employ suicide car bombs
against the SDF. Syrian state media reported that about 70 people
were killed or wounded in an airstrike by the US-led coalition on
the edge of Baghouz.
   (AP, 2/11/19)(AP, 2/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, A Thai court
ordered the release of refugee soccer player Hakeem al-Araibi after
prosecutors said they were no longer seeking his extradition to
Bahrain in a case that had drawn worldwide attention.
   (AP, 2/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, Dozens of Turkish
police blocked a march by pro-Kurdish opposition lawmakers in
Istanbul that was organized in solidarity with hunger striking MP
Leyla Guven, who was released from prison last month.
   (AFP, 2/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, In Turkey a
military helicopter crashed in a residential neighborhood on the
Asian side of Istanbul.
   (Reuters, 2/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, Venezuelan
opposition envoy Maria Teresa Belandria was received as her
country's official ambassador in Brazil, and said Brazil's
government will provide all possible support to get humanitarian aid
to the border.
   (Reuters, 2/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, California Gov.
Gavin Newsom in his first State of the State address said he would
shrink the high-speed rail from San Francisco to Los Angeles to just
a segment from Bakersfield to Merced.
   (SFC, 2/13/19, p.A1)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, In NYC jurors
found Mexican drug lord Joaquin Guzman guilty of all 10 counts,
including running a criminal enterprise, in a trial that began in
November. Guzman was found guilty of smuggling tons of drugs into
the United States over a decades-long career built on deadly
intimidation and bloody turf wars.
   (Reuters, 2/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, In Texas
authorities said five members of a family in Polk County have been
found shot to death.
   (SFC, 2/13/19, p.A5)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, Lyndon LaRouche
(b.1922), eight-time US presidential candidate, died. In 1988 he was
convicted in Virginia on charges of scheming to defraud the IRS and
of deliberately defaulting on more than $30 million in loans from
thousands of his supporters. He was released in 1994 after serving a
third of his 15-year sentence.
  Â
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyndon_LaRouche)(SFC, 2/15/19, p.A14)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, Global oil cartel
OPEC said it sharply reduced crude oil production last month, after
heavyweight Saudia Arabia slashed output and exports fell in
crisis-hit Venezuela.
   (AFP, 2/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, The Afghan
government fired its election commission more than three months
after chaotic parliamentary elections. President Ashraf Ghani gave
political parties and civil society representatives one week to
nominate candidates to a new commission.
   (AP, 2/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, Sibghatullah
Mujadidi (93), Afghanistan's first president following the
withdrawal of Soviet troops from the country and the collapse in
1992 of Kabul's pro-communist government, died.
   (AP, 2/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, In Bosnia Edin
Gacic (42), the country's most-wanted fugitive, died after a
shootout with police near Sarajevo. A policeman was wounded in the
clash.
   (AP, 2/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, The Canadian
Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) said it found in a trove of Twitter
messages evidence of possible foreign actors trying to sow divisions
between Canadians on pipelines, migrants and other hot-button
issues.
   (AFP, 2/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, Members of the
Uighur Muslim ethnic group called on China to post videos of their
relatives who have disappeared into a vast system of internment
camps. A social media campaign was launched under the hashtag
#MeTooUyghur. The Uyghur population numbered about 12 million.
   (AP, 2/12/19)(Econ., 10/17/20, p.9)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, Congo DRC's army
said it killed four members of the notorious ADF militia and freed
four hostages in an operation in the country's troubled east.
   (AFP, 2/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, The European
Parliament backed a fisheries agreement with Morocco which includes
waters off the disputed territory of Western Sahara that Rabat
claims. After initial approval, the member states need to officially
back it again later.
   (AP, 2/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, Germany's top
security official banned two publishers for allegedly belonging to a
banned Kurdish organization. Publishers Mezopotamien Verlag und
Vertrieb GmbH and the MIR Multimedia GmbH were banned because they
support the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
   (AP, 2/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, Thousands of
Hungarians rallied in Budapest outside a prestigious scientific
institution that says it is the victim of a new power grab by PM
Viktor Orban's government. Some of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences
(MTA) funding has already been slashed with laboratories temporarily
closing as a result.
   (AFP, 2/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, In India a fire
engulfed the Arpit Palace Hotel, a shoddily built budget hotel in
central New Delhi, killing 17 people and injuring at least four
others. The general manager of the Arpit Palace Hotel, Rajender
Singh, and manager, Vikar Kumar, were booked on suspicion of
culpable homicide for the fire.
   (AP, 2/12/19)(AP, 2/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, Iraqi PM Adel
Abdul-Mahdi said his country will repatriate Iraqi members of the
Islamic State group held by US-backed fighters in Syria as well as
thousands of their family members.
   (AP, 2/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, On the Italian
island of Sardinia   shepherds were joined by
students on their fifth straight day of protests in a march in
Nuoro, where shopkeepers shut stores in solidarity. The shepherds
poured milk from large canisters onto streets to protest prices paid
by cheesemakers for their milk.
   (AP, 2/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, Kenya said it is
seeking to close the Dabaab refugee camp within six months. The camp
held more than 200,000 refugees from Somalia.
   (SSFC, 3/31/19, p.A4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, Macedonia's new
name, North Macedonia, came into force after constitutional changes
were published in the Official Gazette and Skopje's foreign ministry
said both Greece and Macedonia had informed the UN by letter that
the change is now in force.
   (AFP, 2/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, A wildlife
monitoring group said Malaysian authorities have seized a record 30
tons of pangolin and pangolin products in eastern Sabah state on
Borneo, the biggest such bust in the country.
   (AP, 2/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, Myanmar police
fired rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannon to disperse a
protest over a statue of independence hero General Aung San that is
opposed by members of the Karenni ethnic minority.
   (Reuters, 2/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, Dutch fisherman
protested outside parliament in a last-ditch attempt to avert a
European Union ban on the practice of using electric shocks to stun
fish before scooping them up in nets.
   (AP, 2/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, In southern
Nigeria fifteen people were killed in a stampede at an election
campaign rally by President Muhammadu Buhari.
   (AFP, 2/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, In Nigeria three
people were reported killed when insurgents attacked a motorcade on
route to an election rally in Borno state. Survivors of the assault
later put the toll much higher. One survivor said he saw about 40
bodies; another estimated that as many as 100 died. The militants
also took between 100 and 200 people captive.
   (Reuters, 2/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, In Pakistan
suspected militants killed four officers after opening fire on a
police vehicle in the northwestern town of Dera Ismail Khan.
   (AP, 2/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, Spanish police
arrested 29 people who they allege are involved in a drug
trafficking ring in the southern provinces of Cadiz and Malaga.
   (AP, 2/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, Spanish police
said they had seized more than 200 stuffed endangered animals,
including giraffes, rhinos, lions and tigers, from an illegal
taxidermy workshop that was selling them online.
   (AFP, 2/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, Spain's Balearic
Islands approved a local law that by 2050 aims to ban the use of
fossil fuels and adopt renewable energy for all of the region's
power needs, in what authorities claim is a pioneering step in
Europe.
   (AP, 2/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, Sudanese security
forces arrested 14 professors who were gathering to protest outside
Khartoum University, as anti-government demonstrations neared the
end of their eighth week.
   (Reuters, 2/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, Thailand's
telecoms regulator suspended the operating license of a television
channel linked to ousted former PM Thaksin Shinawatra weeks ahead of
a general election, citing national security concerns.
   (Reuters, 2/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, Turkey launched
one of its largest operations against alleged supporters of the
US-based Muslim cleric accused of leading an attempted coup in 2016,
ordering the arrest of 1,112 people.
   (Reuters, 2/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, Venezuela's
opposition supporters returned to the streets nationwide to keep the
heat on embattled President Nicolas Maduro and demand he allow
humanitarian aid into the country where food and medicine shortages
are rife.
   (Reuters, 2/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, In Zimbabwe dozens
of gold miners were caught underground on the outskirts of Kadoma.
Between 60 and 70 people were working underground at the time of the
accident.
   (AP, 2/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, President Donald
Trump hosted his Colombian counterpart Ivan Duque at the White House
to discuss their campaign to pressure Venezuela's far left
president, Nicolas Maduro, from power.
   (AFP, 2/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, The US House
passed a resolution that would force the Trump administration to
withdraw US troops from involvement in Yemen.
   (SFC, 2/14/19, p.A6)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, A US district
judge ruled that former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort
intentionally lied to investigators and a federal grand jury in the
special counsel's Russia probe.
   (SFC, 2/14/19, p.A7)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, The United States
charged former US Air Force intelligence officer Monica Witt with
helping Iran in a cyber-spying operation that targeted her former
colleagues. US officials said Witt supplied classified information
about US intelligence officers after defecting to Iran in 2013.
   (Reuters, 2/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, The United States
delivered laser-guided rockets valued at more than $16 million to
the Lebanese army. The rockets are a key component for a fleet of
A-29 Super Tucano attack aircraft previously delivered.
   (AP, 2/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, The US and Poland
finalized a deal for Warsaw to buy American mobile rocket launchers
worth $414 million (365 million euros) as it lobbies Washington to
boost troops on Polish soil.
   (AFP, 2/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, In southern
California Camden Nicholson (27) was arrested for killing his
parents and their housekeeper in Orange County. Court filings later
said that authorities suspect Nicholson may have killed his parents
on Feb. 11 and the housekeeper a day later.
   (http://tinyurl.com/yyx426b9)(SFC, 2/18/19, p.A4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, US immigration
authorities in Miami detained brothers William and Roberto Isaias
from Ecuador who are wanted in the South American country for
allegedly stealing millions of dollars from a now-defunct bank.
   (AP, 2/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, The Archdiocese of
New Jersey released a list of 63 Roman Catholic clergy members that
it said have been credibly accused of sexually abusing minors dating
back to 1940.
   (SFC, 2/14/19, p.A6)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, NASA pronounced
that its 2004 Mars rover Opportunity was dead.
   (SFC, 2/14/19, p.A14)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, In Argentina tens
of thousands of demonstrators blocked major roads in Buenos Aires as
they marched to protest high unemployment and the policies of
center-right leader Mauricio Macri, including cuts to public utility
subsidies.
   (Reuters, 2/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, The Australian
government said it would reopen the mothballed Christmas Island
detention camp in anticipation of a new wave of asylum seekers
arriving by boat after Parliament passed legislation that would give
sick asylum seekers easier access to mainland hospitals.
   (AP, 2/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, Austria's
right-wing government announced tougher sentences for violent
crimes, particularly against female victims, while pointing to a
recent spate of cases in which foreigners are suspected of murdering
women.
   (Reuters, 2/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, Cyprus' finance
minister said his government is tightening rules for the country's
lucrative scheme granting passports to wealthy investors, making it
ineligible to anyone who has already been rejected by another
European Union country running similar plans.
   (AP, 2/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, The European
Parliament approved a free trade deal with Singapore that the
European Union hopes to use as a blueprint for further deals in
southeast Asia. It will become operational after the member states
give their final approval.
   (AP, 2/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, French carmaker
Renault said in a statement its board unanimously decided to waive
Ghosn's "non-compete commitment and, consequently, not to pay the
corresponding compensation equal to two years fixed and variable
compensation".
   (AP, 2/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, In Germany new
crime statistics showed that anti-Semitic offences rose almost 10
percent last year, and that violent attacks were up more than 60
percent, sparking alarm in the Jewish community.
   (AFP, 2/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, Greek police said
seven men have been arrested in northern Greece after police seized
bundles of fake US $100 bills stashed in a warehouse with a total
face value of $200,000.
   (AP, 2/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, India's Supreme
Court issued an order to remove forest dwellers in 21 states where
about 1.3 million land claims, each potentially representing a
household, were rejected.
   (Reuters, 2/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, An Instagram
account that published comic strips depicting the struggles of gay
Muslims in Indonesia disappeared from the site following a frenzy of
moral outrage online in the world's biggest Muslim nation. The
Ministry of Communications said that the account under the username
Alpatuni was pornographic.
   (AP, 2/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, Iran's Fars news
reported that twenty members of the elite Revolutionary Guards were
killed a suicide attack the southeast of the country.
   (Reuters, 2/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, Judges at the
International Court of Justice ruled that the UN body has
jurisdiction to hear a claim by Iran to recover $1.75 billion in
assets frozen by Washington. The case filed in June 2016 centers on
assets from the Iranian national bank, Bank Markazi, seized by US
courts to compensate families of victims of a 1983 bombing of a US
Marine Corps. base which Washington blames on Iran.
   (Reuters, 2/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, Israel's Shin Bet
security agency alleged that Hamas is using coded television
messages to instruct recruits in the occupied West Bank to carry out
anti-Israeli attacks.
   (AFP, 2/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, In Kenya a small
plane crashed in the country's west killing all five people on
board, including three Americans.
   (AP, 2/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, The Maldives' top
prosecutor charged former Pres. Yameen Abdul Gayoom with money
laundering. The charges are linked to $1 million allegedly found in
Yameen's bank account from a shady government deal to lease islands
for tourist development in the Maldives, which is famous for its
luxury resorts.
   (AP, 2/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, Nigeria's
President Muhammadu Buhari and Atiku Abubakar joined other
candidates to sign a "peace accord", in front of foreign observers.
   (AFP, 2/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, In North Macedonia
a bus drove down embankment and overturned in a crash that killed 14
people and left 30 others injured. The death toll rose to 15 after a
man died on Feb. 16 at a clinic in Skopje.
   (AP, 2/14/19)(AP, 2/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, In the Philippines
Maria Ressa, the award-winning head of an online news site that has
aggressively covered President Rodrigo Duterte's administration, was
arrested by government agents in a libel case. She was freed on bail
the next day.
   (AP, 2/13/19)(SFC, 2/15/19, p.A2)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, Saudi Arabia said
it will lift its warning against citizens traveling to Lebanon as a
visiting envoy from the kingdom met top Lebanese officials in
Beirut.
   (Reuters, 2/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, In South Africa
thousands of workers staged nationwide demonstrations to protest
against high unemployment and government policies they say have
failed to create jobs and are deepening poverty.
   (AFP, 2/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, In Spain
right-wing and Catalan separatist lawmakers rejected the 2019 draft
budget of PM Pedro Sanchez. They withdrew their backing in protest
against the leaders of a secessionist movement being put on trial
for rebellion and not being able to hold a legal independence
referendum.
   (AFP, 2/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, In Sweden Angela
Gui, the daughter of a detained Swedish publisher, published an
account detailing a "strange" meeting with businessmen arranged by
Sweden's ambassador to China. She said they threatened her after
offering to help secure her father's release from prison in China.
   (AP, 2/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, Thailand's
Election Commission said it recommended the Thai Raksa Chart Party
be dissolved because its prime minister candidate was "in conflict
with the system of rule of democracy with king as head of state".
   (AP, 2/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, In Turkey
pro-Kurdish lawmaker Leyla Guven (55), on hunger strike for more
than three months, was brought to a hospital but went home by
ambulance after refusing treatment. She has vowed to continue her
fast until the government allows Kurdish militant leader Abdullah
Ocalan to hold regular meetings with his lawyers and family members.
   (AFP, 2/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, The UN confirmed
that it has been officially informed by the Macedonian government
that the country's new name is North Macedonia. The 27-year-old
dispute was finally settled in June during UN-brokered talks.
   (AFP, 2/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, In eastern Syria
hundreds of people fled the IS holdout overnight. Kurdish-led SDF
fighters advanced slowly against hundreds of jihadists. Several
dozen people fled Baghouz, walking to an SDF-held position four km
(two miles) away from the village.
   (AFP, 2/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 14, Acting US Defense
Secretary Pat Shanahan said the United States will not reduce its
troop presence in Afghanistan unilaterally, pledging that any moves
will be fully coordinated with its allies.
   (AP, 2/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 14, US Vice President
Mike Pence demanded that Europeans drop a nuclear deal with Iran and
join in seeking to cripple the regime, a cause that united Israel
with longtime Arab rivals at a conference in Warsaw.
   (AFP, 2/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 14, The US Senate
voted 54-45 to confirm William Barr for a second stint as attorney
general.
   (SFC, 2/15/19, p.A7)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 14, Louisiana State
Univ. in Baton Rouge said nine members of the Delta Kappa Epsilon
fraternity have been arrested for hazing related crimes that
allegedly took place last fall.
   (SFC, 2/16/19, p.A5)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 14, The Tennessee
Valley Authority voted to close the remaining coal-fired unit at the
Paradise Fossil Plant in Muhlenberg County, Ky. The TVA board also
voted to close the Bull Run Fossil Plant near Oak Ridge, Tenn., by
December 2023.
   (SFC, 2/15/19, p.A8)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 14, Amazon dropped
plans for a big new headquarters in NYC.
   (SFC, 2/15/19, p.D1)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 14, Facebook Inc said
it has removed a number of pages and accounts engaged in
"inauthentic behavior" targeting people in Moldova, where elections
will be held later this month.
   (Reuters, 2/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 14, The investigative
website Bellingcat identified Denis Sergeev, a high-ranking GRU
officer and a graduate of Russia’s Military Diplomatic Academy, as
the third suspect in the 2018 Novichok poisoning of former Russian
double agent Sergei Skripal in Salisbury.
   (Reuters, 2/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 14, British author
Andrea Levy (62) died of cancer. She drew on her Jamaican heritage
for novels such as "Small Island." The book also won the 2004
Women's Prize for Fiction, for English-language novels published in
Britain, and the Commonwealth Writers' Prize.
   (AFP, 2/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 14, Chinese tech
company SenseNets closed an open database that stored the records of
individuals "fully accessible to anyone," after Dutch security
researcher Victor Gevers reported leaks of personal information on
2.6 million people in Xinjiang to SenseNets. The database had been
exposed since last July.
   (AFP, 2/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 14, Cuba charged that
the United States was secretly moving special forces closer to
Venezuela as part of a plan to intervene in the South American
country using the pretext of a humanitarian crisis.
   (Reuters, 2/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 14, Egypt's parliament
gave preliminary approval to constitutional changes that would allow
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to stay in power after his second
term ends in 2022.
   (AP, 2/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 14, European plane
maker Airbus said 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.
   (AP, 2/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 14, Haiti's Pres.
Jovenel Moise said he would not surrender the country to armed gangs
and drug dealers, as protesters continued to demand his resignation.
   (SFC, 2/15/19, p.A2)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 14, In Iraq eight
members of a militia linked to powerful Shiite cleric Moqtada
al-Sadr were killed in a bomb blast near Samarra.
   (AFP, 2/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 14, Italian police in
Calabria nabbed fugitive kingpin cocaine dealer Francesco Strangio.
He hails from a feuding crime clan involved in the 2007 trattoria
massacre in Germany. Strangio had been on the run since a January
2018 conviction, carrying a 14-year prison term, for international
drug trafficking.
   (AP, 2/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 14, In Japan thirteen
gay couples filed the country's first lawsuit challenging the
rejection of same-sex marriage, arguing the denial violates their
constitutional right to equality.
   (AP, 2/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 14, In Kashmir at
least 41 soldiers were killed and more than two dozen others wounded
in a car bomb attack on a paramilitary convoy along a key highway on
the outskirts of Srinagar. Adil Ahmad Dar (20) from the village of
Lethipora in Indian Kashmir, rammed a car full of explosives into
the convoy. His parents said he had been beaten by Indian troops a
few years back when he was returning from school. Pakistan-based
Islamist militant group Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) claimed
responsibility for the car bomb attack. India's PM Narendra Modi
soon placed the blame for the bombing squarely on neighboring
Pakistan.
   (AP, 2/14/19)(AP, 2/15/19)(Reuters, 2/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 14, In Libya an armed
group kidnapped 14 Tunisian workers in the western city of Zawiya
near the capital, Tripoli.
   (AP, 2/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 14, The World Health
Organization (WHO) said that at least 922 children and young adults
have died of measles in Madagascar since October, despite a huge
emergency vaccination program.
   (Reuters, 2/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 14, Russia's Pres.
Putin hosted a meeting in Sochi to weigh the future of Syria with
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and Iranian President Hassan
Rouhani. Russia told Turkey it had no right to create a "safe zone"
in northeast Syria unless it sought and received the consent of
Syria's Pres. Bashar al-Assad.
   (Reuters, 2/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 14, South African gold
mining giant Sibanye-Stillwater announced plans to shed more than
6,000 jobs, or 10 percent of its workforce, from underperforming
gold mines.
   (AFP, 2/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 14, Yusuf Saloojee,
South Africa's former ambassador to Iran, was arrested Johannesburg
on charges he took a bribe to help telecoms company MTN win a $31.6
billion license to operate in Iran.
   (Reuters, 2/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 14, Spanish
campaigners delivered a petition with more than half a million
signatures to the national parliament in Madrid demanding an
extension of the statute of limitations in child sex abuse cases.
   (AP, 2/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 14, In Sudan security
forces fired teargas to disperse hundreds of protesters close to the
presidential palace in Khartoum, before plainclothes officers armed
with plastic piping rounded up around 30 people.
   (Reuters, 2/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 14, In eastern Syria
clearance operations took place in the villages of Shajalah and
Baghouz. Scores of militants from the Islamic State group had
surrendered to the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces the previous
evening.
   (AP, 2/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 14, The UN and the
Syrian Arab Red Crescent delivered badly-needed humanitarian
assistance to more than 40,000 displaced people in the Rukban camp
near the Jordanian border.
   (AP, 2/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 14, Venezuela's
military reinforced a blockade at the border with Colombia where
opposition leader Juan Guaido has vowed to bring in
desperately-needed humanitarian aid despite President Nicolas
Maduro's vow to keep it out. The opposition's envoy to the US
accused the government of President Nicolas Maduro of blocking
humanitarian aid to the country and urged the international
community to help open "thousands of windows" to let assistance in.
   (AFP, 2/14/19)(Reuters, 2/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 15, Pres. Donald Trump
announced that he has signed the appropriate paperwork to declare an
emergency on the border so he can build a wall along the US-Mexico
border. President Donald Trump also announced he was declaring a
national emergency to fulfill his pledge to construct the wall.
Congress' two top Democrats said they'll use "every remedy
available" to oppose Trump's declaration of an emergency to shift
billions of federal dollars into building the wall.
   (AP, 2/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 15, The US government
said it will lead an ambitious effort to develop technologies to
recycle lithium-ion batteries from electric vehicles, cellphones and
other sources to ensure a reliable and affordable supply of metals
crucial to battery production in anticipation of soaring global
demand and potential shortages.
   (AP, 2/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 15, US and Iceland
diplomats said they have agreed to set up formal economic channels
to boost trade and business investment.
   (Reuters, 2/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 15, The US Treasury
Department imposed sanctions on top Venezuelan security officials
and the head of Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA as it ratcheted
up pressure on embattled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro over an
election it says was illegal.
   (Reuters, 2/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 15, The US Justice
Department alleged that two former executives for Cognizant
Technology Solutions paid about $2 million in bribes to Indian
officials to build a new office campus in the country.
   (AP, 2/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 15, In Illinois Gary
Martin (45), an employee of the Henry Pratt Co. in Aurora, was
fired. He then killed five people and wounded five police officers
before he was fatally shot. Martin had purchased his handgun in
2014. An initial background check did not catch a 1995 felony
conviction.
   (SFC, 2/16/19, p.A8)(SSFC, 2/17/19, p.A10)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 15, In Maryland Coast
Guard Lt. Paul Hassan (49), a self-described white nationalist, was
arrested on gun and drug charges. He was later accused of plotting
to kill a long list of prominent journalists and Democratic
politicians as well as others.
   (SFC, 2/21/19, p.A8)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 15, Brazilian police
arrested eight employees of mining company Vale SA as part of a
criminal investigation into the causes of the Jan. 25 deadly dam
disaster.
   (Reuters, 2/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 15, Thousands of
British children marched out of lessons to demand action on climate
change, earning a mild rebuke from the prime minister's office for
disrupting classes, but praise from the energy minister and
activists.
   (Reuters, 2/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 15, Costa Rico's
Justice Ministry announced that Julio Solis, director of Citizen
Peace and Coexistence Promotion, had resigned. The country's
vice-minister of economy reported him a day earlier for alleged
sexual abuse.
   (AP, 2/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 15, A top Airbus
official said Germany's halt in exports to Saudi Arabia is
preventing Britain from completing the sale of 48 Eurofighter
Typhoon warplanes to Riyadh, and has delayed potential sales of
other weapons such as the A400M military transport. The Eurofighter
is built by a consortium of four founding countries: Germany,
Britain, Italy and Spain.
   (Reuters, 2/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 15, Rights group
Amnesty International slammed a "ban" it said Egyptian authorities
have imposed on family visits to scores of detainees.
   (AFP, 2/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 15, Indian activist S
Mugilan, who released a video critical of the police shooting of
protesters at Vedanta's south Indian copper smelter in May, killing
13 and injuring many others, went missing following a press
conference in Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu state. He released
an analysis of publicly available video footage that he said showed
the police had escalated the situation, leading to unnecessary
deaths.
   (Reuters, 2/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 15, In Myanmar the
Yangon Northern District Court found Kyi Lin guilty of premeditated
murder and illegal weapons possession in the Jan. 29, 2017, shooting
of Ko Ni at Yangon's airport. It also sentenced to death another man
for helping to plan the killing, and gave prison sentences to two
other men it said were also involved in the crime. A fifth suspect
accused of being the mastermind remains at large.
   (AP, 2/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 15, The Pacific island
nation of Nauru posted a new rule not allowing doctors to remotely
recommend the medical transfer of asylum seekers to Australia. The
new rule could thwart an easing of Australia's hardline immigration
policy.
   (AP, 2/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 15, In Nigeria Boko
Haram insurgents killed eight people during an attack late today on
the northeastern city of Maiduguri.
   (AFP, 2/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 15, In Nigeria
authorities in Kaduna state reported at least 66 deaths in fighting
said to be between Christian farmers and Fulani Muslim herdsmen. The
death toll from the attack soon doubled to more than 130 people.
   (SFC, 2/15/19, p.A2)(Reuters, 2/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 15, A Russian court
ordered Baring Vostok executive Phillipe Delpal, a French national,
to be held in custody for one month and 30 days after he was
detained on suspicion of embezzlement. He was one of several
executives at private equity group Baring Vostok including Michael
Calvey, a US citizen, who were detained a day earlier.
   (Reuters, 2/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 15, South African
police said an arrest warrant for Ajay Gupta, a businessman and
friend of former president Jacob Zuma, has been provisionally
withdrawn, in a setback for the government's promised fight against
corruption.
   (Reuters, 2/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 15, Spain's PM Pedro
Sanchez called an early general election for April 28 that is
expected to highlight the deep political divisions coursing through
the nation.
   (AP, 2/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 15, In Spain hundreds
of Chinese protested outside a bank in Madrid, claiming they are
being unfairly denied access to their accounts while the bank
insists it's merely complying with money-laundering laws.
   (AP, 2/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 15, In Sweden the main
suspect (22) in the theft of royal funeral artifacts from a Swedish
cathedral confessed to stealing them last July 31 after his DNA was
found on the items that were pulled out last week from a garbage bin
north of Stockholm.
   (AP, 2/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 15, In a commander
with the Kurdish-led force fighting the extremists said the
offensive on the last enclave held by the Islamic State group in
eastern Syria has been blunted by the discovery of hundreds of
civilians still living there. IS militants clung to their last
square km (mile) of land in Baghouz.
   (AP, 2/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 15, In Thailand the
Pheu Thai, the flagship party of the political machine of former PM
Thaksin Shinawatra, held its first rally in Bangkok, as campaigning
heats up for the first election since a 2014 military coup.
   (AP, 2/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 15, Turkish police
prevented supporters from rallying outside the home of Leyla Guven,
a pro-Kurdish lawmaker on hunger strike for 100 days.
   (AFP, 2/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 15, A report by the UN
human rights office and the UN mission in South Sudan recorded 175
cases, mainly rapes lasting hours by multiple uniformed and armed
men, just between September and December 2018.
   (Reuters, 2/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 16, US military
transport planes carrying humanitarian aid meant for Venezuelans
landed in the Colombian border city of Cucuta, where food and
medicine is being stored amidst uncertainty over how and where aid
will be distributed.
   (Reuters, 2/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 16, In Mississippi
police found four people dead in a home in Clinton following a
12-hour standoff. Suspect Nam Lee was found wounded and soon died.
    (SFC, 2/18/19, p.A4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 16, World Pangolin Day
was marked around the globe. Conservationists say well over 1
million pangolins have been poached since around 2000.
   (AP, 2/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 16, In Afghanistan the
Taliban stormed a police checkpoint late today, killing six police
in the northern Balkh province.
   (AP, 2/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 16, In Albania
thousands of opposition supporters clashed with police at an
anti-government rally protesting what they claim is a corrupt and
inefficient Cabinet. The protesters demanded that the government
resign and an early election be held.
   (AP, 2/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 16, Hundreds of
passengers throughout Europe were stranded by the abrupt collapse of
the British regional airline Flybmi.
   (AP, 2/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 16, In China Mao
Zedong's former secretary Li Rui (101), a bold critic of the ruling
Communist Party, died. He had spent a lifetime near the center of
elite politics.
   (AFP, 2/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 16, Croatian police
found a body in a freezer in the hallway of the Dominic family home
in the village of Pavlovec, northeast of Zagreb. It was apparently
that of Jasmina Dominic, who was reported missing in 2005 but was
last seen in 2000 when she was 23 years old. Smiljana Srnec (450,
her the older sister, was detained.
   (AP, 2/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 16, In Egypt
extremists attacked an army checkpoint in the troubled northern
Sinai peninsula at dawn, causing 15 casualties among the armed
forces including at least one officer shot dead. Seven of the
extremists were reported killed.
   (AP, 2/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 16, In France "yellow
vest" protesters took to the streets for the 14th weekend in a row.
A poll this week showed dwindling support for the demonstrations.
   (Reuters, 2/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 16, French director
Francois Ozon's film "Grace a Dieu" ("By the Grace of God") won the
Berlin Film Festival's jury grand prize. The movie, which opens on
Feb. 20, portrays French priest Bernard Preynat, who has been
accused of molesting dozens of boys during the 1980s and '90s.
   (AP, 2/18/19)  Â
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 16, German Chancellor
Angela Merkel robustly defended European nations' decision to stand
by the Iran nuclear deal in comments at the Munich Security
Conference, an annual gathering of top global defense and foreign
policy officials.
   (AP, 2/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 16, In Germany Serbian
President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovo President Hashim Thaci
appeared together at the Munich Security Conference, both expressing
interest in reaching an agreement but neither appearing to give
ground.
   (AP, 2/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 16, Haiti's PM
Jean-Henry Ceant, after days of deadly protests, announced that
government officials will lose their perks under emergency economic
and anti-corruption measures.
   (AFP, 2/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 16, India's first
locally built semi high-speed train broke down early today on its
way back to New Delhi from Varanasi in northern Uttar Pradesh, a day
after its inauguration by PM Narendra Modi. The railway ministry
said the disruption was possibly due to cattle run over.
   (Reuters, 2/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 16, Mexico's Pres.
Manuel Lopez Obrador announced a $3.9 billion bailout for Pemex, the
country's state-owned oil company, and promised it an additional
$1.6 billion in revenue.
   (SSFC, 2/17/19, p.A4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 16, Nigeria's
president and the leading opposition candidate urged people to
remain calm after a national election scheduled for today was
postponed by a week just five hours before polls were due to open.
   (Reuters, 2/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 16, Police in North
Macedonia said they've broken up a criminal ring of migrant
smugglers and filed charges against 21 people, including a police
officer, for illegal trafficking.
   (AP, 2/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 16, A Russian court
ordered Michael Calvey, the US founder of one of Russia's biggest
private equity firms accused of fraud, to be kept in custody until
April 13. Investigators accused Calvey and other executives of
embezzling 2.5 billion rubles ($37.73 million).
   (Reuters, 2/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 16, In Serbia
thousands of people rallied in the capital for 11th week in a row
against populist President Aleksandar Vucic and his government.
   (AP, 2/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 16, In Spain thousands
of Catalan separatists marched in Barcelona to proclaim the
innocence of 12 of their leaders who are on trial for their role in
a failed 2017 secession bid.
   (AP, 2/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 16, Bruno Ganz (77),
Swiss actor, died in Zurich. He gave masterful performances as Adolf
Hitler in "Downfall" (2004) and an angel seeking mortality in
divided Berlin in "Wings of Desire" (1987).
   (AFP, 2/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 16, In eastern Syria
jihadist fighters defending the last dreg of the Islamic State
group's "caliphate" were holed up in half a square km of Baghouz
village. Large numbers of civilians were reported still trapped
inside.
   (AFP, 2/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 16, The Vatican said
former US cardinal Theodore McCarrick (88) has been expelled from
the Roman Catholic priesthood after being found guilty of sexual
crimes against minors and adults.
   (Reuters, 2/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 16, In Zimbabwe eight
artisanal miners, who were trapped underground since Feb. 12 after
heavy flooding, were rescued. Dozens of their co-workers remained
missing and were feared dead.
   (AP, 2/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 17, In Afghanistan a
roadside bomb killed three civilians in the southern Kandahar
province.
   (AP, 2/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 17, In southern
Bangladesh a devastating blaze raced through a crammed slum, killing
at least nine people and injuring several others in Chittagong city.
   (AP, 2/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 17, French officials
strongly condemned anti-Semitic abuse and anti-police attacks by
some "yellow vest" demonstrators as hundreds gathered in central
Paris to mark the third month of the anti-government protests.
   (AFP, 2/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 17, In Haiti five US
citizens were among eight men arrested while carrying automatic
weapons and other arms and driving in cars without license plates.
They returned to the United States on Feb. 20 before a scheduled
court hearing in the Caribbean nation.
   (AP, 2/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 17, Indian police said
authorities have detained 23 men suspected of links to the
Pakistan-based militant group that masterminded the Feb. 14 bombing
of an Indian security convoy in Kashmir that killed 44 paramilitary
police.
   (Reuters, 2/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 17, Hundreds of Indian
soldiers descended on the village of Pinglan, which is surrounded by
south Kashmir's apple and apricot orchards, just before midnight. By
the time they left 18 hours later, one civilian, three armed
militants, and five members of the security forces were dead, a row
of houses was reduced to rubble, an unexploded missile had been
planted in a rice paddy, and more than 120 villagers had sought
treatment for exposure to tear gas, alleged beatings, and in some
cases mental trauma.
   (Reuters, 4/30/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 17, Iran's state TV
reported that the country's President Hassan Rouhani has unveiled
the first Iranian made semi-heavy submarine.
   (AP, 2/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 17, Iran's
Revolutionary Guards broke up a group of militants in southeast Iran
who were linked to a suicide bombing that killed 27 guards near the
border with Pakistan last week. Three militants were arrested and
explosive material was seized from houses in the cities of Saravan
and Khash.
   (AP, 2/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 17, Israel's PM
Benjamin Netanyahu handed over his role as foreign minister to
intelligence minister Israel Katz, giving up the portfolio he has
held since 2015.
   (Reuters, 2/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 17, A Maltese court
said it had granted bail to Soko Moussa Shaha Ali, one of two men
arrested for hijacking in 2016 after a passenger plane was forced to
land in Malta, saying he had spent the maximum time allowed in
prison without being tried.
   (Reuters, 2/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 17, Saudi Arabia
signed a preliminary agreement with France's Naval Group to build
warships in the kingdom, as part of its efforts to develop domestic
manufacturing capabilities. Saudi Arabian Military Industries
(SAMI), the kingdom’s state defense company, made the announcement
at the IDEX military exhibition in Abu Dhabi.
   (Reuters, 2/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 17, Saudi Arabia's
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was greeted with a booming 21-gun
salute in Pakistan, as he kicked off an Asia tour months after being
tarnished by his alleged links to the murder of journalist Jamal
Khashoggi.
   (AFP, 2/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 17, In Sudan a vendor
died after riot police fired tear gas at an anti-government rally in
Khartoum. Human Rights Watch said at least 51 have been killed since
Dec. 19, when a government decision to triple the price of bread.
   (AFP, 2/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 17, A spokesman for
the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces said Islamic State
militants are preventing more than 1,000 civilians from leaving
Baghouz village, a tiny area in eastern Syria still held by the
extremist group.
   (AP, 2/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 17, The United Arab
Emirates (UAE) said it had signed military deals worth 3.87 billion
UAE dirhams ($1.1 billion) with international companies.
   (Reuters, 2/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 17, Thousands of
volunteers in Venezuela began mobilizing to bring American aid into
their crisis-hit country despite a blockade by President Nicolas
Maduro who claims the assistance could be cover for a US invasion.
   (AFP, 2/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, California and 15
other states filed a lawsuit against Pres. Donald Trump's emergency
declaration to fund a wall on the US-Mexico border.
   (SFC, 2/19/19, p.A4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, It was reported
that the Catholic Diocese of Oakland, Ca., has released the names of
45 clergymen and religious brothers they say are "credibly accused"
of sexually assaulting minors.
   (SFC, 2/18/19, p.C1)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, The NYC Human
Rights Commission released guidelines enabling people to seek fines
and other remedies if they've been harassed or punished in public
spaces because of their hair texture or style.
   (SFC, 2/19/19, p.A4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, In Afghanistan a
doctor was killed late today as he returned home from his private
clinic in Kabul by an explosive device attached to his vehicle. The
Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack.
   (AP, 2/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, Albania's
center-right opposition party said its 33 lawmakers plan to resign
from parliament over alleged corruption and inefficiency of the
country's Socialist government.
   (AP, 2/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, In southern
Bolivia a passenger bus crashed head-on with a dump truck, killing
at least 24 people and injuring 12 more.
   (AP, 2/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, Brazil's
government banned new upstream mining dams and ordered the
decommissioning of all such dams by 2021, targeting the type of
structure that burst last month in the town of Brumadinho, where the
death toll rose to 169 people with 141 people yet to be located.
   (Reuters, 2/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, Seven MPs quit
Britain's main opposition Labour Party, citing the leadership's
support for Brexit and a growing culture of racism, intimidation and
abuse.
   (AFP, 2/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, British media
reported that Honda will close a car factory in Swindon in 2022 with
the potential loss of 3,500 jobs, in another blow to a British
economy made jittery by Brexit.
   (AP, 2/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, China's cabinet
issued guidelines for developing a "Greater Bay Area" around the
Pearl River Delta, in a bid to spur growth in Guangdong province and
the cities of Hong Kong and Macau.
   (Reuters, 2/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, China's government
accused the United States of trying to block its industrial
development by alleging that Chinese mobile network gear poses a
cybersecurity threat to countries rolling out new internet systems.
   (AP, 2/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, In Egypt a
late-night suicide blast near Cairo's famed tourist market left two
policemen dead. Al-Hassan Abdullah (37) blew himself up after police
officers approached to arrest him. A wounded officer soon died
raising the death toll to three.
   (AP, 2/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, Indian troops
suffered new losses in a battle with Kashmir militants that left
nine dead. Officials said four soldiers, a policeman, three
militants and a civilian were killed in the latest clash. The
suspected organizer of last week's suicide bombing was said to be
among the dead.
   (AP, 2/18/19)(Reuters, 2/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, Israel says that
it would host bilateral meetings with the Czech, Slovak and
Hungarian leaders this week after Poland withdrew from a planned
five-way summit in Jerusalem in protest at Holocaust rhetoric.
   (Reuters, 2/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, Lithuanian startup
Trafi said Berlin will be the first major European capital to get a
transport app that handles billing for all services centrally and
requires only a single login. Similar services are already available
in Vilnius, Rio de Janeiro and Jakarta.
   (AP, 2/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, Maldives
authorities detained former strongman president Abdulla Yameen after
he was accused of trying to bribe witnesses in his money laundering
trial.
   (AFP, 2/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, Mexico's President
Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said he will close the famed Maria Madre
island penal colony. It was founded in 1905 off the country's
Pacific coast.
   (AP, 2/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, Mexico's navy
seized more than 1,300 pounds (630 kg) of cocaine from a speedboat
off the country's Pacific coast. 15 crew members were detained.
   (AP, 2/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, The Philippine
health secretary said that 136 people, mostly children, have died of
measles and 8,400 others have fallen ill in an outbreak blamed
partly on vaccination fears.
   (AP, 2/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, Poland's PM
Mateusz Morawiecki cancelled Warsaw's participation in a Jerusalem
summit, accusing an Israeli minister of "racist" comments about the
actions of Poles during the Holocaust, further souring relations
between the two nations.
   (AFP, 2/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, In eastern Syria
more than 300 Islamic State militants surrounded in the village of
Baghouz refused to surrender to US-backed forces and were trying to
negotiate for a corridor to the rebel-held northwestern province of
Idlib. Two bomb blasts went off in the northwestern city of Idlib,
killing at least 13 people.
   (AP, 2/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, The United Arab
Emirates announced that it had signed deals worth more than $1.6
billion for the purchase of Patriot missile launchers from US arms
giant Raytheon.
   (AFP, 2/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, The UN said
Yemen's warring parties have agreed to start withdrawing forces from
the main port of Hodeidah under a UN-sponsored deal, following weeks
of diplomacy to salvage a pact that stalled over control of the Red
Sea city.
   (Reuters, 2/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, Venezuela's
opposition said that the state internet provider CANTV has blocked a
webpage where volunteers sign up to answer National Assembly
president Juan Guaido's call to help bring in desperately needed
humanitarian aid.
   (AFP, 2/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, Zimbabwe President
Emmerson Mnangagwa retired four generals, in the first major
shake-up of the armed forces since he took office.
   (AP, 2/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, A delegation of US
lawmakers sought to reassure European allies in Brussels that
differences over President Donald Trump's policies were mere "family
squabbles" and transatlantic ties remain strong.
   (Reuters, 2/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, In Afghanistan at
least six civilians were killed by a roadside bomb as their vehicle
was traveling through the eastern province of Laghman.
   (AP, 2/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, Egyptian state
media reported that security forces have killed 16 suspected
militants in two separate raids in the city of Arish in North Sinai.
   (Reuters, 2/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, Estonian
authorities said that the local branch of Danske Bank must close
after the financial group admitted that massive amounts of money
from Russia and former Soviet states had been laundered through the
subsidiary.
   (AP, 2/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, The European Union
reached a tentative agreement on the first specific EU standards for
trucks, seeking to get polluting CO2 levels down.
   (AP, 2/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, French residents
and public officials from across the political spectrum joined
nationwide rallies against anti-Semitism following a series of
anti-Semitic acts. Vandals daubed swastikas and anti-Semitic slogans
overnight on around 90 graves in a Jewish cemetery in the eastern
village of Quatzenheim.
   (AP, 2/19/19)(Reuters, 2/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, Karl Lagerfeld
(85), German-born French fashion designer, died in Paris. Lagerfeld
was one of the most hardworking figures in the fashion world,
holding down the top design jobs at LVMH-owned luxury label Fendi
from 1977, and Paris' family-owned power-house Chanel in 1983.
   (AP, 2/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, France and Germany
launched a drive in Berlin to overhaul the European Union's
competition rules to facilitate the creation of world-leading
companies. They pushed forward a project to create a car battery
consortium aimed at catching up with Asian rivals.
   (AP, 2/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, Hungary launched a
new anti-immigration media campaign in which it accused George Soros
and EU Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker of allegedly supporting
illegal migration. Brussels immediately this dismissed as "fake
news".
   (AFP, 2/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, Israeli PM
Benjamin Netanyahu held back-to-back meetings with Slovak PM Peter
Pellegrini, Czech PM Andrej Babis and Hungarian PM Viktor Orban
before hosting all three for lunch at his official residence. The
series of sit-downs replaced a high-profile summit in Jerusalem that
was cancelled over a rift with Poland.
   (AP, 2/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, Pakistan accused
India of sponsoring terrorism and of using the United Nations'
highest court for "political theater" as it urged judges to dismiss
an Indian case seeking to save alleged spy Kulbhushan Jadhav from
execution.
   (AP, 2/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, Romania's Social
Democratic government adopted emergency legislation including a
provision to limit how long top prosecutor agencies can be managed
by interim appointees. The measure also removes the prosecutor
general's oversight of a unit tasked with investigating magistrates.
   (AP, 2/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, Russian lawmakers
approved a bill prohibiting military personnel from using
smartphones on duty, a move intended to block leaks of sensitive
information on social media.
   (AP, 2/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, Saudi Crown Prince
Mohammed bin Salman arrived in India after visiting Pakistan.
   (AP, 2/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, A Swedish court
convicted Kurda Bahaalddin H Saeed H Saeed (38), who fought against
the Islamic State group in Iraq, of war crimes for posting macabre
pictures and videos on Facebook. He was sentenced to 15 months in
jail.
   (AP, 2/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, In Switzerland an
avalanche buried several skiers on the busy slopes of the resort of
Crans-Montana. Scores of rescuers worked to dig out survivors. 10 to
12 people were believed to be trapped under the snow. A Frenchman
(34) whose job was to check the safety of ski slopes, was one of
four people rescued, but soon died from injuries in the avalanche.
   (AP, 2/19/19)(AP, 2/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, A senior adviser
to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad flatly rejected the idea of
giving Syrian Kurds a measure of autonomy, saying such a move would
open the door to the partition of the country.
   (Reuters, 2/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, A Tanzanian court
sentenced Yang Feng Glan (69) of China to 15 years in jail for her
role in trafficking tusks from more than 400 elephants. Two
Tanzanian men were also found guilty for their role in the illegal
commerce. They were also sentenced to 15 years each.
   (AFP, 2/19/19)(Reuters, 2/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, A Turkish appeals
court upheld jail sentences against opposition journalists in a
long-running case targeting the Cumhuriyet newspaper -- one of the
few remaining dailies critical of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
   (AFP, 2/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, Ukraine's Pres.
Petro Poroshenko signed a constitutional amendment committing to
join NATO and the European Union, acknowledging that the nation
still has a long way to go to meet the membership criteria.
   (AP, 2/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, The United Arab
Emirates' armed forces signed 514.8 million dirham ($140.17 million)
defense contracts with international firms at the IDEX military
exhibition in Abu Dhabi.
   (AP, 2/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, A UN report said
more than 100,000 people have been displaced by factional fighting
and lawlessness in Burkina Faso, most within the past two months.
   (Reuters, 2/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, At the Vatican
Catholic religious orders from around the world apologized for
having failed to respond when their priests raped children,
acknowledging that their family-like communities blinded them to
sexual abuse and led to misplaced loyalties, denial and cover-ups.
   (AP, 2/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, Venezuelan Defense
Minister Vladimir Padrino said the country's opposition would have
to pass over "our dead bodies" to oust President Nicolas Maduro and
impose a new government.
   (Reuters, 2/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, US Sec. of State
Mike Pompeo said Hoda Muthana (24), an Alabama woman who left home
to join the Islamic State in Syria, has no legal claim to American
citizenship. Muthana has said she made a mistake and wants to return
home with her 18-month-old son.
   (SFC, 2/21/19, p.A2)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, San Francisco
police, sheriff's deputies and parole agents arrested 50 people in
the Tenderloin over five hours in an effort to improve the quality
of life in the drug-plagued area.
   {SF, USA, Drugs}
   (SFC, 2/22/19, p.C1)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, Microsoft Corp
said it had discovered hacking targeting democratic institutions,
think tanks and non-profit organizations in Europe and plans to
offer a cyber security service to several countries to close
security gaps. The hacks occurred between September and December
2018, targeting employees of the German Council on Foreign Relations
and European offices of The Aspen Institute and The German Marshall
Fund.
   (Reuters, 2/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, Samsung unveiled
its new foldable smartphone in San Francisco. The Galaxy Fold will
sell for $1980 when it is released on April 26.
   (SFC, 2/21/19, p.D1)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, In Bangladesh a
fire late today killed at least 70 people in the Chawkbazar area,
the oldest part Dhaka.
   (AP, 2/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, Three MPs quit
Britain's governing Conservative Party in protest at its
"disastrous" hard line on Brexit, joining a rebellion in parliament
that is redrawing the country's political landscape just weeks
before it leaves the EU.
   (AFP, 2/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, Dubai budget
carrier flydubai said it chalked up a loss of $43.5 million in 2018,
as airlines across the Gulf struggle with mounting costs and
political tensions.
   (AFP, 2/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, Czech authorities
said they would slap checks on beef imported from Poland after
veterinarians found the dangerous Salmonella bacteria in a 700-kg
batch of Polish beef. The beef was imported from Poland on February
13.
   (AFP, 2/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, Egypt hanged nine
men for the 2015 assassination of the prosecutor general, bringing
to 15 the number of executions it has carried out this month.
   (AFP, 2/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, A French court
ordered Switzerland's largest bank, UBS, to pay 4.5 billion euros
($5.1 billion) in fines and damages for helping wealthy French
clients evade tax authorities, wrapping up one of France's
biggest-ever tax evasion trials.
   (AP, 2/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, A French TV
channel said it had been forced to cut short a live Facebook
broadcast from a desecrated Jewish cemetery in eastern France
because of an onslaught of anti-Semitic commentary.
   (Reuters, 2/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, In India Saudi
Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Indian leader Narendra
Modi vowed to increase pressure on countries that fuel terrorism.
   (AFP, 2/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, India's top court
ordered more than a dozen states to evict nearly 1 million people
from forest land as they have their failed to prove ownership
claims. The court says the eviction must be carried out within five
months.
   (AP, 2/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, India's Supreme
Court found Anil Ambani, the chairman of Reliance Communications,
and two of his directors guilty of contempt of court and ordered
them to pay 5.5 billion rupees ($77.29 million) owed to Swedish
telecom equipment maker Ericsson.
   (AP, 2/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, In southern Libya
armed men murdered General Ibrahim Mohamad Kari, security head in
the town of Murzuk. Forces loyal to Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar
entered and took control of Murzuk as part of an offensive launched
in January.
   (AFP, 2/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, A Lithuanian
official says 26 people, including eight judges in different courts,
have been detained in a corruption probe, suspected of "large-scale
bribery, trading in influence and abuse of powers in the court
system".
   (AP, 2/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, Moroccan police
fired water cannons at protesting teachers who were marching toward
a royal palace and beat people with truncheons amid demonstrations
around Rabat. Morocco now sees an average of 48 protests daily,
according to the ministry for human rights.
   (AP, 2/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, Pakistani and
Indian officials said that India has halted a key bus service with
the Pakistani-controlled part of Kashmir, cutting the only land
route linking the divided Himalayan region.
   (AP, 2/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, In Pakistan Naseeb
Khan (25) and Bibi Dakhtar (20) were found dead with slit throats in
the western suburbs of Karachi. They went missing last year and
police suspected they were killed on the orders of an elders'
council over a perceived affront to family honor.
   (AP, 2/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, Palestinian
President Mahmoud Abbas said he will not accept regular monthly tax
transfers from Israel if it carries out its decision to deduct
amounts the Palestinians pay to the families of prisoners and people
killed in fighting with Israel.
   (AP, 2/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, The leader of one
of Portugal's main nurses' unions started a hunger strike after
prosecutors declared unlawful a crippling three-week-long walkout by
surgical nurses and threatened to impose penalties on those still
taking part.
   (Reuters, 2/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, Russian President
Vladimir Putin threatened to deploy new missiles against Western
capitals as he delivered a state of the nation address aimed at
boosting falling approval ratings.
   (AFP, 2/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, Russian news
agencies said a shipment of Russian medicine and medical equipment
has arrived in Venezuela.
   (AP, 2/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, South Africa's
Finance Minister Tito Mboweni announced a $1.6 billion-a-year
bailout for the country's electricity utility in a bid to stave off
further downgrades to Pretoria's credit rating as he unveiled a new
budget.
   (AFP, 2/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, Swiss-based
commodities giant Glencore said it will cap how much coal it mines
amid shareholder pressure for it to help reduce global emissions of
greenhouse gases.
   (AP, 2/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, In eastern Syria a
convoy of trucks carrying hundreds of civilians, including men,
women and children, left Baghouz, the last enclave held by Islamic
State militants, signaling a possible end to a standoff that has
lasted for more than a week.
   (AP, 2/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, In eastern Syria
French jihadist Fabien Clain (41) was killed in a coalition strike
in Baghouz. His younger Jean-Michel (38) was wounded in the same
attack but survived. He died in a mortar attack two days later.
   (AFP, 3/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, In Syria religious
leaders of Russia's republic of Chechnya inaugurated the re-opened
13th century Khalid Ibn al-Walid Mosque in Homs, once the symbol of
the rebellion against President Bashar Assad. The mosque hosts the
shrine of Khalid Ibn al-Walid, a companion of Prophet Muhammad.
   (AP, 2/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, US-backed Syrian
forces fighting the Islamic State group in Syria handed over more
than 150 Iraqi members of the group to Iraq, the first batch of
several to come.
   (AP, 2/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, Taiwan's
government said that it would propose a draft law to allow same-sex
marriage in Asia's first such bill amid a heated debate over
marriage equality that has divided the self-ruled island.
   (Reuters, 2/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, A Thai court ruled
that Dmitry Ukrainsky, a Russian man who allegedly was part of a
gang that stole millions of dollars online from bank accounts, can
be extradited to the United States to stand trial. However,
Ukrainsky's extradition to Russia was previously approved last year
by a Thai court after he agreed to return there after he finishes
serving a 10-year, 8-month prison term in Thailand for fraud, money
laundering and conducting business illegally as a foreigner.
   (AP, 2/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, A UN report said
investigators have identified perpetrators of pervasive rape and
killings and torture in secret safe houses in South Sudan, and
believe oil revenues have driven much of the violence in its civil
war.
   (Reuters, 2/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, Zambian opposition
parties said they will report Pres. Edgar Lungu to the International
Criminal Court in The Hague for alleged political violence against
his rivals.
   (AFP, 2/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, The White House
announced the plans to keep "a small peacekeeping force" in Syria,
partly reversing a decision by President Donald Trump in December to
pull out the entire 2,000-strong force.
   (Reuters, 2/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, The US and China
resumed high-levels talks aimed at easing a trade standoff that has
unnerved global investors and clouded the outlook for the world
economy.
   (AP, 2/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, Teachers in
Oakland, Ca., hit the picket lines for higher pay, smaller classes
and more support for students.
   {SF Bay Area}
   (SFC, 2/22/19, p.A1)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, Former San
Francisco police Officer Rain Dougherty (44) pleaded guilty to two
counts of bank robbery committed last year in the Richmond and
Sunset Districts of the city. He had been suspended four years
earlier for sending racist and homophobic text messages to other
officers.
   {SF, USA, Robbery}
   (SFC, 2/22/19, p.C10)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, In Vallejo, Ca.,
Henry Benson (37) and Roselle Cipriano (36), a husband and wife who
owned and operated an elder care facility, were indicted by a
federal grand jury for distributing and manufacturing
methamphetamine pills.
   {SF Bay Area, USA, Drugs}
   (SFC, 2/22/19, p.C1)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, David Horowitz
(b.1937), consumer reporter, died in Los Angeles. His syndicated
"Fight Back!" program made him perhaps the best-known consumer
reporter in the US.
   (SFC, 2/21/19, p.C5)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, In southern
California a small plane crashed in the snowy Tehachapi Mountains
killing all three onboard.
   (SFC, 2/26/19, p.A4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, In Chicago actor
Jussie Smollett turned himself in to police on a felony charge of
disorderly conduct for allegedly staging a racist antigay attack on
himself and filing a false police report.
   (SFC, 2/23/19, p.A6)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, North Carolina's
elections board ordered a new election in the last undecided
congressional race due to ballot tampering after GOP candidate Mark
Harris dropped his bid to be declared the winner.
   {North Carolina, USA}
   (SFC, 2/22/19, p.A5)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, It was reported
that 50 million gallons of toxic water is being discharged daily
from contaminated mining sites into streams and ponds without being
treated in California, Colorado, Oklahoma, Montana and at least five
other states.
   (SFC, 2/21/19, p.A8)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, A SpaceX Falcon 9
rocket launched from Cape Canaveral carried a communications
satellite for Indonesia and a lunar lander for Israel. The lunar
lander was expected to touch down on the Sea of Serenity on April
11.
   (SFC, 2/23/19, p.A4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, Peter Tork, one of
the four musicians featured in the Monkees sitcom (1966-68), died of
complications from cancer in eastern Connecticut.
   {Connecticut, USA, Pop&Rock}
   (SFC, 2/22/19, p.A7)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, Moshe Journo (53),
an Israeli man who allegedly had been on the run for 15 years after
being accused of raping a teenage girl in Pennsylvania, was
extradited back to the United States.
   (AP, 2/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, In Belgium Swedish
teenager Greta Thunberg (16) led a march of thousands of students
who are skipped classes for the seventh Thursday in a row to march
through Brussels and draw more attention to fighting climate change.
   (AP, 2/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, The Church of
England acknowledged the reality of shrinking congregations and
overworked priests and lifted a 400-year-old rule requiring that all
churches hold services every Sunday.
   (AP, 2/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, In southern China
Guo Kaibing (33), a reportedly mentally ill man, attacked morning
commuters with a knife, wounding 11 people, including students in
Ji'an City.
   (AP, 2/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, China announced
new measures against gender discrimination in Chinese workplaces
that forbid employers from asking potential female hires questions
such as if they are married or have children.
   (AP, 2/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, The International
Monetary Fund said Ecuador has agreed to receive $10 billion in
financial aid from global development bodies over three years.
   (AFP, 2/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, France Info radio
and BFM TV reported that French jihadist Fabian Clain had been
killed and his brother Jean-Michel seriously wounded after a
coalition strike in Baghouz, the final pocket held by the militants
in northeastern Syria.
   (Reuters, 2/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, Hungarian
opposition politicians accused the government of hypocrisy over a
program helping to settle Venezuelan refugees of Hungarian origin,
saying it contradicted the right-wing government's strict
anti-immigration laws.
   (AFP, 2/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, An Indian
government minister said India has decided to stop the flow of water
to Pakistan from its share in the rivers under the Indus Water
Treaty regulating river flows between the two nations.
   (Reuters, 2/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, Israel's acting
foreign minister doubled down on his divisive claim that Poles
collaborated with the Nazis and "suckled anti-Semitism with their
mothers' milk".
   (AP, 2/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, Kazakhstan's Pres.
Nursultan Nazarbayev fired the government over what he called its
failure to raise living standards and diversify away from oil and
gas in the Central Asian nation. An interim administration will be
led by Askar Mamin, who previously held the post of first deputy
prime minister.
   (AP, 2/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, Eastern Libyan
forces loyal to military commander Khalifa Haftar fought tribesmen
for a second day for control of the southern city of Murzuq, as part
of campaign to secure oilfields in the south. At least three
soldiers have been killed over the last 24 hours. Around 11
tribesmen have also been killed and 15 wounded.
   (Reuters, 2/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, The World Health
Organization (WHO) said that an epidemic of measles in Madagascar
has caused more than 900 deaths since the outbreak began last
September.
   (AP, 2/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, In Mali Djamel
Okacha (aka Yahya Abou El Hamame), an Algerian commander in Al-Qaeda
in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), was killed after French commandos,
helicopters and a drone hit a column of vehicles he was traveling in
north of Timbuktu. A total of 11 "terrorists" were reported killed.
   (AFP, 2/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, In northern
Mozambique a local worker was killed and six others were wounded
when two road convoys operated by US gas giant Anadarko came under
attack.
   (AFP, 2/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, In northwestern
Nigeria two people were killed in clashes between rival party
supporters in the village of Kofa, 2-days ahead of rescheduled
general elections.
   (AP, 2/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, Pakistan's PM
Imran Khan authorized the armed forces to "respond decisively and
comprehensively to any aggression or misadventure" by neighboring
India.
   (AP, 2/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, In Pakistan
torrential rains lashed several cities triggering flash floods that
left at least 26 people dead across the country.
   {Pakistan, Tragedy}
   (SFC, 2/22/19, p.A2)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, A Polish charity
helping victims of child abuse committed by Catholic priests accused
24 bishops of concealing perpetrators of sexual molestation of
minors. Three activists overturned a statue of a Polish priest
accused of sex abuse in the northern city of Gdansk. Father Henryk
Jankowski, who died in 2010, has faced accusations of pedophilia.
   (Reuters, 2/21/19)(AFP, 2/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, Russian state
prosecutors formally charged top US investor Michael Calvey, the
founder of the Baring Vostok private equity group, with fraud, hours
before Washington accused Moscow of denying its diplomats access to
him.
   (Reuters, 2/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, In Spain riot
police briefly clashed with pro-independence Catalan protesters in
Barcelona while other activists burned tires and blocked highways
across the northeast as part of a day of protests against the trial
of 12 separatist leaders.
   (Reuters, 2/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, Sudanese security
agents arrested several opposition leaders and activists as hundreds
of anti-government protesters trying to march on the presidential
palace were dispersed with tear gas.
   (AFP, 2/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, Hundreds of
workers in Port Sudan continued a days-long strike against the
transfer of its vital container terminal. Workers opposed Khartoum's
decision to transfer control of the port's container terminal to a
Philippine company, International Container Terminal Services Inc.
(ICTSI).
   (AFP, 2/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, In eastern Syria
twin bombings in market killed at least 14 people. US-backed Syrian
forces tried to negotiate the release of civilians still trapped in
the Islamic State group's last redoubt, as the international
coalition warned the jihadists faced "inevitable defeat".
   (AP, 2/21/19)(AFP, 2/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, Ukraine's State
Security Service SBU accused Russia of meddling in the electoral
process in Ukraine by creating illegal structures to help guarantee
victory for a certain candidate.
   (Reuters, 2/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, Pope Francis
opened his high-stakes abuse prevention summit at the Vatican. He
issued 21 proposals to stem the clergy sex abuse around the world at
the start of the 4-day event.
   (AP, 2/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, Venezuela's Pres.
maduro ordered the country's vast border with Brazil closed, days
before opposition leaders planned to bring in foreign humanitarian
aid.
   {Brazil, Venezuela}
   (SFC, 2/22/19, p.A2)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, Venezuelan
opposition leader Juan Guaido left Caracas with some 80 lawmakers on
a 800-km (500-mile) trip to the Colombian border where they hope to
receive food and medicine to alleviate shortages in defiance of
President Nicolas Maduro.
   (Reuters, 2/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 22, The Trump
administration and Chinese negotiators resumed high-level talks
aimed at resolving a trade dispute that has escalated uncertainty
for corporations, unsettled investors and posed a threat to the
global economy. Negotiators agreed to extend high-level trade talks
through the weekend, and President Donald Trump said he hoped to
meet next month at his Florida resort with President Xi Jinping to
try to finalize an agreement.
   (AP, 2/22/19)(AP, 2/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 22, The Trump
administration says it's sent about 191 metric tons of humanitarian
assistance over the past two weeks to the Colombian-Venezuelan
border for distribution inside Venezuela.
   (AP, 2/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 22, In Chicago R&B
star R. Kelly was arrested on multiple charges of aggravated sexual
abuse involving four victims, including at least three between the
ages of 13 and 17.
   (SFC, 2/23/19, p.A6)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 22, Chicago police
raided the home of Anjanette Young, who was not allowed to put on
clothes before being handcuffed. Police had the wrong house. On Dec.
15, 2021, Chicago’s City Council approved a $2.9 million settlement
for Young.
   (https://tinyurl.com/yde3dypj)(SFC, 12/21/20,
p.A6)(NY Times, 12/16/21)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 22, In Algeria several
hundred demonstrators rallied in Algiers in defiance of a ban on
demonstrations, and in other cities as well, against a bid by ailing
President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to win a fifth term. Police fired
tear gas to block a protest march on the presidential palace,
prompting demonstrators to respond with stone-throwing. Security
forces arrested 41 people as angry protests rocked the capital.
   (AFP, 2/22/19)(AFP, 2/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 22, Brazilian
authorities moved humanitarian aid to the country's northern border
with Venezuela even though the international crossing has been
closed.
   (AP, 2/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 22, In China Saudi
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman hailed relations with China as
trouble-free, during talks with President Xi Jinping in Beijing
aimed at strengthening relations in the face of criticism from the
West over the kingdom's human rights record and its war in Yemen.
   (AP, 2/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 22, In eastern Congo
DRC a new case of Ebola was confirmed in the Beni area where
authorities believed the epidemic had been brought under control
after 23 days without any fresh infections.
   (AFP, 2/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 22, A deep
magnitude-7.5 earthquake struck the Ecuador-Peru border region early
today, causing tremors that the Ecuadorian president said were felt
around the country.
   (Reuters, 2/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 22, In France hundreds
of students took to the streets of Paris to call for more action to
fight climate change, one day after a similar march in Brussels.
Greta Thunberg, the 16-year-old Swedish schoolgirl who is being
hailed as her generation's voice on climate change, joined the Paris
march.
   (AP, 2/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 22, German automakers
Daimler and BMW say that trustworthy handling of personal data will
be a key competitive advantage in their new joint venture that
offers app-based services like free-floating car-sharing in big
cities.
   (AP, 2/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 22, India's top court
ordered state authorities to stop threats, assaults and social
boycotts of thousands of Kashmiri students, traders and
professionals in an apparent retaliation for the killing of 40
paramilitary soldiers in a suicide attack in the Indian portion of
Kashmir last week.
   (AP, 2/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 22, An Indian
government minister said at least 41 tea plantation workers have
died from drinking toxic bootleg liquor after receiving their weekly
wages, and 20 are critically ill in hospital after nearly 100 people
drank the liquor a day earlier.
   (AP, 2/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 22, Israeli gunfire
killed Palestinian teenager Youssef al-Dayya (15) at a protest along
Gaza-Israel border fence, as thousands in contested Jerusalem
descended on a section of a flashpoint holy site that has been
closed by Israeli court order for over a decade.
   (AP, 2/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 22, Israel opened its
first embassy in Rwanda, offering support to the East Africa nation
from health to education and agriculture, as well as communication
technology including cyber-security.
   (AFP, 2/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 22, A Japanese probe
sent to collect samples from an asteroid 300 million km away for
clues about the origin of life and the solar system landed
successfully. Hayabusa2 touched down briefly on the Ryugu asteroid,
fired a bullet into the surface to puff up dust for collection and
blasted back to its holding position.
   (AP, 2/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 22, Authorities in the
Mexican state of Michoacan say that eight men were killed and two
soldiers and one state police officer were wounded following a
shootout.
   (AP, 2/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 22, Pakistan
re-imposed a ban on two charities run by a US-designated terrorist
blamed for the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Jamat-ut-Dawa and
Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation are thought to be a front for
Lashkar-e-Taiba, a militant group founded by Hafiz Saeed, a Muslim
cleric who lives freely in Pakistan.
   (AP, 2/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 22, It was reported
that Pakistan's army has stripped former spy chief Lt. Gen. Asad
Durrani of his pension and other benefits over a book he co-authored
with his former Indian counterpart. Durrani co-authored "Spy
Chronicles" (2018), a book that documents his exploits as head of
Inter-Services Intelligence from 1990 to 1992, with A.S. Daulat, the
former head of India's Research and Analysis Wing, and Indian
journalist Aditya Sinha.
   (AP, 2/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 22, Pakistani police
said five children have died of suspected food poisoning after their
family had dinner at a restaurant in Karachi the previous night.
   (AP, 2/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 22, In the Philippines
President Rodrigo Duterte led a ceremony to name Moro Islamic
Liberation Front leader Murad Ebrahim and some of his top commanders
as among 80 administrators of a transition government for the
five-province region called Bangsamoro.
   (AP, 2/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 22, In Romania
magistrates protested outside courthouses across the country in an
unprecedented protest against changes in judicial legislation that
have raised alarm bells over the rule of law.
   (Reuters, 2/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 22, A Russian court
ruled that Paul Whelan, a former US marine accused of spying, should
be held in a pre-trial detention facility for a further three months
to give investigators more time to look into his case.
   (Reuters, 2/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 22, Russia accused the
United States of using aid deliveries to Venezuela as a ploy to
carry out military action against President Nicolas Maduro's
government.
   (AFP, 2/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 22, In Spain a group
of unidentified men entered North Korea's embassy in Madrid, bound
and gagged staff, and drove off four hours later with computers.
Adrian Hong Chang, a Mexican national and US resident, was later
identified as the leader of a gang of 10 people who escaped in broad
daylight after stealing computers and documents from the embassy,
where they shackled and gagged its staff.
   (Reuters, 2/27/19)(AP, 3/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 22, It was reported
that South Sudan's rival armed groups are recruiting civilians
including child soldiers, violating a peace deal signed five months
ago.
   (SFC, 2/22/19, p.A4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 22, In Sudan security
forces fired teargas to disperse hundreds of protesters who marched
and chanted anti-government slogans following prayers at a major
mosque in the city of Omdurman.
   (Reuters, 2/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 22, In Sweden Johan
Nicklas Backstrom (22) was sentenced to four and a half years in
prison after he was convicted of stealing 17th-century Swedish royal
treasures estimated to be worth 65 million kronor ($7 million) from
a cathedral last year.
   (AP, 2/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 22, Hanna Johannes
Cosar, a former Swiss soldier, was found guilty in Zurich of
violating Swiss neutrality. He had commanded a Christian militia
fighting Islamic State in Syria. Cosar was fined 500 Swiss francs
($499), a relatively lenient punishment, after being convicted by a
Swiss military tribunal.
   (Reuters, 2/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 22, In eastern Syria
Kurdish-led forces said they would complete the evacuation of
thousands of civilians from Islamic State's last redoubt, and
welcomed a White House reversal of President Donald Trump's decision
to pull out all US troops. Some 2,000 people were believed to remain
inside Baghouz.
   (Reuters, 2/22/19)(AP, 2/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 22, Turkey ordered the
arrest of 295 serving military personnel, accusing them of links to
the network of US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who Ankara
says orchestrated a 2016 attempted coup.
   (Reuters, 2/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 22, In Venezuela
members of the Pemon ethnic group clashed with the National Guard
and army, who were moving tanks to the border with Brazil a day
after Maduro ordered the crossing closed. Zoraida Rodriguez, a
member of an indigenous community, was killed. The violence came
just hours before dueling concerts were expected to begin on the
country's western border with Colombia, where tons of donated food
and medicine are stored.
   (AP, 2/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 23, Jeff Adachi (59),
San Francisco's Public Defender, died of a suspected heart attack at
a residence on Telegraph Hill. The city's medical examiner later
concluded that Adachi died from a mixture of cocaine and alcohol,
which caused his already damaged heart to stop. The leak of a police
report on Adachi's death later led to a police raid on the home of
journalist Bryan Carmody. In 2020 San Francisco agreed to pay
Carmody $369,000 for the illegal police raids on his home and
office.
   (SFC, 2/25/19, p.C1)(SFC, 3/23/19, p.A1)(SSFC,
5/19/19, p.C1)(SFC, 3/3/20, p.C1)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 23, Weekend storms
raked parts of the southern US leaving two people dead. In
Mississippi a woman was killed when a tornado hit Columbus. A man
died in Tennessee when he drove into floodwaters.
   (SFC, 2/25/19, p.A4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 23, Filmmaker and
choreographer Stanley Donen (b.1924) died in New York City. He
co-directed "Singin'' in the Rain" (1952) with Gene Kelly as well as
"On the Town" (1949) and "It's Always Fair Weather" (1955).
   (SFC, 2/25/19, p.A4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 23, In Tennessee
police Officer Nicholas Galinger (38) was struck while on a call
with his field training officer. Hit-and-run suspect Janet Elaine
Hinds turned herself in to police on Feb. 25 after she was put on
the state's top ten most wanted list.
   (SFC, 2/26/19, p.A4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 23, In Texas a Boeing
767 cargo jetliner heading to Houston crashed just east of the city.
Three people aboard were killed.
   (SFC, 2/23/19, p.A6)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 23, In Austria a
German man went missing after an avalanche buried a group of
backcountry skiers, killing one and injuring a second.
   (AP, 2/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 23, In northern China
a bus carrying 50 miners to an underground operation went out of
control and crashed into the side of the tunnel. At least 20 people
were killed and 30 injured in the vehicle accident blamed on faulty
brakes.
   (AP, 2/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 23, A top Egyptian
court reversed a ban on ride-hailing companies including Uber and
Careem.
   (AFP, 2/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 23, It was reported
that the Ethiopian government has begun demolishing thousands of
houses they say are illegal in the Oromia region in the outskirts of
the capital, Addis Ababa. Residents alleged that they were paying
taxes to the government on the properties.
   (AP, 2/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 23, In France
thousands of yellow vest protesters took to the streets across the
country for a 15th straight weekend of demonstrations, trying to
re-energize supporters while tamping down on the violence and
anti-Semitism in the movement's ranks.
   (AP, 2/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 23, Indian authorities
said least 93 people have died and about 200 people have been
hospitalized after drinking tainted liquor in two separate incidents
in Assam state.
   (AP, 2/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 23, Indian authorities
arrested dozens of Muslim leaders in raids across Kashmir and sent
thousands of reinforcements to the troubled territory. Officials in
Kashmir said police have arrested at least 200 activists seeking the
end of Indian rule.
   (AFP, 2/23/19)(AP, 2/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 23, In northern India
10 people died in an explosion at a house where firecrackers were
being illegally manufactured in Uttar Pradesh state.
   (AP, 2/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 23, In India a fire at
the Aero India airshow in Bengaluru, run by the country's defence
ministry, destroyed three hundred cars.
   (AP, 2/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 23, In Iraq five
fishermen were killed in an attack by Islamic State group militants
on a camp site near the Therthar lake, 100 km (60 miles) northwest
of Baghdad. IS militants were believed to be behind a string of
ambushes, kidnappings and killings in the countryside.
   (AP, 2/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 23, Strong winds
toppled trees and walls in Italy, causing at least three deaths and
forcing a cargo ship to run aground. Gale-force winds swept across
Croatia's Adriatic coast, damaging cars, shattering windows and
disrupting traffic.
   (AP, 2/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 23, In Nepal an
explosion outside a telecommunication company in Kathmandu killed
one person and injured two others.
   (AP, 2/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 23, Nigeria held
presidential elections. In the northeast one soldier was killed and
20 others were injured in a Boko Haram rocket attack in Maiduguri,
just hours before elections began.
   (AP, 2/23/19)(AFP, 2/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 23, In Poland shipyard
workers of Gdansk Solidarity (union) returned the recently
overturned statue of Father Henryk Jankowski (d.2010) to its place.
Father Jankowski, accused of sex abuse, was formerly a close aide to
Lech Walesa during the Gdansk shipyard strikes in 1980s.
   (AFP, 2/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 23, In Russia a train
carrying war "trophies" captured in Syria left Moscow on a two-month
tour to parade Russia's military gains in the eight-year conflict.
   (AFP, 2/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 23, In Somalia the
United States military killed two al-Shabab extremists in four
airstrikes.
   (AP, 2/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 23, Sudan's President
Omar al-Bashir appointed Defence Minister General Awad Ibnouf as
first vice president and named a new prime minister, a day after
declaring a state of emergency that did little to halt street
demonstrations. Mohamed Tahir Ayala, governor of Gezira state, was
appointed prime minister.
   (Reuters, 2/23/19)(AFP, 2/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 23, In eastern Syria
US-backed fighters said they were keeping a corridor open to rescue
remaining civilians from the Islamic State group's last sliver of
territory.
   (AP, 2/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 23, In Ukraine a
minibus hit a landmine while crossing the border at the breakaway
Donetsk region, killing two civilians and injuring a third near the
village of Yelenovka. The passengers were returning to the
rebel-controlled region after collecting their pensions.
   (Reuters, 2/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 23, The UN said that
three Guinean peacekeepers had been killed during an attack on their
vehicles in Siby near the capital of Bamako, Mali.
   (AP, 2/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 23, A convoy of trucks
carrying humanitarian aid for Venezuela left warehouses in Colombia
headed for the nearby border crossing, despite President Nicolas
Maduro's insistence they would not be allowed to cross. Opposition
leader Juan Guaido said a first aid shipment has entered Venezuela
from Brazil. Three members of the Venezuelan national guard deserted
their posts early today. Venezuelan troops blocking a border bridge
with Colombia fired tear gas to repel dozens of opposition lawmakers
and activists walking toward the frontier to receive humanitarian
aid from the Colombian side. At least two protesters were killed
near the Brazilian border. Two aid trucks went up in flames. Some 60
members of security forces defected into Colombia, but the National
Guard at the frontier crossings held firm.
   (Reuters, 2/23/19)(AP, 2/23/19)(Reuters, 2/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 23, Venezuelan
opposition supporters rallied in Curacao's port as the island's
government indicated it may allow their humanitarian aid shipment to
sail. Pres. Maduro has ordered the country's sea border with Curacao
to be closed to block the aid.
   (AFP, 2/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 23, Vietnamese
officials said that they have arrested Truong Minh Tuan, former
minister of information and communications, and his predecessor
Nguyen Bac, suspected of mismanaging state investment capital.
   (AP, 2/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, President Donald
Trump agreed to postpone a tariff hike on Chinese goods. Trump said
he would postpone a March 1 deadline for 10 percent punitive tariffs
on $200 billion of Chinese imports to rise to 25 percent but set no
new date.
   (AP, 2/25/19)(SFC, 2/25/19, p.A2)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, The film
"Greenbook" won the best picture award the 91st Academy Awards
ceremony. Rami Malek won the best actor Oscar for his performance as
rock singer Freddie Mercury in "Bohemian Rhapsody". Olivia Colman
won the best actress award for her performance as Queen Anne in "The
Favourite".
   (AP, 2/25/19)(AFP, 2/25/19)(SFC, 2/25/19, p.E2)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, In Washington DC
about three dozen relatives of some of the 1 million Uighurs,
Kazakhs and others being held without charge spoke out about the
mass detentions, hoping to raise awareness of what many are calling
a human rights travesty but which Beijing defends as necessary to
counter violent religious extremism.
   (AP, 2/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, Mac Wiseman
(b.1925), bluegrass balladeer and guitar player, died in Nashville.
He was a founding member of Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs' Foggy
Mountain Boys. His biggest hits included "The Ballad of Davy
Crockett" (1955).
   (SFC, 2/27/19, p.C5)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, Algerian police
fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of demonstrators on a third
straight day of rare political protests against plans for rarely
seen President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to extend his 20-year rule by
seeking a fifth term.
   (Reuters, 2/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, A flight bound for
Dubai from Bangladesh's capital, Dhaka, made an emergency landing in
Chittagong, Bangladesh, after a man attempted to hijack the plane.
Bangladeshi suspect Mohammed Polash Ahmed asked to speak to the
country's prime minister before dying from injuries in an exchange
of gunfire with military commandos.
   (AP, 2/24/19)(SFC, 2/26/19, p.A2)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, Officials in the
Brazilian border state of Roraima say they've treated 22 Venezuelans
who suffered bullet or buckshot wounds during a confrontation over
aid shipments. The border was closed for a third day.
   (AP, 2/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, China's Huawei
unveiled a new folding-screen phone on the eve of the 4-day MWC
Barcelona show, joining the latest trend for bendable devices as it
challenges the global smartphone market's dominant players, Apple
and Samsung.
   (AP, 2/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, In eastern Congo
DRC attackers set fire to an Ebola treatment center run by Medecins
Sans Frontieres (MSF) late today, forcing staff to evacuate
patients. One caretaker was killed and another injured.
   (Reuters, 2/25/19)(SFC, 2/27/19, p.A2)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, Cubans began
voting in a referendum on a new constitution with the backdrop of
mounting pressure from the United States and continued support for
the socialist regime of Venezuela.
   (AFP, 2/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, Gabon President
Ali Bongo returned to his country late today for the second time
since suffering a stroke in October.
   (Reuters, 2/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, Iran launched a
cruise missile from a submarine for the first time during an ongoing
annual military drill in the Strait of Hormuz.
   (AP, 2/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, It was reported
that Iran has released Nelly Erin-Cambervelle (59), a French
businesswoman from Martinique, who was in jail for entering the
country illegally.
   (AP, 2/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, In Japan the
people of Okinawa voted on a plan for a US military base relocation
to Henoko in a referendum that will send a message on how they feel
about housing American troops in Japan. Residents rejected the
relocation plan in the non-binding referendum.
   (AP, 2/24/19)(SFC, 2/26/19, p.A2)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, In Kashmir a
counterinsurgency police officer and a rebel were killed during a
gunbattle, as shops and businesses shut down to protest an ongoing
crackdown against activists seeking the end of Indian rule in the
disputed region.
   (AP, 2/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, Voters in central
Mexico approved a stalled gas-fired power plant, one of seven
projects that have been postponed, in many cases for years, by
community opposition. A few days before the referendum, anti-plant
activist Samir Flores Soberanes was killed in front of his home by
armed assailants.
   (AP, 2/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, Moldovans voted in
a parliamentary election. Both pro-Russian and pro-EU forces accused
the ruling party of massive election fraud. The election produced a
hung parliament, with results showing the vote split between
pro-Western and pro-Russian forces. The outcome set the stage for
coalition talks or potentially new elections.
   (AP, 2/24/19)(AFP, 2/24/19)(Reuters, 2/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, In Nigeria some
polling stations remained open in several states while votes were
counted in the previous day's presidential election, widely seen as
a tight race between the president and a former vice president. The
death toll in election-related violence continued to climbed to 39
after one election worker was hit by a bullet after completing work
in Rivers state.
   (AP, 2/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, In Pakistan
mountain climbers Daniele Nardi of Italy and Briton Tom Ballard last
made contact from around an elevation of some 6,300 meters (nearly
20,700 feet) on Nanga Parbat, slightly more than one-third up the
8,126-meter peak nicknamed Killer Mountain because of the dangerous
conditions.
   (AP, 2/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, Thousands of
Palestinian protesters in the Gaza Strip called on Pres. Mahmud
Abbas to resign after attempts to pressure his rival Hamas with
financial cuts in the impoverished enclave.
   (AFP, 2/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, In Russia
thousands of people marched in central Moscow to commemorate Russian
opposition figure Boris Nemtsov, who was killed on Feb. 27, four
years ago.
   (AP, 2/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, Senegal held a
presidential poll with Macky Sally (56) confident of being reelected
after his main challengers were banned from running.
   (AFP, 2/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, In Spain two
people were killed when a small plane crashed more than 100 km (60
miles) north of Madrid.
   (AP, 2/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, In Sudan about a
thousand protesters were confronted by forces in military uniform in
Omdurman as President Omar al-Bashir swore in new officials.
Security forces fired tear gas at hundreds of protesters in the
capital Khartoum and across the river Nile in Omdurman.
   (Reuters, 2/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, In eastern Syria a
land mine left by the Islamic State group struck a van packed with
workers killing 24 of them. An estimated 300 IS militants remained
besieged in the village of Baghouz, hemmed in by the Euphrates River
and the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces.
   (AP, 2/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, The United Nations
Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said 3,804 civilians were killed
last year, the highest number since the international organization
began tallying figures in 2009.
   (AP, 2/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, Pope Francis ended
his conference on the sexual abuse of children by clergy by calling
for an "all-out battle" against a crime that should be "erased from
the face of the earth".
   (AP, 2/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, International
condemnation of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro grew after he
deployed troops to block foreign aid convoys, with Brazil branding
it criminal and urging allies to join a "liberation effort" of the
South American nation.
   (AP, 2/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 25, The United States
imposed sanctions on four pro-Maduro state governors as it ramped up
pressure on Venezuela's President Nicholas Maduro, whose election
Washington sees as illegitimate.
   (Reuters, 2/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 25, San Francisco's
District Attorney George Gascon announced that his office will wipe
out more than 9,000 marijuana-related convictions in cases dating
back to 1975.
   (SFC, 2/26/19, p.A1)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 25, Kim Vincent Avis
(55), aka Ken Gordon-Avis, reportedly vanished after going for a
nighttime swim in treacherous waters in Monterey, Ca. Detectives
soon began to suspect a hoax. Avis was wanted on 24 counts of rape
in Scotland. In July he was arrested in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
   (AP, 7/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 25, US-led scientists
said evidence for man-made global warming has reached a "gold
standard" level of certainty, adding pressure for cuts in greenhouse
gases to limit rising temperatures.
   (Reuters, 2/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 25, In Afghanistan a
NATO drone strike mistakenly killed nine members of a
government-backed militia in Ghazni province.
   (AP, 2/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 25, In Argentina
several assailants entered the Buenos Aires home of Rabbi Gabriel
Davidovich and beat him, identifying him as the chief rabbi of the
Argentine Israelite Mutual Association, one of the country's most
prominent Jewish groups.
   (AP, 2/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 25, The British
government said it plans to ban Lebanon-based Hezbollah as a
terrorist group, accusing the Iran-backed organization of
destabilizing the Middle East.
   (AP, 2/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 25, Britain's Labor
Party said it would back a second public vote on Brexit if the House
of Commons rejects its alternative withdrawal plan later this week.
   (SFC, 2/26/19, p.A3)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 25, The European Union
opened the door to Britain postponing its exit from the 28-nation
bloc beyond the March 29 deadline, saying it would be a "rational
solution" given the political crisis in the UK.
   (AFP, 2/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 25, Paris prosecutors
dropped a rape investigation targeting filmmaker Luc Besson (59)
because of a lack of evidence.
   (AP, 2/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 25, In Germany
prosecutors fined automaker BMW 8.5 million euros ($9.66 million)
for lax oversight in installing defective engine software that led
to excessive diesel emissions in 7,965 cars.
   (AP, 2/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 25, In eastern India
hundreds of indigenous people waved flags and shouted slogans to
protest against an order to evict more than one million indigenous
families accused of encroaching on forest lands.
   (Reuters, 2/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 25, Iran's Foreign
Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, a US-educated veteran diplomat who
helped craft the pact that curbed Iran's nuclear program in return
for sanctions relief, gave no reason for his decision to quit when
he announced it on Instagram.
   (Reuters, 2/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 25, An Iraqi
government source said 14 French nationals accused of fighting for
the Islamic State group have been transferred to Iraq by US-backed
forces squeezing the jihadists' final Syrian bastion. Since Feb. 21,
280 Iraqi nationals accused of fighting alongside IS have been
transferred to Iraqi authorities.
   (AFP, 2/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 25, In Italy Gianni
Alemanno, a former mayor of Rome (2008-2013), was sentenced to six
years in prison for his part in the infiltration of organized crime
into the capital. He immediately vowed to appeal.
   (AP, 2/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 25, Niger hosted
leaders of 17 countries on the rim of the Sahel (Benin, Burkina
Faso, Chad, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Djibouti, Gambia, Guinea,
Ethiopia, Eritrea, Ivory Coast, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria,
Senegal and Sudan) as talks began on a nearly $400-billion plan to
help the fragile region cope with climate change.
   (AFP, 2/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 25, Serbia's defense
ministry took delivery of four Russian-made MiG-29 fighter jets from
Belarus, part of an arms purchase that could heighten tensions in
the Balkans and increase Moscow's influence in the region.
   (AP, 2/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 25, In Spain MWC
Barcelona, the world's biggest mobile industry trade fair, opened. A
global battle between the US government and Chinese tech company
Huawei over allegations that it is a cybersecurity risk overshadowed
the opening.
   (AP, 2/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 25, Sudan's Pres. Omar
al-Bashir issued decrees giving security forces powers to search
buildings, restrict movements of people and public transportation,
arrest individuals suspected of crimes related to the state of
emergency and seize assets or property during investigations. Police
fired tear gas at hundreds of protesters in Khartoum against a state
of emergency imposed by Pres. Omar al-Bashir to end rallies against
his rule.
   (AFP, 2/25/19)(AP, 2/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 25, In Switzerland the
international boxing association (AIBA) said it has approved new
uniforms for female boxers to wear for religious reasons. Hijabs and
full body form-fitting uniforms have been designed.
   (AP, 2/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 25, In eastern Syria
evacuations from the last pocket of territory held by the Islamic
State group continued amid a standoff between the militants and the
US-backed forces besieging them. An estimated 300 IS militants were
besieged in Baghouz.
   (AP, 2/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 25, UN Secretary
General Antonio Guterres said the international arms control system
is facing collapse and urged Russia and the US to stop the imminent
demise of a crucial nuclear treaty.
   (AFP, 2/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 25, The United
Nations' highest court ruled that Britain carved up Mauritius
illegally when it agreed to end colonial rule and must "bring to an
end its administration of the Chagos Archipelago as rapidly as
possible".
   (AP, 2/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 25, Vietnamese
President Nguyen Phu Trong arrived in Cambodia for a 2-day visit to
strengthen already close bilateral ties.
   (AP, 2/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, President Donald
Trump arrived at the hotel in Hanoi where he will stay during his
summit with North Korea's Kim Jong Un.
   (AP, 2/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, In New York the
driver of a car fleeing an earlier crash went around a train gate
and was hit by two trains on Long Island. The driver and two
passengers were killed.
   (SFC, 2/28/19, p.A7)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, In Algeria
thousands of students staged protests in several university cities
across the country to voice their opposition to ailing President
Abdelaziz Bouteflika's bid for a fifth term.
   (Reuters, 2/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, Brazilian
President Jair Bolsonaro withdrew an executive order signed in
January that would have increased the number of officials able to
effectively keep government documents and data secret.
   (Reuters, 2/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, British PM Theresa
May bowed to intense political pressure and handed control of Brexit
to Parliament. May offered lawmakers the chance to vote in two weeks
for a potentially disorderly no-deal Brexit or to delay Britain's
exit from the European Union if her attempt to ratify a divorce
agreement fails.
   (AP, 2/26/19)(Reuters, 2/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, Britain's
opposition Labour Party said that interior minister Sajid Javid had
to provide evidence to justify his decision to widen a ban on the
Lebanese Islamist movement Hezbollah.
   (Reuters, 2/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, Colombian
immigration officials said over 320 mostly low-ranking soldiers fled
Venezuela in a span of four days.
   (AP, 2/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, The European
Union's top court overturned Latvia's decision to suspend Ilmars
Rimsevics, a member of the European Central Bank, while he is
investigated for alleged bribery in a scandal that has shaken the
country.
   (AP, 2/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, The European
Union's top court ruled that the EU organic food logo cannot be used
on meat derived from animals that have been slaughtered in
accordance with religious rites without first being stunned.
   (AP, 2/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, PSA Group, the
French maker of Peugeot automobiles, said it plans to reintroduce
the cars to North American markets.
   (AP, 2/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, In Germany a court
ruled that the domestic BfV intelligence agency is not allowed to
classify the Alternative for Germany (AfD) as a "case to
investigate", handing a victory to the far-right party which had
brought the case.
   (Reuters, 2/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, The Hungarian
government stepped up its campaign against the leadership of the
European Union, repeating its accusations that the EU seeks to
promote mass immigration into the continent.
   (AP, 2/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, India's air force
carried out air strikes inside Pakistan killing hundreds of
militants in a training camp of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), the militant
group that claimed credit for a Feb. 14 suicide bombing attack that
killed Indian paramilitary police in Kashmir. Pakistan said there
had been no casualties at all. Following the air strike India and
Pakistan troops exchanged gunfire across the border in the disputed
region of Kashmir.
   (Reuters, 2/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, In Indonesia an
unlicensed gold mine collapsed and buried dozens of people. Rescuers
dug desperately with their bare hands and farm tools to unearth
victims calling for help from beneath the rubble. Three people were
confirmed dead and 14 were rescued. It was estimated that 43 people
were still buried.
   (AP, 2/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, Three Iraqi
workers were killed in a roadside bomb explosion in the western city
of Fallujah.
   (AP, 2/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, Mexico's President
Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said he would not take sides on the
crisis in Venezuela, a day after US Vice President Mike Pence urged
Mexico to recognize opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela's
rightful president.
   (Reuters, 2/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, Nigeria's
incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari extended his early election
lead based on official results from a third of the country's
districts as the death toll from sporadic poll-related violence rose
to 47.
   (Reuters, 2/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, In Nigeria gunmen
suspected to be Fulani herders stormed into villages of ethnic Adara
farmers, killing 29 people and burning some 40 homes. The bloodshed
was believed to be in retaliation for gunmen attacking eight Fulani
settlements in Kaduna state on February 11, which state governor
Nasir El-Rufai said killed more than 130 people.
   (AFP, 2/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, Gaza journalist
Hajar Harb appealed a six-month prison term and fine over her
reporting in 2016 on alleged corruption within the Hamas-run Health
Ministry in a case that has drawn international condemnation of the
coastal strip's Islamic rulers.
   (AP, 2/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, It was reported
that an opioid crisis has quietly spread in the Gaza Strip, trapping
thousands in the hell of addiction and adding another layer of
misery to the blockaded and impoverished coastal territory.
   (AP, 2/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, In the southern
Philippines former Muslim guerrillas took over governance of a
poverty and conflict-wracked Muslim autonomous region, a
five-province region called Bangsamoro, under a peace deal partly
aimed at combating Islamic State group-aligned militants.
   (AP, 2/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, In Russia a court
in Moscow sentenced Col. Sergei Mikhailov, former deputy head of the
FSB's Information Security Center, to 22 years in prison and a fine
on treason charges. The court also sentenced Ruslan Stoyanov, an
executive at the Kaspersky Lab cybersecurity firm, to 14 years in
prison and a fine.
   (AP, 2/26/19)
 2019      Feb 26, Sudanese
President Omar al-Bashir reshuffled his senior military staff.
Protesters defied their embattled president's ban on unauthorized
public gatherings, with hundreds rallying across the country to call
for his resignation.
   (Reuters, 2/26/19)(AP, 2/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, Sweden arrested a
suspected Russian spy in Stockholm. Kristian Dmitrievski (45), a
naturalized Swedish citizen who previously held a Russian passport,
was arrested by Sweden's domestic security agency SAPO as he met
with a Russian intelligence officer working at Russia's Embassy in
Stockholm under diplomatic cover. On March 29 a prosecutor said
Dmitrievski has been released.
   (Reuters, 2/27/19)(AP, 3/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, In northwestern
Syria five people were reported killed by shelling and air strikes.
Government forces had intensified artillery shelling and air
strikes, which have been ramping up over the past 10 days.
   (Reuters, 2/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, In southern
Thailand two police officers were abducted and later found dead in a
ditch in Narathiwat province, with the pickup truck of one of the
officers stolen and set on fire.
   (AP, 2/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, Turkey criticized
European Union leaders for attending a summit hosted by Egyptian
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi days after nine men were executed for
killing Egypt's chief prosecutor.
   (Reuters, 2/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, It was reported
that Ukraine's national broadcaster has dropped singer Anna Korsun
(27), who was meant to represent the country at the Eurovision Song
Contest, due to apparent political differences over Russia.
   (Reuters, 2/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, President Donald
Trump and Vietnamese President Nguyen Phu Trong presided over the
signing of several trade deals in Hanoi, including agreements to
sell the booming Southeast Asian country 110 Boeing planes worth
billions of dollars.
   (AP, 2/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, US President
Donald Trump and North Korea's Kim Jong Un, leaders of two nations
with a long history of hostilities, met in Hanoi for their second
summit.
   (Reuters, 2/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, Michael Cohen,
Pres. Trump's longtime lawyer and fixer, spoke before the US House
Oversight and Reform Committee and accused Pres. Trump of an
expansive pattern of lies and criminality.
   (SFC, 2/28/19, p.A7)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, In northern
California the Sonoma County town of Guerneville flooded as the
Russian River overflowed its banks and continued rising.
   (SFC, 2/28/19, p.A10)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, In New Mexico
Amanda Madrid (25) was shopping for hamster food shortly before she
was fatally shot in Albuquerque. In 2021 a judge sentenced Maiah
Madrid-Schleicher (28) to 14 years in prison for the shooting death
outside a Family Dollar store.
   (Tribune Publ., 6/11/21)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, In North Carolina
political operative Leslie McCrae Dowless Jr. (63) was arrested on
charges of illegal ballot handling and conspiracy. Four other people
working for him were also charged.
   (SFC, 2/28/19, p.A6)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, In Australia
George Pell, the most senior Catholic cleric ever convicted of child
sex abuse, was sent to prison and will wait two weeks to learn his
sentence for molesting two choirboys in a Melbourne cathedral two
decades ago.
   (AP, 2/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, In Austria a
police raid in Seefeld, posted online by a Norwegian news portal,
showed Austrian skier Max Hauke apparently with a banned blood
transfusion going into his arm while a police investigator stands in
the background. The raids led to the arrests of five elite skiers
and four other people.
   (AP, 3/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, A Bahraini court
sentenced 167 people arrested at a sit-in outside the home of
Bahrain's leading Shi'ite Muslim cleric in 2017 to between six
months and 10 years in prison. 56 of the defendants received 10 year
prison terms.
   (Reuters, 3/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, The Bahrain-based
long-haul carrier Gulf Air acknowledged it is cancelling and
delaying flights without explaining why.
   (AP, 2/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, Aid agency
Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said Cameroonian and Nigerian
authorities have ordered 40,000 refugees in Cameroon to return to
northeast Nigeria.
   (Reuters, 2/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, Human Rights Watch
denounced the government of Colombia for appointing at least nine
officers to key army positions despite credible evidence of
implicating them in serious human rights violations during the
country's long civil conflict.
   (SFC, 2/28/19, p.A5)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, In Egypt at least
25 people were killed and 50 injured when a locomotive smashed
through the buffer stop at Cairo's main train station. A fight
between two conductors led to the crash.
   (Reuters, 2/27/19)(SFC, 2/28/19, p.A5)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, The EU expressed
concern about Italy's debt levels and warned the government in Rome
to push through measures to shore up the public finances.
   (AP, 2/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, A European
Parliament committee picked Romanian prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi
to head a new prosecutor's office fighting fraud, despite fierce
opposition from her own government.
   (AP, 2/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, A court in Bali
has sentenced Australian Brandon Johnson and his Indonesian
girlfriend Remi Purwanti to five years and four months in prison
each for possessing cocaine.
   (AP, 2/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, Iranian President
Hassan Rouhani rejected the resignation of Foreign Minister Mohammad
Javad Zarif, standing by a moderate ally long targeted by hardliners
in factional struggles over a 2015 nuclear deal with the West.
   (Reuters, 2/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, Iranian Foreign
Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif signed two agreements in Tehran with
Armenia, television footage showed, continuing his duties as Iran's
top diplomat.
   (Reuters, 2/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, Israel's PM
Benjamin Netanyahu visited Russia for talks with President Vladimir
Putin expected to focus on regional security and Syria.
   (AP, 2/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, Kazakh President
Nursultan Nazarbayev ordered his government to tap the country's
rainy-day fund for $3.6 billion in order to boost public sector
salaries and social aid payouts and develop housing and
infrastructure.
   (Reuters, 2/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, Libya's Unity
government leader Fayez al-Sarraj met rival military strongman
Khalifa Haftar in Abu Dhabi, where they agreed "on the need to end
the transitional phase through general elections and on ways to
preserve the stability of Libya and unify its institutions.
   (AFP, 2/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, In Myanmar
thousands of people rallied in Yangon in support of constitutional
reform, amid mounting tension between the ruling party and the
military over changes to the charter that enshrines the army’s role
in politics.
   (Reuters, 2/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, In Nepal a
helicopter flying in bad weather crashed into a mountain, killing
all seven people on board.
   (AP, 2/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, The government of
Nicaragua released dozens of people who had been arrested in last
year's crackdown on street protests. Rights groups have estimated
that at least 770 people have been arrested in relation to the
protests that broke out last April.
   (SFC, 2/28/19, p.A2)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, Nigerian election
authorities said President Muhammadu Buhari (76) has comfortably won
a second term at the helm of Africa's largest economy, but his main
rival planned a fraud challenge after a vote marred by delays and
violence. Some 327 people died in election-related violence since
the campaign began in October, 67 of them during or after the Feb.
23 vote.
   (Reuters, 2/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, Dutch officials
said that an estimated 90,000 small bottles of Russian vodka, found
last week on a Chinese freighter in the port of Rotterdam, will
likely be sold at auction or destroyed.
   (AP, 2/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, Pakistani PM Imran
Khan called for talks with India and hoped "better sense" would
prevail to de-escalate the dispute with its nuclear-armed neighbor
following air strikes by both sides.
   (Reuters, 2/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, Pakistan's
military said it shot down two Indian warplanes in the disputed
region of Kashmir and captured a pilot, raising tensions between the
nuclear-armed rivals to a level unseen in the last two decades.
Mortar shells fired by Indian troops from across the frontier
dividing the two sectors of Kashmir killed six civilians and wound
several others. A helicopter crash in the region also killed six
Indian air force officials and a civilian on the ground.
   (AP, 2/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, The Palestinian
Authority said it will not accept tax revenues from Israel following
the latter's decision to deduct sums Palestinians pay to prisoners
and people killed in fighting with Israel.
   (AP, 2/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, Seychelles' second
president Albert René (83) died. He took power in a 1977 coup and
went on to shape politics for decades.
   (Reuters, 2/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, Volvo's electric
performance brand Polestar unveiled a battery-powered compact car
touted as a rival to Tesla's Model 3. Sweden-based Volvo is a
subsidiary of Chinese automaker Geely.
   (AP, 2/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 28, Talks between
President Donald Trump and North Korea's Kim Jong Un collapsed in
Hanoi after the two sides failed to bridge a standoff over US
sanctions.
   (AP, 2/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 28, The US Senate
confirmed former coal industry lobbyist Andrew Wheeler to lead the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
   (SFC, 3/1/19, p.A6)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 28, Michael Cohen,
Pres. Trump's longtime lawyer and fixer, returned to Capitol Hill
for hours of questioning before the US House Intelligence committee.
   (SFC, 3/1/19, p.A6)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 28, The World Trade
Organization panel ruled in favor of the United States in a dispute
with China over agricultural subsidies, saying Beijing went beyond
WTO limits in its support for wheat and rice producers between 2012
and 2015.
   (AP, 2/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 28, Andre Previn
(1929), Berlin-born American composer and conductor, died at his
home in Manhattan. He wrote or arranged music for several dozen
movies and authored several books including "Orchestra" (1975) and
"No Minor Chords: My Days in Hollywood" (1991).
   (SFC, 3/1/19, p.C8)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 28, Texas executed
Billie Wayne Coble (70) for the 1989 shooting deaths of his
estranged wife's parents, Robert and Zelda Vicha, and their son
Bobby Vicha at separate homes.
   (SFC, 3/1/19, p.A6)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 28, Algerian police
arrested a dozen journalists protesting "censorship" of coverage of
demonstrations against a fifth term for President Abdelaziz
Bouteflika, as the prime minister compared the rallies to those that
sparked Syria's war.
   (AFP, 2/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 28, In Belgium Swedish
teenager Greta Thunberg led thousands of students in a climate
change march — the second she's led in as many weeks to draw more
attention to the topic.
   (AP, 2/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 28, Jeremy Corbyn, the
leader of Britain's opposition Labour Party, said his party will
back a new referendum on Brexit after parliament defeated its
alternative plan for leaving the European Union.
   (Reuters, 2/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 28, British Airways
announced a multi-billion dollar order for up to 42 Boeing 777
fuel-efficient passenger jets, just two weeks after Airbus said it
would no longer make its A380 superjumbo.
   (AFP, 2/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 28, Cyprus said
ExxonMobil has made the world's third-biggest gas find in the last
two years off its coast.
   (AP, 2/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 28, In Greece Lawyer
Zoe Konstantopoulou said Alexander Vinnik (39), a Russian suspected
of bitcoin fraud, has been on a hunger strike for three months,
during which time he has lost about 30 percent of his body weight.
She aired a video of a gaunt-looking Vinnik she said was shot last
week.
   (AP, 2/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 28, India banned the
largest political and religious group in Indian-controlled Kashmir
in an ongoing crackdown on activists seeking the end of Indian rule.
India's home ministry issued the five-year ban on Jama'at-e-Islami,
or JeI, accusing the group of being an "unlawful association" and
supporting militancy in the region.
   (AP, 3/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 28, Indonesian
officials said 19 people had been rescued alive from a gold mine in
North Sulawesi's Bolaang Mongondow district as of this evening. The
death toll rose to seven and about three dozen miners remain trapped
by the Feb. 26 collapse.
   (AP, 2/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 28, In Liberia two
senior figures at the Central Bank, one of whom is the son of former
president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, were arrested following a probe
into reports of missing banknotes.
   (AFP, 3/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 28, Pakistan's PM
Imran Khan pledged his country would release a captured Indian
fighter pilot, a move that could help defuse the most serious
confrontation in two decades between the nuclear-armed neighbors
over the disputed region of Kashmir..
   (AP, 2/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 28, A temporary
closure of air space over Pakistan snarled air traffic, especially
between Asia and Europe, though some airlines adjusted by rerouting
their flights.
   (AP, 2/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 28, Senegalese
election officials announced that President Macky Sall (57) has
easily won a second term without the need for a runoff. The four
opposition candidates said they would not pursue a legal challenge.
   (AP, 2/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 28, In central Somalia
US air strikes in the Hiran region killed 26 fighters.
   (AP, 3/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 28, In Somalia
Islamist al Shabaab fighters in Mogadishu set off an explosive
outside the Hotel Maka Al-Mukarama late today Officials declared an
end to the siege the following afternoon with 20 people confirmed
dead and over 100 injured.
   (Reuters, 3/1/19)(AP, 3/1/19)(AFP, 3/2/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 28, South Korea-based
Hyundai and Kia added more than a half-million vehicles to 3 ½-year
string of US recalls for engine failures and fires.
   (AP, 2/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 28, In Sudan more than
1,000 anti-government protesters demonstrated in and around
Khartoum, the first rallies since emergency courts were set up
nationwide on Feb. 26 to combat more than two months of unrest.
   (Reuters, 2/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 28, In Syria US-backed
forces fighting the Islamic State group said they have freed 24 of
their fighters held by IS, and uncovered a mass grave last week
outside the village of Baghouz, the last pocket of territory held by
the extremist group.
   (AP, 2/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 28, In Syria the
US-coalition supporting the SDF said late today it had killed
veteran French jihadist Fabien Clain, who voiced a recording
claiming responsibility for the November 2015 attacks on Paris, in a
strike in Baghouz. It did not say when he had been killed.
   (AP, 3/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 28, Thailand's
legislature passed a cybersecurity bill that would allow authorities
access to people's personal information without a court order.
   (AP, 2/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 28, A UN probe
released today said Israel may have committed crimes against
humanity in responding to last year's unrest in Gaza, as snipers
"intentionally" shot civilians including children, journalists and
the disabled.
   (AFP, 2/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 28, In Yemen five
children were killed in an attack on their home in flashpoint
Hodeida province.
   (AFP, 3/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb, Costa Rica's
government launched a decarbonization plan to rid the country of
fossil fuels by 2050.
   (AFP, 4/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb, French gay writer
Frederic Martel authored "In the Closet of the Vatican." Here he
describes a gay subculture at the Vatican.
   (SFC, 2/15/19, p.A2)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb, Anwar Raslan
(b.1963), a former Syrian policeman, was arrested in Germany. He was
charged with torturing more than 4,000 people and murdering at least
58 between 2011 and 2012 under dictator Bashar al-Assad. His trial
opened in Koblenz in April, 2020.
  Â
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anwar_Raslan)(Econ., 1/2/21, p.44)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb, Peruvian authorities
launched "Operation Mercury" to evict thousands of illegal gold
miners from Tambopata province in the Amazon rain forest. Hundreds
of police and soldiers were deployed there for the long term.
   (SFC, 5/17/19, p.A4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb, Peru's government
charged former Pres. Toledo Alejandro Toledo, living in San
Francisco, with taking $20 million in bribes from Odebrecht, a
Brazilian construction company that won a major highway contract
during his administration.
   (SFC, 10/11/19, p.C8)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb, Rwanda abruptly
closed its Uganda border crossing at Katuna, with queues of cargo
trucks and thronging merchants turned back as soldiers from both
armies marshalled along the forest-clad border. The blockade was a
result of the worsening animosity between Rwanda's Paul Kagame and
Uganda's Yoweri Museveni as the pair traded accusations of
espionage, political assassinations and meddling in each other's
backyards.
   (AFP, 5/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb, Venezuela deported
American journalist Jorge Ramos, who showed a video of people eating
garbage while he interviewed President Nicolas Maduro.
   (AP, 3/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, The United States
imposed sanctions on six Venezuelan security officials for
obstructing aid that Washington had tried to force in as part of its
effort to support the country's opposition leader against President
Nicolas Maduro.
   (AFP, 3/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, Acclaimed
Irish-born architect Kevin Roche (96) died at his home in
Connecticut. He left his mark on world-class buildings from New
York's Metropolitan Museum of Art and the city's Museum of Jewish
Heritage to airports in New York and Washington.
   (AP, 3/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, In Virginia former
high school teacher Christopher Brannon was sentenced to 34 months
in prison for hacking into private digital accounts of celebrities
and others. He was the fifth person charged in the 2014 "celebgate"
scandal.
   (SFC, 3/2/19, p.A4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, In southern
Afghanistan at least 25 Afghan soldiers were killed as they repelled
an attack by the Taliban on a military base in Helmand province.
Afghan forces killed at least nine Taliban insurgents, including
three suicide bombers.
   (Reuters, 3/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, In southern
Afghanistan at least 20 people including children were killed by
flash floods that engulfed up to 2,000 homes and swept away cars in
Kandahar province.
   (Reuters, 3/2/19)(AP, 3/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, In Algeria tens of
thousands of protesters marched through Algiers against ailing
President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's bid for a fifth term, surging past
a barricade and defying repeated volleys of tear gas fired by
police. A total of 183 people were injured during the protests.
   (AP, 3/1/19)(Reuters, 3/2/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, Argentine Pres.
Mauricio Macri announced a 46 percent increase in subsidies for poor
families with children, the only new initiative included in his
State of the Union address.
   (Reuters, 3/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, Belarus Pres.
Alexander Lukashenko strongly rejected the possibility that Russia
could incorporate his nation, as the two former Soviet republics
discussed how to more closely integrate their economies, including a
possible joint currency.
   (AP, 3/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, Botswana's Pres.
Mokgweetsi Masisi dismissed a report that the country had offered
Zimbabwe a $600 million diamond-backed loan and said his government
had only offered to guarantee a $100 million private credit line for
Botswana companies to invest in their troubled neighbor.
   (Reuters, 3/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, In Brazil Rio de
Janeiro's world-famous carnival celebration got underway.
   (AP, 3/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, The British
government agreed to pay 33 million pounds ($43 million) to settle a
lawsuit that claimed it improperly awarded contracts to run extra
ferry services in the event that Britain leaves the EU without an
agreement on future relations.
   (AP, 3/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, British girl scout
Jodie Chesney (17) was knifed in the back as she listened to music
with friends at a park in Harold Hill, east London. Two drug dealers
had been looking to take revenge on rivals when they killed Jodie
Chesney by mistake. On Nov. 7 Svenson Ong-a-Kwie (19) Arron Isaacs
(17), were found guilty after the jury deliberated for less than six
hours. In November the two drug dealing teenagers were jailed for
life.
   (The Telegraph, 11/7/19)(The Telegraph, 11/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, Canada said it will
allow a US extradition request for Meng Wangzhou, an executive of
Chinese tech giant Huawei, to face charges over possible dealings
with Iran to proceed.
   (AP, 3/2/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, Quebec's appeals
court upheld a historic ruling ordering three tobacco firms to pay
Can$15.5 billion (US$11.6 billion) to smokers in the Canadian
province who claimed they were never warned about the health risks
associated with smoking.
   (AFP, 3/2/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, Colombian
authorities announced that Carlos Bermeo, a prosecutor with the
special peace tribunal, was detained along with a senator and two
other suspects for taking a $500,000 bribe in exchange for swaying a
controversial ruling over the extradition of Seuxis Hernandez, a
rebel peace negotiator, to the US on drug charges.
   (SSFC, 3/3/19, p.A4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, In the Czech Rep.
an armed Serbian man, reported to be a contract killer, was arrested
in Prague. Serbia's Blic daily soon reported that the man is
well-known contract killer Caba Der, sought by several countries
over multiple murders.
   (AP, 3/2/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, In Denmark a fraud
involving public funds show 10 million kroner ($1.5 million) more
than originally thought vanished from government coffers. Two new
investigations showed that a total of 121 million kroner vanished
between 1993 and 2018.
   (AP, 3/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, In Germany
thousands of students in the port city of Hamburg marched out of
school led by teenage Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg
to call for more action on climate change.
   (Reuters, 3/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, In Germany gardener
Bernhard Graumann (59) was found dead in his bed in the southwestern
town of Mehlingen. He had been in conflict with both a doctor and a
family, and is thought to have planted explosives before he died.
The 64-year-old doctor in the nearby town of Enkenbach-Alsenborn was
killed this morning. Two days later a woman (37) and her 4-year-old
daughter were injured by glass splinters when the woman put a log
that had been rigged with explosives into her stove and it blew the
door out.
   (AP, 3/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, Three Yazidi women
and 18 children returned to Iraq from Syria after more than four
years in Islamic State captivity. Islamic State militants launched
an assault on Sinjar, the Yazidi heartland, on Aug. 3, 2014.
According to community leaders, more than 3,000 Yazidis remained
unaccounted for.
   (Reuters, 3/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, Israeli PM Benjamin
Netanyahu met with Liberian Pres. George Weah in Jerusalem.
Netanyahu has made strengthening ties with Africa a foreign policy
priority.
   (AFP, 3/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, In Italy
Moroccan-born Imane Fadil (33), a former model and witness at Silvio
Berlusconi's sex trial, died at one of the city's hospitals. On
March 16 a newspaper suggested she may have been poisoned with a
radioactive substance.
   (AFP, 3/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, In Malaysia more 34
Muslim Rohingya women and children were found stranded along a beach
in northern Perlis state, and were believed to have been dropped off
by human traffickers.
   (AP, 3/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, Mexico's Treasury
Secretary Santiago Nieto said the financial intelligence unit of the
treasury has frozen $156 million of the state Autonomous University
of Hidalgo's funds while it investigates suspected money laundering.
   (AP, 3/2/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, Mexican officials
said the death toll from a Jan. 18 explosion at an illegally tapped
pipeline has risen to 134.
   (AP, 3/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, In southern Nigeria
more than 50 people were left missing after a leaking oil pipeline
exploded and caused a stampede in Bayelsa state. The Nembe Creek
Trunk pipeline exploded, but no fatalities were reported. It runs
from an oil terminal in Bonny to the state of Bayelsa with capacity
of 150,000 barrels per day.
   (AP, 3/2/19)(AFP, 3/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, Pakistani officials
handed over a captured Indian Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman at
a border crossing with India in a "gesture of peace" promised by PM
Imran Khan amid a dramatic escalation with the country's archrival
over the disputed region of Kashmir. In a heavily edited video
distributed by the Pakistani military just before his release,
Varthaman praised the professionalism of the Pakistani army and
criticized Indian media for creating war hysteria.
   (AP, 3/1/19)(AFP, 3/2/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, Russia vowed to
maintain support for the embattled regime of its Venezuelan "friend"
President Nicolas Maduro, including with humanitarian aid supplies.
   (AFP, 3/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, Saudi Arabia
announced it had revoked the citizenship of Hamza bin Laden, the son
of the late al-Qaida leader who has become an increasingly prominent
figure in the terror network. The royal decree stripping his
citizenship was signed in November, but only became public now.
   (AP, 3/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, Saudi Arabia
decided to put jailed women activists on trial after holding them
for nearly a year without charge.
   (AFP, 3/2/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, South Korean
President Moon Jae-in said his government plans to discuss with the
United States the possibility of restarting joint inter-Korean
economic projects to induce nuclear disarmament from North Korea,
which insisted it had asked only for partial sanctions relief in
exchange for shutting down its main nuclear complex.
   (AP, 3/1/19)
 2019      Mar 1, The Spanish
government adopted a decree that aims to cap residential rent rises
within the term of a contract ahead of a general election in April.
The decree will enter into force in the next few days but will need
to be endorsed by parliament later.
   (Reuters, 3/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, Sudan's embattled
President Omar al-Bashir quit his position as chairman of the ruling
party after more than two months of protests against his nearly
three-decade rule. Al-Bashir delegated his powers as chairman of the
National Congress Party to its deputy chairman, Ahmed Harun, until
the party's next general conference.
   (AP, 3/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, In Switzerland
former FIFA senior vice president David Chung was banned from soccer
for 6½ years for financial wrongdoing linked to a $20 million
building project. The Papua New Guinea official resigned as Oceania
president after a FIFA-appointed audit found irregularities linked
to awarding of contracts for its headquarters in Auckland.
   (AP, 3/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, In eastern Syria
more civilians evacuated from the last territory held by the Islamic
State group, amid a warning by the United Nations about the plight
of thousands who have fled the area in recent weeks.
   (AP, 3/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, Venezuela's Vice
President Delcy Rodriguez said President Nicolas Maduro has ordered
state oil company PDVSA's office in Lisbon to be relocated to
Moscow, a move she said was designed to help safeguard her country's
assets.
   (Reuters, 3/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 2, SpaceX's new Crew
Dragon astronaut capsule was on its way to the International Space
Station after it successfully launched from Florida on board a
Falcon 9 rocket.
   (AFP, 3/2/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 2, In Abu Dhabi the
57-nation Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the world's
largest body of Muslim-majority nations, reaffirmed its unwavering
support for the Kashmiri people in their just cause.
   (AP, 3/2/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 2, In Afghanistan
Taliban insurgents targeted an Afghan army corps overnight at their
camp in southern Helmand province, killing at least 23.
   (AP, 3/2/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 2, Azeri opposition
blogger Mehman Huseynov was released after serving two years in
prison in a case condemned by human rights activists.
   (AP, 3/2/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 2, Recently elected DR
Congo President Felix Tshisekedi pledged to pardon political
prisoners and said he would work for the return of those who had
fled abroad for political reasons.
   (AFP, 3/2/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 2, The European
Parliament called on Kosovo to suspend a 100-percent tariff on Serb
goods to help restart reconciliation talks.
   (AP, 3/2/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 2, In Germany union
and government negotiators reached a new wage agreement late today
that will give more than a million public servants a nearly 8
percent pay increase over 33 months.
   (AP, 3/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 2, Iran criticized
Britain for its decision to list Hezbollah as a terrorist
organization, saying it ignored both the will of a large portion of
the Lebanese people and the Tehran-backed group's role in fighting
Islamic State.
   (Reuters, 3/2/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 2, Iran's official
IRNA news agency said the Central Bank has merged four banks and a
credit union to reform the country's banking system and financial
markets.
   (AP, 3/2/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 2, Israeli aircraft
struck two Hamas observation points in the Gaza Strip, after the
army reported balloons carrying an "explosive device" were sent
toward Israel.
   (AFP, 3/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 2, In Italy tens of
thousands of people have marched in Milan against policies by the
populist government that they say promote racism.
   (AP, 3/2/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 2, Pakistan's military
said two of its soldiers have been killed in an exchange of fire
with Indian forces near the Line of Control that separates the
disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir between the rivals. Over the
last 24 hours a total of at least six civilians have been killed on
both sides of Kashmir.
   (AP, 3/2/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 2, Russia announced
that Zhores Alferov (88), a physicist and Nobel Prize laureate, has
died in in St Petersburg. Alferov shared the Nobel Physics Prize in
2000 for developments in semiconductor research that have been used
in satellite communications and cellular telephones.
   (AP, 3/2/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 2, In eastern Syria
Kurdish-led forces battled jihadists defending their last village as
operations to flush out the Islamic State group resumed after
several days of humanitarian evacuations.
   (AFP, 3/2/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 2, In northern Syria
the semi-autonomous Kurdish administration said in a statement that
283 Syrians, suspected of belonging to the Islamic State, had been
set free because they have "no blood on their hands".
   (AFP, 3/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 2, In Syria militants
shot dead eight men suspected of being members of the Islamic State
group in Idlib. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) members shot dead members
of IS sleepers cells, in front of a restaurant where a previous
day's attack occurred.
   (AP, 3/2/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, A tornado
registering EF4 hit southeastern Alabama killing 23 people. At least
18 tornadoes struck in Alabama, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.
   (SFC, 3/4/19, p.A6)(SFC, 3/6/19, p.A6)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, Teachers in
Oakland, Ca., approved a new contract ending their 7-day strike.
They won salary increases and concessions on class sizes and staff
workloads.
   (SFC, 3/4/19, p.C1)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, Elon Musk's SpaceX
white Dragon capsule with just a test dummy aboard docked smoothly
with the International Space Station in a big step toward putting
the US back in the business of launching astronauts.
   (AP, 3/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, Afghanistan donated
$1 million to the main UN program for Palestinian refugees at a
ceremony in Istanbul.
   (AP, 3/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, In Algeria hundreds
of students staged new protests in Algiers and other cities against
a fifth term for ailing President Abdelaziz Bouteflika as he faced a
midnight deadline to register for April elections. Bouteflika vowed
in a letter read out on state television late to organize a
"national conference" that would set a date for further polls which
he would not contest. The message was followed by the formal
submission of his candidacy for the April 18 poll.
   (AFP, 3/3/19)(AP, 3/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, In Australia
firefighters battled 25 blazes across the state of Victoria as a
record-breaking heatwave delivered the hottest start to March on
record for the southern third of the country.
   (Reuters, 3/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, In eastern Congo
DRC bandits shot dead six people overnight, sparking angry protests
by residents who blockaded the main street running through Goma
city.
   (AFP, 3/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, An Egyptian
military appeals court upheld a five-year sentence against Hesham
Genena, the country's former auditor, for disseminating false news
about the military.
   (AP, 3/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, Estonians voted in
a general election with the center-left coalition fighting for
survival in a duel with its traditional liberal rivals and a surging
far-right party buoyed by a backlash from mostly rural voters in the
Baltic eurozone state. Estonia was on track for its first woman
prime minister after the opposition liberal Reform party, led by
Kaja Kallas (41), won a general election with 28.8 percent of the
vote.  Â
   (AFP, 3/3/19)(AFP, 3/4/19)(SFC, 3/5/19, p.A3)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, In France at least
2,000 demonstrators gathered in Paris and other cities to protest
Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's bid to stand for a fifth
term in office.
   (AFP, 3/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, Members of Italy's
Democratic Party voted for a new leader in hope of reversing their
party's slumping popularity.
   (AP, 3/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, Jordan accused
Israeli authorities of barring top Palestinian Muslim officials from
Al-Aqsa mosque in annexed east Jerusalem.
   (AFP, 3/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, In northwestern
Kenya four Americans and their Kenyan pilot were killed when their
helicopter crashed just after take-off from a remote island in Lake
Turkana.
   (AP, 3/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, In Libya a
spokesman for the forces of a Field Marshal Khalifa Hifter based in
the country's east said his self-styled Libyan National Army has
seized control of Libya's southern border with Algeria.
   (AP, 3/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, It was reported
that a Nigerian court last week condemned as "illegal and
unconstitutional" the arrest and deportation of Cameroonian
separatists who had applied for asylum in Nigeria.
   (AFP, 3/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, Palestinian
President Mahmoud Abbas arrived in Iraq for talks with officials in
Baghdad on the latest developments in the region.
   (AP, 3/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, Some 800
Palestinians crossed Sunda from the Gaza Strip into Egypt on their
initial stage of a pilgrimage to Mecca, the first time since 2014
Egyptian authorities have granted visas for such a trip.
   (AP, 3/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, Philippine
authorities found 1,529 live exotic turtles stuffed inside luggage
at Manila's airport. The various types of turtles were found inside
four pieces of left-behind luggage of a Filipino passenger arriving
at Ninoy Aquino International Airport on a Philippine Airlines
flight from Hong Kong.
   (AP, 3/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, Authorities in
Saudi Arabia suspended a new television talk show that tackled
sensitive issues and aired critical views after just two weeks.
   (AP, 3/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, South Korea and the
US said they are eliminating their massive springtime military
drills and replacing them with smaller exercises in what they call
an effort to support diplomacy aimed at resolving the North Korean
nuclear crisis. They agreed to replace the Key Resolve and Foal
Eagle drills with a shorter "Dong Maeng" or "Alliance" exercise
which kicked off this week.
   (AP, 3/3/19)(AFP, 3/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, Sudanese protesters
marched toward courthouses in different cities across the country,
including in the capital of Khartoum.
   (AP, 3/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, A Syrian jihadist
group linked to Al-Qaeda killed 21 regime and allied forces near
Idlib province, in one of the deadliest breaches of a six-month-old
truce deal. Five jihadists were also reported killed.
   (AFP, 3/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, In eastern Syria
Islamic State launched car bombs and suicide attackers against the
Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) assaulting Baghouz, in a last-ditch
effort to stave off defeat in its final patch of territory.
   (Reuters, 3/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, The Trump
administration said Washington will scrap the preferential trade
status of India and Turkey, as President Donald Trump ramped up his
battle against what his administration views as unfair foreign trade
practices.
   (AFP, 3/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, The US House
Judiciary Committee said it is launching a sweeping new probe of
Pres. Donald Trump, his White House, his campaign and his
businesses. The panel sent document requests to 81 people linked to
the president and his associates.
   (AP, 3/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, American and
Israeli militaries announced that the US has temporarily deployed
its highly advanced THAAD missile defence system in Israel for the
first time, reflecting their shared concerns about Iran's
development of powerful missiles.
   (AP, 3/4/19)(AFP, 3/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, Juan Vallejo Corona
(85), California's most prolific serial killer, died at a hospital
while serving 25 life sentences for the murder of 25 farm workers.
Their bodies were found near Yuba City in 1971.
   (SFC, 3/5/19, p.A1)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, American actor Luke
Perry (52) died in Los Angeles following a massive stroke last week.
He had played the wealthy rebel Dylan McKay on "Beverly Hills,
90210" (1990-2000).
   (SFC, 3/5/19, p.A10)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, Algerians dismissed
President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's promise to quit early if re-elected
for a fifth time and said they were ready for new protests seeking
his resignation.
   (AFP, 3/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, Belarus lifted a
restriction on the number of US diplomats allowed on its territory
that had been in force since 2008, a move aimed at improving ties
with Washington. Minsk had reduced the number of US diplomats to
five from the previous 35 after the United States imposed sanction
against Belarusian authorities.
   (Reuters, 3/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, British authorities
said two teenagers were killed in knife attacks in over the weekend,
bringing the number of people killed in stabbings this year to at
least 24.
   (Reuters, 3/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, Britain and Spain
said they have reached an agreement that sets out stricter rules for
companies and citizens operating from Gibraltar, a British overseas
territory which Spain considers a colony.
   (AP, 3/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, In London Laureline
Garcia-Bertaux (34), originally from France, was reported missing
after not turning up for work. Her body was found in a garden in Kew
on the evening of March 6. A post-mortem found she had been
strangled. A week later suspect Kirill Belorusov (32) was detained
in the Estonian capital Tallinn on a European arrest warrant.
   (AP, 3/7/19)(AFP, 3/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, Keith Flint (49),
the fiery frontman of British dance-electronic band The Prodigy, was
found dead at his home near London. Keith reportedly took his own
life over the weekend. The band's 1990s "Firestarter" (1996) and
"Breathe" (1996) were an incendiary fusion of techno, breakbeat and
acid house music.
   (AP, 3/4/19)(AFP, 3/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, The Central African
Republic's peace agreement was under strain after two militia groups
abandoned the deal and a third said it was quitting a new government
designed to be the keystone of the accord.
   (AFP, 3/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, China accused
detained Canadian citizen Michael Kovrig of stealing state secrets
which were passed on to him from another detained Canadian, Michael
Spavor, in what is likely to increase tension between Ottawa and
Beijing.
   (Reuters, 3/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, Egyptian
photojournalist Mahmoud Abu Zaid was released after five years in
prison and returned home to hugs from family and friends, pledging
to continue working despite severe restrictions imposed on his
movements, including having to spend the nights at a police station
nearby.
   (AP, 3/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, Indonesia and
Australia signed a free trade agreement in Jakarta that will
eliminate many tariffs, allow Australian-owned hospitals to operate
in the giant Southeast Asian country and increase work visas for
young Indonesians.
   (AP, 3/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, In Indonesia a
court ruled that construction of a Chinese-backed dam, that will cut
through the habitat of a the most critically endangered orangutan
species, can continue.
   (SFC, 3/5/19, p.A2)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, Israeli security
forces shot and killed two Palestinians who carried out a
car-ramming attack in the occupied West Bank that injured a soldier
and a policeman.
   (AFP, 3/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, Israeli attack
helicopters struck Hamas military positions in Gaza, after the
country's army reported a balloon-borne "explosive device" from the
Palestinian enclave targeted its territory.
   (AFP, 3/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, Lithuanian PM
Saulius Skvernelis said he will ask Belarus to convert its
Russian-built nuclear power plant to gas provided by Lithuania's
liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal and a planned gas link between
Lithuania and Poland.
   (Reuters, 3/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, Mexican
archaeologists reported the discovery of a cave filled with hundreds
of artifacts beneath the ruins of the Mayan city of Chichen Itza, a
stunning city of stone in the Yucatan peninsula that was founded
sometime around 750 AD. Locals had actually discovered the cave more
than 50 years ago.
   (AP, 3/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, In Mexico the
townspeople of Santa Rosa de Lima, Guanajuato state, tried to block
a police raid on a fuel-theft gang. The gang had allegedly paid for
the local support. The municipal force did nothing to help in the
raid that freed six kidnap victims.
   (SFC, 3/6/19, p.A2)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, A key train service
with neighboring India resumed and schools in Pakistani Kashmir
opened in another sign of easing tensions between the two
nuclear-armed rivals since a major escalation last week over the
disputed Kashmir region.
   (AP, 3/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, President Vladimir
Putin officially suspended Russia's participation in a key Cold
War-era arms treaty, after the US first moved to ditch the INF deal.
   (AFP, 3/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, In South Sudan the
leaders of Ethiopia and Eritrea met with President Salva Kiir
seeking to breathe new life into a flagging peace agreement signed
six months ago between his government and rebels.
   (AFP, 3/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, In Switzerland the
electric Jaguar I-Pace won the Car of the Year award in Europe ahead
of the 89th Geneva International Motor Show, at the Palexpo in
Geneva. This was first time the storied British brand has been
bestowed the prize.
   (AP, 3/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, In eastern Syria
hundreds of people including fighters from the Islamic State group
evacuated their last foothold hours after US-backed Syrian fighters
said they were forced to slow their advance because the extremists
are using civilians as human shields. Some 500 people, including
fighters, surrendered and evacuated the village of Baghouz and its
surrounding areas.
   (AP, 3/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, Uganda's government
said Rwanda has started to allow trucks carrying goods from Uganda
to enter at one of the main crossing points on their shared border,
a sign that renewed hostilities have started to ease. Their
hostilities were fueled by longstanding mutual suspicions and
allegations of supporting each other's dissidents.
   (Reuters, 3/4/19)
 2019      Mar 4, Flag-waving
Venezuelans turned out to await the return of opposition leader Juan
Guaido, who was defying the threat of arrest as he embarks on a
renewed push against embattled President Nicolas Maduro.
   (AFP, 3/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, Zambia’s
broadcasting regulator ordered a one-month suspension of a TV
channel that has been critical of the government, just days after
the governing party accused the station of bias and
unprofessionalism. Prime TV has openly condemned the government of
President Edgar Lungu.
   (AFP, 3/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, The US FDA approved
Spravato, a mind altering medication that is a cousin of ketamine,
for the treatment of patients who have failed to find relief with at
least two anti-depressants. Ketamine has been adopted by the
underground rave culture due to its ability to produce psychedelic,
out-of-body experiences.
   (SFC, 3/6/19, p.A6)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, It was reported
that for just the second time ever an HIV patient was in sustained
remission from the virus in what was hailed by experts as proof that
the AIDS-causing condition could one day be curable.
   (AFP, 3/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, In Afghanistan
relief efforts continued a day after flooding subsided. The
Norwegian Refugee Council said more than 32 people have died and
thousands displaced as heavy rains and flooding swept away homes
across Afghanistan.
   (AP, 3/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, Albania's main
opposition leader urged PM Edi Rama to call a snap election over
allegations of corruption and vote fraud, as anti-government
protesters rallied outside parliament.
   (Reuters, 3/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, Thousands of
Algerian students marched in protest at ailing President Abdelaziz
Bouteflika's determination to stand for re-election, brushing aside
his pledge not to serve a full fifth term.
   (AFP, 3/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, Belarus Pres.
Alexander Lukashenko called for better ties with NATO and lifted
restrictions on US diplomats, an apparent bid to win concessions
from Moscow by dangling the prospect of rapprochement with the West.
   (AP, 3/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, China announced a
robust annual economic growth target and a 7.5 percent rise in
military spending as it convened an annual legislative session
overshadowed by a tariff war with Washington.
   (AP, 3/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, Chinese tech
company Huawei opened a cybersecurity lab in Brussels, the heart of
the European Union, as it tries to win over government leaders and
fight back US allegations that its equipment poses a national
security risk.
   (AP, 3/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, French officials
said rioters in the city of Grenoble set fire to 65 cars and
targeted security forces with fireworks and Molotov cocktails, after
a third night of violence sparked by the death of two teenagers on a
stolen scooter during a police chase.
   (AFP, 3/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, French customs
officials warned of lengthy delays at the port of Calais as their
work-to-rule strike snarled traffic for a second day, leading to
queues of trucks several km (miles) long.
   (AFP, 3/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, In Germany gardener
Bernhard Graumann (59) was found dead in his bed in the southwestern
town of Mehlingen. He had been in conflict with both a doctor and a
family, and is thought to have planted explosives before he died.
The 64-year-old doctor in the nearby town of Enkenbach-Alsenborn was
killed this morning. Two days later a woman (37) and her 4-year-old
daughter were injured by glass splinters when the woman put a log
that had been rigged with explosives into her stove and it blew the
door out.
   (AP, 3/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, The Berlin district
court jailed 48-year-old Aleksandr T., a German-Russian dual citizen
whose full name wasn't released in line with German privacy rules.
He was sentenced to eight years in prison over the July 22 attack on
two homeless men at Schoeneweide station. One of the victims later
died of his injuries.
   (AP, 3/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, Greece successfully
launched its first 10-year bond auction since 2010, as it seeks to
gradually regain the confidence of international investors and wean
itself off bailout funds.
   (AP, 3/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, A Hungarian court
ruled that Rui Pinto, a Portuguese man linked to the publication of
internal documents that embarrassed top European clubs and soccer
officials in the Football Leaks case, will be extradited to his home
country.
   (AP, 3/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, Two groups
monitoring air pollution said New Delhi was the world's most
polluted capital city in 2018 in a study of the amount of fine
particulate matter known as PM2.5 in 61 capital cities around the
world. It was followed by the Bangladesh capital of Dhaka and Kabul,
capital of Afghanistan.
   (Reuters, 3/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, In Indonesia the
effort to find victims in the Feb. 26 mine collapse recovered more
bodies and body parts as the death toll rose to at least 13.
   (AP, 3/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, Italian energy
company Eni said a crane toppled from a methane gas extraction
platform, plunging into the Adriatic Sea and killing the crane's
operator (63).
   (AP, 3/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, In Italy a proposal
to use 15 million euros in Saudi Arabian government funds for
Milan's La Scala opera house came under fire because of anger over
the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
   (AFP, 3/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, Japanese architect
Arata Isozaki, credited with bringing together the East and West in
his innovative designs, was awarded this year's Pritzker
Architecture Prize, known internationally as the highest honor in
the field.
   (AP, 3/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, A Tokyo court
approved the release of former Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn on 1
billion yen ($8.9 million) bail, rejecting an appeal by prosecutors
to keep him jailed. The former head of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi
Motors alliance has been detained since he was arrested on Nov.
   (AP, 3/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, It was reported
that Nepal has chosen a railway-track gauge used by China for its
network and not the main one India uses citing lower costs, a
setback for India as it tries to limit Chinese involvement in the
Himalayan country.
   (Reuters, 3/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, It was announced
that Nicaraguan Pres. Daniel Ortega's leftist government and the
opposition have agreed a "roadmap" for extended peace talks to
resolve 10 months of crisis sparked by a deadly crackdown on dissent
in which hundreds of people were killed.
   (AFP, 3/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, Pakistan's Interior
Ministry said that authorities have arrested dozens of suspects in
the wake the Feb. 14 suicide bombing in Indian-controlled Kashmir
that killed 40 Indian troops. Among those arrested was Mufti Abdul
Rauf, the brother of the group's leader, Masood Azhar.
   (AP, 3/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, In South Africa
growing unrest at Sibanye-Stillwater's gold operations has left nine
people dead since workers downed tools in November, prompting the
country's mines minister to call on the police to step in and
protect the local community.
   (Reuters, 3/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, Sri Lanka's
government proposed increases in spending on public servants and
incentives to boost agriculture and fisheries in a new national
budget, which opposition lawmakers criticized as an attempt to
attract voters ahead of a presidential election this year.
   (AP, 3/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, In Sudan a one-day
strike shuttered businesses and emptied streets in Khartoum, and
other parts of the country.
   (AP, 3/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, The opposition
Sudanese Congress Party said authorities have released Omar
el-Digeir, a senior opposition leader, who had been detained since
December in connection with demonstrations against President Omar
al-Bashir's rule.
   (AFP, 3/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, In eastern Syria
civilians streamed out of the Islamic State group's last Syrian
stronghold into territory held by US-backed forces battling to
finish off the jihadists' dying "caliphate" near the village of
Baghouz. 280 IS fighters were among those who quit the pocket since
March 3.
   (AFP, 3/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, In Kiev US
Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch called on Ukrainian officials to fire
the special anti-corruption prosecutor, Nazar Kholodnytsky, who has
been accused of helping suspects avoid corruption charges. She also
called for a complete audit of a state-owned military procurement
company and greater transparency for defense contracts.
   (AP, 3/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, UN High
Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said Burundi has
forced the United Nations to shut its local human rights office
after 23 years.
   (Reuters, 3/5/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 6, A US federal
appeals court upheld fraud convictions against two men for their
roles in a Connecticut auto insurance scam that involved as many as
50 staged car crashes between 2011 and 2014. The 2nd US Circuit
Court of Appeals in New York rejected the appeals of Mackenzy Noze
and Jonas Joseph.
   (AP, 3/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 6, The US federal
government said it is awarding $27 million in grants to the US
Virgin Islands to help expand and renovate two airports damaged in
2017 by Hurricanes Irma and Maria.
   (AP, 3/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 6, The Wall Street
Journal reported that Microsoft has detected cyberattacks linked to
Iranian hackers that targeted thousands of people at more than 200
companies over the past two years. Microsoft attributed the attacks
to a group it calls Holmium, and which other security researchers
call APT33.
   (AP, 3/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 6, Militants in
Afghanistan set off a suicide blast and stormed a construction
company near the airport in Jalalabad, the capital of eastern
Nangarhar province, killing at least 17 people.
   (AP, 3/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 6, Algerian war
veterans said that protesters demanding ailing President Abdelaziz
Bouteflika step down after 20 years in power had legitimate concerns
and they urged all citizens to demonstrate.
   (Reuters, 3/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 6, Angola's Pres. Joao
Lourenco met with Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa in
Luanda in a top-level encounter between nations whose relations have
previously been strained by anti-corruption issues.
   (AFP, 3/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 6, London's Central
Criminal Court sentenced Muslim convert Lewis Ludlow to at least 15
years in prison for plotting a van attack on crowds in London's busy
Oxford Street shopping district.
   (AP, 3/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 6, China said that it
is blocking some imports of the agricultural product canola from
Canada because of fears of insect infestation. A day earlier
Richardson International Ltd., said that China had revoked its
permit to export canola there.
   (AP, 3/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 6, An inquiry into the
demise of Cyprus' Co-operative bank faulted senior executives for
bad judgment, inaction and ineptitude in dealing with a mountain of
bad loans, while blaming the finance minister for failing to take
corrective actions.
   (AP, 3/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 6, Amnesty
International said Egyptian activists and journalists have been
targeted by phishing attacks coinciding with political events in an
intensifying crackdown on dissent since the start of the year.
   (Reuters, 3/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 6, In Estonia Liberal
party leader Kaja Kallas, on track to become the country's first
female prime minister, announced talks for a grand coalition with
the center-left party of outgoing PM Juri Ratas.
   (AFP, 3/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 6, In France prison
guards blocked access to 18 jails to protest working conditions
after the stabbing of two guards by a radicalized inmate.
   (AFP, 3/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 6, A manhunt was
underway in western Germany for at least two masked suspects who
attacked a money transport truck at the Cologne-Bonn airport and
shot a guard.
   (AP, 3/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 6, In Germany the body
of a 21-year-old woman was found with several stab wounds at her
parents' home. A 22-year-old Tunisian man she had been in a
relationship with was arrested the next day on suspicion of
homicide.
   (AP, 3/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 6, Indian and
Pakistani soldiers shelled military outposts and villages along
their highly militarized frontier in disputed Kashmir, in an
outbreak of new violence despite stepped-up diplomatic efforts by
the rival countries to ease tensions.
   (AP, 3/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 6, An activist group
said Nasrin Sotoudeh, a prominent human rights lawyer in Iran who
defended protesters against the Islamic Republic's mandatory
headscarves for women, has been convicted and faces years in prison.
She had previously served three years in prison for her work.
   (AP, 3/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 6, Israeli PM Benjamin
Netanyahu designated Al-Aqsa television channel of the Palestinian
Islamist movement Hamas a "terrorist organization".
   (AFP, 3/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 6, Italy's populist
government opened its new minimum income welfare program, fulfilling
a key campaign promise of the 5-Star Movement to try to reduce
poverty and unemployment in the eurozone's third-largest economy.
   (AP, 3/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 6, In Kenya thousands
of air passengers were stranded after a strike by aviation workers
at the main Nairobi airport led to the cancellation and delay of
scores of flights and the use of riot police to break up the
industrial action. By the end of the day however, most scheduled
arrivals had been processed while the departures backlog was being
cleared.
   (Reuters, 3/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 6, Bankers and
diplomats said Libya's parallel government in the east has sold
bonds worth more than $23 billion to fund its wage bill, bypassing
the central bank in Tripoli and creating a potential financial black
hole if the country reunifies.
   (Reuters, 3/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 6, In Pakistan
Mohammed Afzal (31), also known as Afzal Kohistani, was shot dead in
the northwestern district of Abbotabad. The young rights campaigner
had fought for seven years for justice for five possible victims of
so-called honor killings. Police soon identified the killer as his
nephew.
   (Reuters, 3/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 6, In Puerto Rico
trucks laden with food, water and gasoline began arriving on the
tiny islands of Vieques and Culebra after the governor activated the
National Guard due to a breakdown of two ferries that carry
supplies.
   (AP, 3/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 6, Scientists set off
on a mission to explore the depths of the Indian Ocean. The
Britain-based Nekton non-profit research institute has chartered the
Ocean Zephyr, a Danish-flagged supply ship, to explore the waters
around the Seychelles. This is the first of a half-dozen regions the
Nekton Mission plans to explore before the end of 2022, when
scientists will present their research at a summit on the state of
the Indian Ocean.
   (AP, 3/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 6, A South African
court handed jail terms of 23 and 18 years to two white farmers who
murdered a black teenager suspected of stealing sunflowers in a
remote farming community. Pieter Doorewaard (28) and Philip Schutte
(35) were found to have killed 15-year-old Matlhomola Mosweu, also
spelt Moshoeu, on April 20, 2017, after claiming they caught him
taking a plant from a farm in the area.
   (AFP, 3/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 6, South Korean
President Moon Jae-in proposed a joint project with China to use
artificial rain to clean the air in his country, where an acute
increase in pollution has caused alarm.
   (AP, 3/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 6, In eastern Syria
hundreds more people made their way out of Islamic State's last
pocket, besieged by a US-backed militia. An SDF source put the
number of people who left the Baghouz pocket this morning at more
than 2,000. The SDF militia captured 400 Islamic State fighters who
were trying to escape the enclave.
   (Reuters, 3/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 6, United Nations
human rights chief Michelle Bachelet said that she is seeking access
to China to verify continuing reports of disappearances and
arbitrary detentions, particularly of Muslims in the Xinjiang
region.
   (Reuters, 3/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 6, UN rights chief
Michelle Bachelet said sanctions had exacerbated the crisis in
Venezuela but also slammed Maduro's "violations of civil and
political rights" in her annual report to the UN Human Rights
Council in Geneva.
   (AFP, 3/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 6, Venezuela's
government said it will expel the German ambassador, Daniel Martin
Kriener, for interfering in the country's internal affairs and gave
him 48 hours to leave.
   (Reuters, 3/6/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 6, A Vietnamese
fishing boat capsized after reportedly being rammed by a Chinese
vessel in the South China Sea's contested Paracel Islands. China
said its boat came upon the fishing vessel after it started sinking
and sought help for the crew.
   (AP, 3/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, US President Donald
Trump's special representative for Venezuela pledged that Washington
would "expand the net" of sanctions on the South American nation,
including more on banks supporting President Nicolas Maduro's
government.
   (Reuters, 3/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, First lady Melania
Trump joined Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at the State Department
to confer international courage awards on 10 women from Bangladesh,
Djibouti, Egypt, Ireland, Jordan, Montenegro, Myanmar, Peru, Sri
Lanka and Tanzania. The State Department has honored more than 120
women from scores of countries since it created the International
Women of Courage Award in 2007.
   (AP, 3/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, Former Trump
campaign chief Paul Manafort (69) was sentenced to nearly four years
in prison for tax crimes and bank fraud in a high-profile case
stemming from Special Counsel Robert Mueller's probe of Russian
interference in the 2016 election. This was much less than what was
called for under sentencing guidelines.
   (AFP, 3/7/19)(AP, 3/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, The US House of
Representatives passed a resolution condemning anti-Semitism and
other bigotry. The one-sided 407-23 vote belied the emotional
infighting over how to respond to freshman Rep. lIhan Omar's recent
comments suggesting House supporters of Israel have dual
allegiances.
   (AP, 3/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, In Texas Dan
Jenkins (89), the sports writing great and best-selling author whose
career covered Ben Hogan to Tiger Woods, died.
   (AP, 3/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, In Afghanistan
rockets fired at a gathering of the Shi'ite Muslim Hazara minority
in Kabul killed at least three people and wounded dozens in an
attack claimed by Islamic State. Two insurgents were eventually
killed and one person arrested. The death toll in the mortar attack
soon rose to 11, while the number of wounded reached almost 100.
   (Reuters, 3/7/19)(AP, 3/7/19)(AP, 3/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, FUNAI, Brazil's
indigenous affairs agency, said it has sent an expedition to the
Amazon region looking for members of the Koruba tribe that has had
little or no contact with the outside world to steer them clear of
the rival Matis group and avoid a bloody clash of cudgels against
arrows.
   (Reuters, 3/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, Canadian PM Justin
Trudeau defended his government's handling of a political crisis
that could dash his chances of winning re-election in October, while
admitting some mistakes had been made. Trudeau's Liberal government
has been on the defensive for a month over allegations by former
Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould that officials inappropriately
pressured her last year to help construction firm SNC-Lavalin Group
Inc avoid a criminal trial.
   (Reuters, 3/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, Chinese tech giant
Huawei challenged a US law that would limit its American sales of
telecom equipment on security grounds as the company steps up
efforts to preserve its access to global markets for next-generation
communications.
   (AP, 3/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, Comoros Pres. Azali
Assoumani reportedly survived an attempt on his life as he
crisscrossed the country drumming up support ahead of polls on March
24.
   (AFP, 3/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, In Costa Rico
judicial police raided Roman Catholic church offices in San Jose,
searching for information about two priests accused of sexual abuse.
   (AP, 3/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, Medecins Sans
Frontières said the battle against Ebola in Democratic Republic of
Congo is failing because ordinary people do not trust health workers
and an overly militarized response is alienating patients and
families.
   (Reuters, 3/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, Egypt's the
interior ministry said on security forces have killed seven
suspected militants in two operations in Giza, across the Nile from
central Cairo.
   (Reuters, 3/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, Egyptian actor Amr
Waked (45), living in Spain and known for his criticism of President
Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi's government, said a military court has
sentenced him in absentia to eight years in prison in two separate
cases, the latest in a wide-ranging crackdown on dissent and the
media in Egypt in recent years.
   (AP, 3/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, Ethiopia appealed
for $1.3 billion from the international community to assist 8.3
million displaced due to ethnic conflict as well those vulnerable to
climate shocks and disease.
   (AP, 3/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, The 28 member
states of the European Union all backed a decision on to reject a
proposal from the EU executive to add Saudi Arabia to a blacklist of
countries suspected of being lax on terrorist financing and money
laundering. The decision will force the European Commission to
prepare a new list.
   (Reuters, 3/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, French Catholic
cleric, Cardinal Philippe Barbarin, was convicted of failing to
report allegations of sexual abuse in his diocese and said he would
submit his resignation to Pope Francis. The archbishop of Lyon was
handed a six-month suspended prison sentence.
   (Reuters, 3/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, Eurostar trains
from Paris to London were running up to two hours late and trucks
stacked up on the approaches to the Channel port of Calais as French
customs officers staged the fourth day of a work-to-rule strike.
   (AFP, 3/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, In Germany a
regional court judge gave Klaus O. (57) a life sentence after
convicting him of attempted murder. He was found guilty of poisoning
his co-workers' sandwiches with mercury and other substances between
2015 and 2018.
   (AP, 3/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, A German court
sentenced four men for their involvement in running an online child
pornography platform to prison sentences from three years and ten
months to almost 10 years.
   (AP, 3/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, More than 200
protesters gathered at a Hong Kong university to condemn the
expulsion of a student defending free speech, in what was seen as
another incremental sign of eroding freedoms in the Chinese-ruled
city.
   (Reuters, 3/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, In the
Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir a civilian was killed and at
least 30 others were injured by a grenade blast at a bus station.
   (AP, 3/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, Three Indonesian
soldiers were killed in a gunbattle with Papuan independence
fighters. They were part of a contingent to provide security for
military engineers on the trans Papua highway.
   (AP, 3/7/19)(AP, 3/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, Iranian naval
forces intervened to repel pirates who attacked an Iranian oil
tanker in the Gulf of Aden.
   (AP, 3/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, In northern Iraq
Islamic State militants ambushed a bus carrying Shiite Muslim
paramilitary fighters, killing six militiamen and wounding 31 others
in one of the deadliest attacks in recent months.
   (AP, 3/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, Malaysian officials
said 35 people, mostly students, have been treated for poisoning
after a suspected chemical leak near two schools in Johor state.
   (Reuters, 3/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, In Malaysia Mujahid
Yusof Rawa, the minister in charge of religious affairs, said the
Islamic Affairs Department had set up a unit to monitor writings and
communications insulting Islam and Muhammad.
   (Reuters, 3/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, In central Mexico
at least 25 Central American migrants died when the truck they were
traveling in overturned in Chiapas state. 23 of those killed were
Guatemalan migrants.
   (AP, 3/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, Singapore axed a
gig by Watain, a Swedish metal band with Satanic beliefs, whose
performances have involved throwing pig's blood onto revelers, just
hours before it was due to go ahead.
   (AFP, 3/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, South Korea's
military said it is carefully monitoring North Korean nuclear and
missile facilities after the country's spy agency told lawmakers
that new activity was detected at a research center where the North
is believed to build long-range missiles targeting the US mainland.
   (AP, 3/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, In Sudan an
emergency appeals court overturned prison sentences handed down to
eight protesters for participating in demonstrations against
President Omar al-Bashir's iron-fisted rule. Scores of protesters,
many of them women, rallied in Khartoum, condemning a slew of tough
measures imposed by President Omar al-Bashir to end weeks-long
demonstrations against his rule.
   (AFP, 3/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, In Geneva
Volkswagen-owned Bugatti said a one-off Bugatti luxury sports car
has been sold for a record 16.7 million euros ($18.9 million).
   (AP, 3/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, In eastern Syria
scores of suspected IS members, including foreign fighters, were
screened and searched for concealed weapons and explosives after
leaving the last pocket of territory held by the Islamic State
group.
   (AP, 3/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, A court in Thailand
ordered the dissolution of the Thai Raksa Chart Party ahead of this
month's general election because it nominated a member of the royal
family to be its candidate for prime minister.
   (AP, 3/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, Ukrainian
presidential candidate Yulia Tymoshenko promised life imprisonment
for anyone found guilty in alleged military corruption that
reportedly includes incumbent Petro Poroshenko.
   (AP, 3/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, In Geneva three
dozen countries, including all 28 EU members, called on Saudi Arabia
to release 10 activists and cooperate with a UN-led investigation
into the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at its Istanbul
consulate. This was the first rebuke of the kingdom at the UN Human
Rights Council since it was set up in 2006.
   (Reuters, 3/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, In Venezuela power
went out this afternoon due to a problem at the main hydroelectric
plant. The government called the event an act of "sabotage" by
ideological adversaries.
   (Reuters, 3/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, A World Bank
arbitration panel ruled that Venezuela must pay US oil giant
ConocoPhillips more than $8 billion as compensation for a decade-old
expropriation dispute. The Venezuelan government and its state-owned
entities currently owe around $150 billion to creditors around the
world, while the country's foreign currency reserves have fallen to
just $8 billion.
   (AP, 3/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, A Cook County grand
jury indicted actor Jessie Smollett on 16 counts that alleged he
lied to Chicago police about being the victim of an attack. Police
said he staged the attack and recruited two brothers to participate.
   (SFC, 3/9/19, p.A4)(SSFC, 3/10/19, p.A6)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, Kansas Dr. Steven
R. Henson (57) was sentenced to life in prison for unlawfully
prescribing medication blamed for an overdose death.
   (SSFC, 3/10/19, p.A13)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, New Mexico Gov.
Michelle Lujan Grisham signed a bill to drastically expand mandatory
background checks on firearms sales in the state.
   (SSFC, 3/10/19, p.A7)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, Facebook Inc, which
along with other social media companies has faced growing pressure
over spurious content spread on its platform, announced it would
remove user groups and pages that contained misinformation about
vaccinations.
   (Reuters, 3/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, Campaigners for
gender equality marked International Women's Day with protests,
discussion panels and walkouts as well as celebrations.
   (Reuters, 3/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, Tens of thousands
of Algerians defied heavily deployed riot police and resumed mass
protests against President Abdelaziz Bouteflika posing the biggest
threat to his 20-year-old rule. A private TV station said several
lawmakers of the ruling FLN party have resigned to join mass
anti-government protests.
   (Reuters, 3/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, In Algeria
criminals took advantage of thousands-strong demonstrations to break
into the National Museum of Antiquities and Islamic Arts in Algiers,
founded in 1897.
   (AFP, 3/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, The BBC reported
that the baby son of Shamima Begum, a British-born teenager who left
London to join the Islamic State group, has died in Syria. Begum
(19) had been stripped of her citizenship by the British government
despite her wish to return.
   (AFP, 3/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, Colombia said it
will allow Venezuelans to cross the border using expired passports
in view of the difficulty of renewing travel documents in the
neighboring country in the midst of its economic crisis.
   (Reuters, 3/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, Finland's coalition
government resigned a month ahead of a general election, saying it
could not deliver on a healthcare reform package that is widely seen
as crucial to securing long-term government finances. President
Sauli Niinisto accepted PM Sipila's resignation but asked his
government of his Center party and the National Coalition Party to
continue in a caretaker capacity until a new cabinet has been
appointed.
   (Reuters, 3/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, Official reports
said France and Iran are to exchange ambassadors after Paris
suspended nomination of an envoy to Tehran last year over
accusations that Iranian intelligence had planned an attack on an
opposition group in Paris.
   (Reuters, 3/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, The International
Monetary Fund said it has reached a tentative deal to extend a $229
million loan to Haiti.
   (AP, 3/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, In Hungary MTA
President Laszlo Lovasz and Innovations and Technology Minister
Laszlo Palkovics announced that they had reached an agreement to
separate the science research network from the academy's teaching
institutions. Staff members of the historic Hungarian Academy of
Sciences said their academic freedom has been threatened by a new
deal giving the nationalist government influence over its research
institutions.
   (Reuters, 3/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, Indonesia's
military said hundreds of soldiers will be deployed to continue work
on the trans Papua highway.
   (AP, 3/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, A top Iranian
diplomat asserted that the UK's decision to give diplomatic
protection to Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian woman
detained in Iran for nearly three years, contravenes international
law.
   (AP, 3/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, On International
Women’s Day Yasaman Aryani, her mother Monireh Arabshahi and Mojgan
Keshavarz handed out flowers to female passengers on the Tehran
metro and spoke of a day when women have the freedom to choose what
they wear. Aryani and her mother were each sentenced to 16 years in
prison for “inciting and facilitating corruption and prostitution,"
though the sentence was later reduced.
   (AP, 3/8/21)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, A Kosovo court
acquitted the ethnic Serb identified only as M.Z. of war crimes and
genocide charges following suspicion of his involvement committed in
crimes in June-July 1998 in the Kline municipality.
   (AP, 3/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, Malawi's ministry
of homeland security said heavy rains and flooding in the south have
killed at least 23 people, and a further 11 are missing.
   (Reuters, 3/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, Dutch prosecutors
said Uber has agreed to an out-of-court settlement of more than 2
million euros ($2.24 million) linked to an illegal service the ride
hailing company offered in the Netherlands.
   (AP, 3/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, In northeastern
Nigeria at least five farmers were killed and dozens wounded after
their vehicle struck a land mine buried by Boko Haram extremists.
Three people were reportedly killed in Rivers state, following
clashes between APC and PDP supporters, one day ahead of regional
elections.
   (SFC, 3/9/19, p.A2)(AFP, 3/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, North Macedonia's
former secret police chief, Saso Mijalkov (53), was sentenced to
three years in prison after being convicted of unlawfully
influencing a local election in 2013. The court also convicted the
head of an ethnic Albanian party and four former electoral
commission members over the same case.
   (AP, 3/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, Norway's $1
trillion wealth fund, the biggest of its kind in the world, said it
will begin dumping shares in oil and gas companies, but stopped
short of barring major producers like ExxonMobil and Chevron.
   (AP, 3/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, A Palestinian was
killed and at least 45 others wounded by Israeli fire in new
protests and clashes along the Gaza border.
   (AFP, 3/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, Peru's PM Cesar
Villanueva stepped down amid calls for President Martin Vizcarra to
shake up his government and revive falling approval ratings.
   (AP, 3/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, In the Philippines
Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad met with Filipino Muslim rebel leader
Murad Ebrahim, who has become a regional governor under a
Malaysian-brokered peace deal.
   (AP, 3/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, Workers in the
Polish city of Gdansk dismantled a statue of the late Solidarity-era
priest, Henryk Jankowski, following allegations he sexually abused
minors.
   (AP, 3/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, In Portugal
thousands of nurses marched through Lisbon in a show of unity to
demand better pay and working conditions and protest the
government's poor handling of the long-running dispute.
   (Reuters, 3/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, Saudi Arabia's air
defense systems shot down a drone over the kingdom. The Saudi-led
military coalition in Yemen accused the country's Houthi fighters of
launching the aircraft and targeting civilians.
   (Reuters, 3/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, Slovenia's health
minister resigned, becoming the fourth minister to leave the
center-left minority government and raising concerns about its
ability to survive until the next scheduled election in 2022. Samo
Fakin quit nine days after Environment Minister Jure Leben quit amid
media reports about alleged corruption linked to a railway project
in 2017 when Leben was a senior infrastructure ministry official.
   (Reuters, 3/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, South Korea and the
US formally signed a deal on Seoul's increased payment for the US
troop deployment, amid worries about the future of the countries'
decades-long military alliance.
   (AP, 3/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, One of Spain's
largest unions, UGT, said an estimated six million people walked out
of their jobs for at least two hours in a strike to demand equal pay
and rights for women, which it said mobilized more people than a
similar action a year ago.
   (Reuters, 3/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, In Sudan hundreds
of protesters chanted anti-government slogans after leaving prayers
at a major mosque near Khartoum, drawing tear-gas volleys from
police. President Omar al-Bashir on International Women's Day
ordered the release of all women arrested in connection with
anti-government demonstrations, hours after protesters marched in
the two largest cities.
   (Reuters, 3/8/19)(AP, 3/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, A Swedish court
convicted David Idrisson, a 46-year old Uzbek citizen, of plotting
to carry out a bombing in Sweden in the name of Islamic State,
sentencing him to seven years in prison followed by expulsion from
the country.
   (Reuters, 3/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, The Swiss
government said it will not help bring home adult citizens who
joined up with jihadist fighters in Syria and Iraq, insisting
national security was paramount.
   (Reuters, 3/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, In Tunisia 11
newborn babies died over the last two days at the Rabta clinic in
Tunis, which is part of a large medical center in the capital.
Tunisia's health minister soon resigned following the sudden deaths.
On March 10 a 12th infant died at the Rabta state hospital. The
deaths were believed to have been caused by an infection acquired in
the clinic.
   (AFP, 3/10/19)(AFP, 3/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, The United Nations
refugee agency UNHCR said in a report that around 5,000 Yemeni
civilians were either killed or wounded last year, which averages
out to 93 victims each week.
   (AP, 3/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, Venezuela shut
schools and suspended the workday as the worst blackout in decades
paralyzed most of the troubled nation for a second day, spurring
outrage among citizens already suffering from hyperinflation and a
crippling recession.
   (Reuters, 3/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, In California
prison guards at Corcoran State Prison in Kings County found inmate
Luis Romero (44) beheaded in his cell. Cellmate Jaime Osuna (31) had
removed several body parts from Romero.
   (SFC, 4/29/19, p.A5)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, In North Carolina
Diana Alejandra Keel went missing. Her body was found days later
with multiple stab wounds. Her husband Rexford Lynn Keel Jr. (57)
was arrested after being sighted on March 17 near Tucson.
   (SFC, 3/19/19, p.A8)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, In Afghanistan a
large number of Taliban insurgents launched attacks on several army
posts in the province's Bala Murghab district. Over the next days 20
soldiers were reported killed, 10 wounded and 20 captured by the
hardline Islamist group.
   (Reuters, 3/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, Algeria's higher
education ministry brought forward university holidays, as
authorities sought to quell protests against ailing President
Abdelaziz Bouteflika's bid for a fifth term.
   (AFP, 3/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, Magomed Daudov, a
close ally of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, called blogger Tumso
Abdurakhmanov "an enemy to me and my brothers" after Abdurakhmanov
criticized Kadyrov's late father, the former Chechen leader, on his
YouTube channel. Abdurakhmanov (32) fled Chechnya in 2015 and is
seeking asylum in Poland.
   (AP, 3/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, Liu Hong of China
has set a world record in the women's 50-km race walk, becoming the
first woman to finish the event in under 4 hours.
   (AP, 3/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, In Colombia 14
people were killed in a DC-3 plane crash in Meta province.
   (AP, 3/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, In eastern Congo
DRC armed Mai Mai militiamen attacked an Ebola treatment center at
the heart of an outbreak of the disease, killing a policeman before
being repelled by security forces.
   (AP, 3/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, In France hundreds
of "yellow vest" protesters began marches in Paris, marking the 17th
straight weekend of anti-government demonstrations. They were joined
by others donning pink tops, as child-care workers turned out
against a reform of their unemployment subsidies.
   (Reuters, 3/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, India said that it
was returning a key diplomat to Pakistan's capital amid an easing of
tensions between the nuclear neighbors, but also demanded that its
archrival take concrete steps against terrorists operating from its
territory.
   (AP, 3/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, Israeli forces said
they had launched several strikes against Hamas sites in Gaza in
response to a projectile launched from the besieged coastal
territory the night before.
   (AFP, 3/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, The Italian
Ambassador to Pakistan said that the bodies of British climber Tom
Ballard and Italian climber Daniele Nardi, who went missing on Feb.
24 while ascending Pakistan's Nanga Parbat, the so-called "Killer
Mountain," have been found. Their bodies were unlikely to be
recovered.
   (Reuters, 3/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, In southwest Japan
the Guinness World Records officially recognized Kane Tanaka (116)
in a ceremony at the nursing home where she lives in Fukuoka.
   (AP, 3/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, Malaysian police
said a was sentenced to more than 10 years' jail and three others
were charged over insults against Islam and the Prophet Muhammad on
social media.
   (Reuters, 3/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, A Malaysian
minister decried the presence of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and
transgender (LGBT) groups at a march celebrating International
Women's Day, calling it "a misuse of democratic space".
   (Reuters, 3/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, In central Mexico
armed assailants opened fire in a nightclub in Salamanca, Guanajuato
state, in the early hours today, leaving at least 15 people dead and
three others wounded.
   (AP, 3/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, In Myanmar 60
Arakan Army insurgents attacked a police post late today in Rakhine
state, which was safeguarding question and answer sheets from the
national high school matriculation examination. Nine policemen were
reported killed in the attack.
   (AP, 3/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, Nigerians voted for
a second time in a fortnight in governorship and state assembly
elections.
   (AP, 3/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, In Sudan nine
female protesters were sentenced to 20 lashes and one month in
prison for rioting under new emergency laws.
   (AP, 3/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, In northern Syria a
suicide car bomb attacker blew himself up near a military vehicle in
the town of Manbij, wounding eight people, most of them civilians.
   (AP, 3/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, Pope Francis met
with the leadership of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints, the first-such meeting of its kind, on the eve of the
dedication of the Mormon church's huge new temple in Rome.
   (AP, 3/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, Venezuelan
opposition protesters confronted security forces on a main avenue in
Caracas, venting their anger over a nationwide blackout, shortages
of basic necessities and the government of President Nicolas Maduro.
   (AP, 3/9/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, In east Texas two
men died after their pickup truck collided with a charter bus in
Tyler. Five occupants of the bus were hospitalized.
   (SFC, 3/11/19, p.A5)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, Thousands of
students took to the streets of Algeria against President Abdelaziz
Bouteflika's bid for a fifth term, as schools shut and transport in
the capital halted as part of a protest strike. Bouteflika (82)
returned to Algeria after medical treatment in Switzerland. Clerics
defied any state role in their work, in a rebuff to an ailing leader
fighting for his political survival.
   (AFP, 3/10/19)(Reuters, 3/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, Laleh Shahravesh,
a UK citizen, was arrested at Dubai Airport as she arrived for her
ex-husband's funeral. Authorities there had received a complaint
about Facebook posts that she allegedly made in 2016 calling her
ex's new wife a "horse".
   (AP, 4/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, Egypt's president
appointed Maj. Gen. Kamal el-Wazir, the head of the military's
engineering authority, to lead the country's transportation
ministry, less than two weeks after its minister resigned over a
deadly train crash in Cairo that killed 25 people.
   (AP, 3/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, An Ethiopia,
Airlines new Boeing 737-8 MAX crashed shortly after takeoff from
Addis Ababa killing all 157 people on board. 35 nationalities were
represented. 19 people from at least five UN and affiliated
agencies, including the IOM, were among 157 victims.
   (AP, 3/10/19)(AP, 3/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, In France
thousands of Algerian-origin protesters demonstrated in Paris and
other cities around the country against President Abdelaziz
Bouteflika, calling on him not to seek another term in office.
   (AFP, 3/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, Guinea-Bissau, one
of the world's poorest states, held key legislative elections aimed
at ending a protracted political crisis..
   (AFP, 3/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, Three Israeli
soldiers, charged with abusing Palestinian detainees, were sentenced
to six and a half months in prison under a plea deal with a military
court.
   (AP, 3/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, In Kashmir Indian
troops shelled the Pakistani-controlled sector, killing a
70-year-old man. India blamed Pakistani troops for the initiating
fire.
   (AP, 3/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, Kazakh police
arrested Serikjan Bilash, an activist who has campaigned for victims
of China's re-education drive in Xinjiang, sealing his informal
group's office and taking its computers.
   (AFP, 3/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, A Malawi official
the number of people killed in heavy rains and flooding in the south
has risen to 28, while the estimated number of people affected has
roughly doubled to 45,312 households.
   (Reuters, 3/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, Malaysian police
said that six Egyptians and a Tunisian man believed to be linked to
an African-based terror group have been detained and deported.
   (AP, 3/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, In the Netherlands
thousands of people, many warding off rain under umbrellas, packed a
central square in Amsterdam to march for more progressive climate
policies.
   (AP, 3/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, In Nigeria dozens
of soldiers in armored vehicles encircled a vote counting center in
the opposition-held oil-rich southern city of Port Harcourt, in the
latest flashpoint as violence overshadowed the previous day's
closely-watched regional elections. The Independent National
Electoral Commission halted the vote count in Rivers state, citing
violence at polling stations, kidnapping of staff, confiscation and
destruction of results.
   (AFP, 3/10/19)(AP, 3/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, Millions of North
Korean voters, including leader Kim Jong Un, went to the polls to
elect a new lineup of roughly 700 members for the next session of
the national legislature, though the vote was more of an endorsement
than a competitive contest.
   (AP, 3/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, Palestinian Pres.
Mahmoud Abbas chose a longtime adviser, Mohammed Ishtayeh as his new
prime minister, a step that deepens the rift with the Gaza Strip's
ruling Hamas militant group.
   (AP, 3/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, In Russia
thousands of people took to the streets of Moscow and two other
cities to rally against tighter internet restrictions, in some of
the biggest protests in the capital in years.
   (Reuters, 3/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, A Sudanese
emergency court sentenced Mariam al-Mahdi, the daughter of
opposition Umma Party chief and ex-prime minister Sadiq al-Mahdi, to
a week in prison. Hundreds took to the streets in different areas of
Omdurman to protest against new emergency laws. Police used tear gas
and water cannon to disperse them.
   (AFP, 3/10/19)(AP, 3/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, Syria's President
Bashar al-Assad said his country was suffering an "economic siege"
as his regime faces a raft of international sanctions over the
eight-year civil war, as he met Chinese assistant foreign minister
Chen Xiaodong in Damascus. US-backed SDF fighters resumed their
offensive around Baghouz.
   (AFP, 3/10/19)(SFC, 3/11/19, p.A4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, Tibetans and their
supporters marked the 60-year anniversary of the Dalai Lama's flight
into exile amid an abortive uprising against Chinese control.
   (AP, 3/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, Turkish President
Tayyip Erdogan accused a women's march in central Istanbul on March
8 of disrespecting Islam by booing the Islamic call to prayer.
   (Reuters, 3/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, Two German
journalists left Turkey after Ankara refused to renew their
accreditation. The journalists called the government's move an
attempt to silence international news organizations and said they
refused to be intimidated.
   (AFP, 3/10/19)(AP, 3/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, The UN said its
children's fund is paying some 100,000 teachers in Yemen, as two
million children go without education in the war-torn country.
   (AFP, 3/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, Venezuela's
embattled President Nicolas Maduro grappled with a crippling power
outage and mounting protests as a top White House aide said members
of the country's military were talking about possibly shifting
allegiance to the opposition. An NGO said at least 15 patients with
advanced kidney disease died after they stopped receiving dialysis
treatments in darkened hospitals.
   (AP, 3/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, Fighting erupted
in Yemen's key port city of Hodeida, the first significant clashes
since warring sides agreed to a UN-brokered cease-fire deal in
December.
   (AP, 3/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 11, Pres. Donald Trump
sought 8.6 billion in his new 2020 budget to build the US-Mexico
border wall. Trump sent Congress a record $4.75 trillion budget
request that called for increased military spending and sharp cuts
to domestic programs.
   (SFC, 3/11/19, p.A5)(SFC, 3/11/19, p.A4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 11, The United States
imposed sanctions on the Russian bank Evrofinance Mosnarbank over
its dealings with the Venezuelan state oil firm PDVSA.
   (Reuters, 3/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 11, Taliban fighters
killed or captured an entire Afghan National Army company of more
than 50 soldiers in Badghis province.
   (SFC, 3/11/19, p.A2)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 11, In Afghanistan
six-year-old girl, identified as Mahsa, was kidnapped in Kabul. The
kidnappers demanded $300,000 from the girl's father. Two men were
later arrested in the kidnapping and killing of the girl.
   (AP, 3/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 11, In Algeria more
than 1,000 judges said they would refuse to oversee the upcoming
election if Pres. Abdelaziz Bouteflika contests it. The ailing
Bouteflika (82) abandoned his bid for a fifth term in power but
stopped short of stepping down.
   (AFP, 3/11/19)(Reuters, 3/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 11, In Brazil heavy
rains overnight caused the deaths of at least 12 people in and
around Sao Paulo.
   (AP, 3/11/19)(SFC, 3/11/19, p.A2)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 11, Authorities in
China, Ethiopia and Indonesia grounded all Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft
following the March 10 crash of an Ethiopian Airlines jetliner that
killed 157 people.
   (AP, 3/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 11, Egypt said three
troops and 46 suspected Islamic militants have been killed in recent
days in the northern and central Sinai Peninsula.
   (AP, 3/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 11, A new study,
published in the European Heart Journal, said air pollution causes
790,000 premature deaths every year in Europe and 8.8 million
worldwide, doubling recent assessments.
   (AFP, 3/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 11, Police in India
said they had recovered four videos from four arrested men,
involving other victims in Tamil Nadu state. A woman (19) had said
in a complaint filed with the police that she was traveling with the
four men, two of whom she knew, in a car last month when she was
forcibly disrobed and videotaped. She alleged the men then
threatened to upload the video online if she did not meet them
whenever summoned.
   (Reuters, 3/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 11, Iranian President
Hassan Rouhani began a 3-day visit in Baghdad to deepen bilateral
relations. This was his first official visit to the nation that
Tehran once fought a bloody war against and later backed in the
battle with the Islamic State group.
   (AP, 3/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 11, Iran's
semi-official ISNA news agency said Judge Mohammad Moghiseh has
sentenced Nasrin Sotoudeh (55) to five years for plotting against
the state and two more years for insulting Iran's Supreme Leader
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. It was reported that jailed Iranian human
rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh has been sentenced to 38 years in
prison and 148 lashes.
   (AP, 3/11/19)(Reuters, 3/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 11, In Malaysia
Indonesian Siti Aisyah, one of two women accused of killing North
Korean leader Kim Jong Un's half-brother by smearing VX nerve agent
on his face, was freed after two years of detention when prosecutors
unexpectedly dropped the murder charge against her.
   (AP, 3/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 11, A Pakistani
anti-graft tribunal indicted former PM Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and six
others over millions of dollars in losses because of delays to a
power project. Ashraf served as prime minister in 2012.
   (AP, 3/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 11, Peruvian President
Martin Vizcarra named actor and former culture minister Salvador del
Solar as his new prime minister.
   (Reuters, 3/11/19)  Â
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 11, It was reported
that a Philippine appeals court has upheld a decision that an online
news site critical of President Rodrigo Duterte violated a
constitutional ban on foreign ownership of news media.
   (AP, 3/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 11, Sudan's parliament
voted to shorten from one year to six months a state of emergency
declared by President Omar al-Bashir last month in response to
widespread protests.
   (Reuters, 3/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 11, In eastern Syria
Kurdish-led forces slowed an assault to retake a last scrap of land
held by the Islamic State group after hundreds more people
surrendered. The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) killed
dozens in continuing clashes with Islamic State fighters at Baghouz.
   (AFP, 3/11/19)(Reuters, 3/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 11, The UN's anti-drug
agency said production of methamphetamine is skyrocketing in
Southeast Asia, with prices dropping and usage expanding.
   (AP, 3/11/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 11, Much of Venezuela,
including parts of the capital Caracas, remained without power for a
fifth day, crimping vital oil exports and leaving people struggling
to obtain water and food. President Nicolas Maduro again ordered the
suspension of classes and the working day. Opposition leader Juan
Guaido led the country's legislature in declaring a "state of alarm"
over power problems. A five-day power blackout left homes in Caracas
without water.
   (Reuters, 3/11/19)(Reuters, 3/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 11, In Venezuela Luis
Carlos Diaz, a journalist with dual Spanish and Venezuelan
nationality, went missing. Later that night a unit from the feared
SEBIN intelligence police turned up at his home and took away
computers, mobile phones and money, among other items.
   (AP, 3/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 11, In Venezuela the
Red Cross renewed visits to prisons when a Red Cross delegation
visited a model prison in Caracas, the Simon Bolivar Center for the
Formation of New Men.
   (AP, 4/10/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, The longest peace
talks between the US and the Taliban to end America's 17-year war in
Afghanistan concluded in Qatar. Both sides said progress was made.
   (SFC, 3/13/19, p.A2)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, Sam Brownback, the
US ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom, said
China has done nothing to assuage concerns from the US and others
over the detention of Uighurs, Kazakhs and members of other Muslim
minority groups.
   (AP, 3/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, The US aviation
regulator said it would not ground Boeing Co 737 MAX planes after a
crash in Ethiopia that killed 157 people, bucking a trend of
countries around the world that have suspended the aircraft's
operations.
   (Reuters, 3/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, US federal
prosecutors announced a bribery and racketeering case in a college
admissions cheating scandal.
   (SFC, 3/13/19, p.A1)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, The San Francisco
Board of Supervisors passed an ordnance to create a special permit
allowing people to sell and consume cannabis legally at a number of
public events.
   (SFC, 3/13/19, p.C5)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, A divided federal
appeals court voted 11-6 to uphold an Ohio antiabortion law that
blocks public money for Planned Parenthood.
   (SFC, 3/13/19, p.A5)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, Honda recalled
about 1.2 million vehicles in North and Central America from the
2001 to 2016 model years that were not included in the massive
string of Takata recalls for air bags that can hurl shrapnel into
the passenger compartment. A crash on Jan. 19, 2018 involving a 2004
Honda Odyssey in Maryland initiated an investigation and today's
recall.
   (AP, 3/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, In Afghanistan an
air strike on a vehicle killed seven Taliban, including a commander,
in Ghazni city. The Taliban said one air strike hit a minibus and a
second followed quickly, killing a total of 12 people and wounding
six. At least five Afghan troops were killed late today by friendly
fire in what was supposed to be a precision airstrike by US forces
supporting troops battling insurgents in Uruzgan province.
   (Reuters, 3/12/19)(AP, 3/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, In Algeria
thousands demonstrated in several cities demanding immediate
political changes. Algerian students protested against President
Abdelaziz Bouteflika's decision to delay presidential elections
indefinitely, amid an unprecedented public revolt against his
20-year leadership.
   (Reuters, 3/12/19)(AP, 3/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, In Brazil two
police officers were arrested in the killing of Rio city councilor
and black gay rights activist Marielle Franco, almost a year to the
day after the brazen murder shocked the country. A sergeant in the
military police, Ronnie Lessa (48), was arrested on suspicion of
being the shooter. Elcio Vieira de Queiroz (46), who had been sacked
from the military police, also was arrested in the pre-dawn
operation.
   (AFP, 3/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, British PM Theresa
May's Brexit deal was defeated 391-242 in a historic vote in
parliament, pitching Britain into the unknown just 17 days before it
is scheduled to leave the European Union.
   (AFP, 3/12/19)(SFC, 3/13/19, p.A2)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, Britain, Germany
and France joined a wave of suspensions of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft
as US President Donald Trump fretted over modern airplane design
following the March 10 crash in Ethiopia that killed 157 people.
   (Reuters, 3/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, At least 12 people
were missing after two collisions between ships and fishing boats
off the southeast coast of China.
   (AP, 3/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, In northeastern
Egypt remote-controlled robot jockeys lined up at a major camel
racing festival, as owners came under pressure from campaigns to
stop using child riders.
   (Reuters, 3/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, European Union
governments adopted a broadened blacklist of tax havens, adding the
United Arab Emirates and British and Dutch overseas territories in a
revamp that tripled the number of listed jurisdictions. The new list
added Dutch Caribbean island of Aruba, Barbados, Belize, the British
overseas territory of Bermuda, Fiji, the Marshall Islands, Oman, the
United Arab Emirates, Vanuatu and Dominica. The EU blacklist
originally comprised 17 jurisdictions, including the UAE, but shrank
to five after most listed states committed to change their tax
rules.
   (Reuters, 3/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, EU lawmakers voted
to lift the immunity of Jean-Marie Le Pen, founder of the far-right
National Front, so France can investigate claims he improperly spent
EU funds.
   (AFP, 3/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, French President
Emmanuel Macron met with the leaders of Djibouti and Ethiopia at the
start of a multi-nation trip to Africa aimed at shoring up military
and economic ties in the continent's strategically-important East.
   (AP, 3/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, Chancellor Angela
Merkel said Germany will define its own security standards for a new
5G mobile network, after Washington said it would scale back
data-sharing with Berlin if China's Huawei was allowed to
participate.
   (Reuters, 3/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, Husband Reza
Khandan said Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh has been
sentenced to an extra 10 years in jail on top of the five-year term
she is already serving.
   (AFP, 3/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, Israeli troops
shot dead a Palestinian man in Hebron after he ran toward them with
a knife in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
   (Reuters, 3/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, Israeli police
evacuated the Al-Aqsa mosque compound, known to Jews as the Temple
Mount, after a Molotov cocktail damaged a police post. Police shut
off access to it after several weeks of tension at the location.
   (AFP, 3/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, Israeli undercover
officers broke up a drug-dealing network that used a popular
messaging app and had connections in the United States, Ukraine and
Germany. Police said the ring was headed by Amos Dov Silver, founder
of the Israeli online drug marketplace Telegrass. Silver was
arrested in Ukraine early today.
   (AFP, 3/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, Malaysia suspended
all Boeing 737 Max 8 flights in and out of the country following two
recent fatal crashes.
   (AP, 3/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, Dutch police
arrested two men in Amsterdam for their suspected involvement in the
coordinated Islamic State attacks on Paris in November 2015 that
killed 130 people. One suspect (29) will be held in restrictive
custody for at least two weeks, while the other suspect (31) had to
be released for health reasons.
   (Reuters, 3/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, In Nigeria gunmen
abducted a Lebanese construction worker and killed another man in
the northern city of Kano.
   (Reuters, 3/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, Norwegian Air said
it will temporarily ground its Boeing 737 MAX 8 passenger jets at
the advice of European regulators.
   (Reuters, 3/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, Oman said it was
"temporarily suspending" all flights by Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in
the sultanate following the March 10 crash of an Ethiopian Airlines
jetliner, becoming the first nation on the Arabian Peninsula to
ground the planes.
   (AP, 3/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, A Pakistani court
sentenced 20 members of a criminal gang to death after finding them
guilty of killing several security officials and kidnappings in
Punjab province. The Chotu gang remained active until 2016, when
police backed by military helicopters raided its hideouts in the
town of Rajanpur and arrested dozens of suspects.
   (AP, 3/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, A Sudanese court
overturned flogging sentences for nine women for taking part in
protests against President Omar al-Bashir's three-decade rule. The
court ruled that the women had already spent enough time in jail and
ordered their immediate release.
   (AFP, 3/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, The Syrian
government condemned a statement by influential US senator Lindsey
Graham that the occupied Golan Heights should remain "forever" under
the control of Israel.
   (AFP, 3/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, In eastern Syria
Kurdish-led forces said more people were surrendering from the
Islamic State group's last scrap of territory, after overnight air
raids and shelling ravaged jihadist outposts. Hundreds of jihadist
fighters and their families surrendered and the US-backed Syrian
Democratic Forces said the battle was as good as over. SDF spokesman
Mustefa Bali said about 3,000 jihadists had handed themselves over
to the SDF in the past 24 hours.
   (AFP, 3/12/19)(Reuters, 3/12/19)(AFP, 3/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, Ukraine's security
service said it has detained an Israeli man who heads a massive
global drug trafficking network that markets illegal drugs through
the internet.
   (Reuters, 3/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, A document drawn
up by the World Food Program (WFP), labeled as a "Concept of
Operations," outlined how the UN organization and its partners "may
facilitate the identification, staging, forward movement, reception,
and sustainment of (Rohingya) refugees" on Bhasan Char, Bangladesh,
estimating an initial appeal for donor funding of between $8.6 and
$19 million.
   (Reuters, 3/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, A UN humanitarian
agency warned that thousands of Yemeni civilians are caught in the
embattled northern district of Hajjah and that 22 people have been
killed over the last two days in air strikes by the Saudi-led
coalition.
   (SFC, 3/13/19, p.A2)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, The United States
grounded Boeing's money-spinning 737 MAX aircraft over safety fears
after an Ethiopian Airlines plane crash that killed 157 people,
leaving the world's largest plane maker facing its worst crisis in
years.
   (Reuters, 3/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, The US Pentagon
outlined new rules for transgender troops. A new policy will largely
bar transgender troops and military recruits from transitioning to
another sex, and require most individuals to serve in their birth
gender.
   (SFC, 3/14/19, p.A7)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, Pete Kaiser became
the latest Alaska Native to win the 1,000-mile Iditarod dog sled
race.
   (AP, 3/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, California's Gov.
Gavin Newsome issued an executive order suspending the state's death
penalty.
   (SFC, 3/13/19, p.A1)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, A winter storm
brought blizzards, rain or floods to more than 25 US states. About
1,000 flights were cancelled at Denver Int'l. Airport and nearly 40
more at Colorado Springs.
   (SFC, 3/14/19, p.A5)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, In NYC Francesco
"Frank" Cali (53), the reputed boss of New York's Gambino crime
family, was shot dead outside his home on Staten Island. Suspect
Anthony Comello (24) was arrested in New Jersey on March 16. His
lawyer later said Comello apparently believed Cali was part of the
“deep state” working to undermine Donald Trump.
   (AFP, 3/14/19)(SFC, 3/18/19, p.A5)(The
Independent, 12/7/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, Algeria's
government declared itself ready for talks with protesters seeking
rapid political change, saying it sought a ruling system based on
"the will of the people" after opposition groups rejected proposed
reforms as inadequate. Hundreds of school teachers and students
protested in Algiers amid fears that President Abdelaziz Bouteflika
plans to extend his two-decade rule.
   (Reuters, 3/13/19)(AFP, 3/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, In Australia
Cardinal George Pell, who in past years attended the retreat as
Francis' finance minister, was sentenced to six years in prison for
sexually abusing two youths in the 1990s. Pell must serve a minimum
of 3 years and 8 months before he is eligible for parole. He planned
to appeal.
   (AP, 3/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, The news site
Zurnal reported that Croatian intelligence officers have tried to
recruit followers of the Salafi branch of Islam to smuggle weapons
to their mosques in Bosnia. Croatia denied the allegations.
   (Reuters, 3/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, In Brazil Before
Guilherme Taucci Monteiro (17) and Henrique de Castro (25) launched
an assault on a K-12 public school in Suzano, a suburb of Sao Paulo.
Monteiro opened fire with a .38 caliber handgun and de Castro used a
crossbow. Seven were killed at the school, including five students,
a teacher and a school administrator. Before assaulting the school,
they shot and killed a man who owned a used car dealership nearby.
Instead of facing officers Monteiro shot de Castro in the head and
then shot himself.
   (AP, 3/13/19)(AP, 3/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, Britain's finance
minister and business chiefs urged the country to avoid a "no deal"
Brexit after another crushing parliamentary defeat for PM Theresa
May over her EU-divorce deal with Brussels. Business leaders reacted
with fury after the British government unveiled a temporary tariff
regime that could see higher prices on an array of imports ranging
from cars to butter, if the country crashes out of the EU later this
month without a deal.
   (AFP, 3/13/19)(AP, 3/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, Congo's new Pres.
Felix Tshisekedi pardoned about 700 political prisoners who were
jailed under his predecessor.
   (SFC, 3/14/19, p.A2)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, Egypt barred the
passage, takeoff and landing of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. No Egyptian
airlines had Boeing 737 MAX jets in their fleets.
   (Reuters, 3/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, Georgia said it
had detained two people for handling and trying to sell $2.8 million
worth of radioactive uranium-238, which can be developed into
nuclear bomb material.
   (AP, 3/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, German authorities
extended compensation payments to more gay men who were investigated
under a law criminalizing homosexuality that was enthusiastically
enforced in West Germany after World War II.
   (AP, 3/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, Greece opened its
biggest land registry office in Athens, home to nearly half of the
Greek population. Greece, the only European country without a proper
register of land ownership, was confident it will finally have one
in place by 2021 after spending hundreds of millions of euros on a
project that began more than 20 years ago.
   (Reuters, 3/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, In Indonesia the
wife of an Islamic militant arrested for plotting attacks in Jakarta
detonated a bomb during a siege of their home in North Sumatra,
killing herself and her two-year-old child.
   (AP, 3/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, Iraq banned US
plane maker Boeing Co's 737 MAX aircraft from entering or transiting
its airspace.
   (AP, 3/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, A senior Israeli
official said the army has opened criminal investigations into the
deaths of 11 Palestinians killed by Israeli fire during protests
along the Gaza border over the past year.
   (AP, 3/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, Israel's army said
it has uncovered a unit created by Hezbollah across the ceasefire
line in the Syrian Golan Heights and led by Hezbollah commander Ali
Musa Daqduq, previously jailed over an attack on US forces.
   (AFP, 3/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, In Kenya the sixth
Global Environment Outlook was released at a UN conference in
Nairobi. It said unsustainable human activities globally have
degraded the Earth's ecosystems, endangering the ecological
foundations of society.
   (SFC, 3/14/19, p.A6)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, Malaysia's
government backtracked on an earlier plan to abolish capital
punishment for all crimes, saying the death penalty stays but will
no longer be mandatory for selected offences.
   (AP, 3/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, Malaysia's
government ordered 34 schools in southern Johor state to close after
toxic waste illegally dumped into a river sickened scores of
students and teachers.
   (AP, 3/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, In Nigeria a
three-story building that housed a school collapsed in Lagos. 20
people were soon confirmed dead in the school building, and most of
them are children. The school had been operating illegally on the
top two floors.
   (Reuters, 3/13/19)(AP, 3/14/19)(AP, 3/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, Norwegian Air said
it will seek compensation from plane maker Boeing for costs and lost
revenue after grounding its fleet of 737 MAX 8 aircraft in the wake
of the Ethiopian Airlines crash.
   (Reuters, 3/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, A boat with
migrants floundered and took on water while trying to cross the
Mediterranean Sea to Spain. 45 migrants reportedly died while 21
others were rescued.
   (SFC, 3/15/19, p.A2)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, Sudan's new PM
Mohamed Tahir Eila unveiled a 20-member cabinet tasked with solving
an economic crisis that has triggered nationwide protests against
the decades-old rule of President Omar al-Bashir.
   (AFP, 3/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, In eastern Syria
Clashes continued as the SDF worked to thwart IS counterattacks.
   (AFP, 3/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, Ukraine defended
its decision to deny entry to an Austrian journalist, claiming that
Austria has been too friendly to Russia.
   (AP, 3/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, A human rights
expert urged the UN to take "immediate action" to provide justice
and remedies to displaced minority communities in Kosovo who were
sheltered on lead-contaminated wasteland.
   (AP, 3/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, Venezuela's Pres.
Nicolas Maduro's government scrambled on to return power to western
Venezuela following heavy looting in Zulia, the second largest city.
China offered to help the South American nation end its worst
blackout on record.
   (Reuters, 3/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, Scientists said
California was now drought-free for the first time since December,
2011.
   (SFC, 3/15/19, p.C1)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, Joseph W. Knowland
(88), former published of the Oakland Tribune, died at his home in
Walnut Creek, Ca. He took over the publisher's chair in 1974
following the death of his father, ex-US Sen. William Knowland. The
paper was sold in 1977 to Combined Communications Corp.
   (SSFC, 3/24/19, p.C11)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, Ralph Metzner
(b.1936), Germany-born American psychologist and expert on
psychedelic drugs, died at his home in Sonoma, Ca. He authored more
than 20 books including "The Psychedelic Experience" co-written with
Richard Alpert and Timothy Leary and published in 1964.
   (SFC, 3/27/19, p.C5)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, Former Indiana
Sen. Birch Bayh (b.1928) died at his home in Easton, Md. Bayh served
as Indiana senator from 1963 to 1981 and was a champion of the
landmark 1972 law banning discrimination against women in college
administrations and athletics.
   (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birch_Bayh)(SFC,
3/15/19, p.A9)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, In Texas Beto
O'Rourke (46), a skateboarding former punk rocker feted as one of
the Democratic Party's rising stars, announced he is running for
president, joining a crowded field of candidates vying to challenge
Pres. Donald Trump in 2020.
   (AFP, 3/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, PEN American
announced that Saudi women Nouf Abdulaziz, Loujain al-Hathloul and
Eman al-Nafjan have won the PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award. The
award was established in 1987 and is given to writers imprisoned for
their work.
   (AP, 3/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, In Afghanistan a
gunbattle erupted between Afghan forces and supporters of Atta
Mohammad Noor, a powerful politician in the northern city of
Mazar-i-Sharif, who rejected the appointment of a new provincial
police chief by President Ashraf Ghani.
   (Reuters, 3/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, Algeria's new PM
Noureddine Bedoui said he would form a temporary government of
technocrats and others to work toward political change in response
to weeks of street protests, and he urged the opposition to join in
a dialogue.
   (Reuters, 3/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, Belgian cardinal
Godfried Danneels (85), a strong liberal voice within the Roman
Catholic Church, died. He was once seen as an outside contender to
succeed Pope John Paul II.
   (Reuters, 3/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, British lawmakers
voted on a government proposal setting out what PM Theresa May says
are the options on how long to delay Brexit. The House of Commons
voted 413-202 to ask the EU to delay the country's exit.
   (Reuters, 3/14/19)(AP, 3/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, Flight recorders
from a doomed Ethiopian Airlines flight arrived in France for
analysis as frustrated relatives of the 157 people killed stormed
out of a meeting with airline officials in Addis Ababa.
   (AP, 3/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, Greece reported
that its unemployment rate, the highest in the 28-country European
Union, climbed slightly to 18.7 percent in the final quarter of
2018.
   (AP, 3/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, India and Pakistan
agreed to go forward with a new border crossing and route for Sikh
pilgrims to visit a holy temple in Pakistan, a rare glimmer of
cooperation after tension flared over the neighbors' decades-old
Kashmir dispute.
   (Reuters, 3/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, In India part of a
pedestrian bridge connecting a train station with road has collapsed
in Mumbai, killing at least one person and injuring more than a
dozen others.
   (AP, 3/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, Japan followed
other countries on multiple continents in banning the Boeing 737 Max
8 and 9 aircraft from its airspace following the March 10 Ethiopian
Airlines' crash.
   (AP, 3/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, Japan-based Toyota
Motor Corp. announced it is investing an additional $750 million at
five US plants that will bring nearly 600 new jobs, including the
production of two hybrid vehicles for the first time at its Kentucky
facility.
   (AP, 3/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, Malaysian
prosecutors said the attorney-general has ordered the murder case to
proceed against Doan Thi Huong, a Vietnamese woman accused in the
killing of the estranged half-brother of North Korea's leader.
   (AP, 3/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, Malaysia ordered
111 schools to close as more than 200 children, teachers and others
were taken to hospital after breathing in chemical fumes, but PM
Mahathir Mohamad said he believed the poisoning crisis was under
control.
   (Reuters, 3/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, Authorities in
western Mexico found 19 plastic bags, presumably containing human
bodies, in a township just east of the city of Guadalajara.
   (AP, 3/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, Mozambique
cancelled flights to several domestic destinations as a tropical
cyclone, potentially the strongest to hit the country in nearly two
decades, approached. Cyclone Idai hit Mozambique late today and
continued on to Zimbabwe and Malawi. Over the next two days more
than 140 people were killed, hundreds more were missing and tens of
thousands left stranded in mainly poor, rural areas.
   (AFP, 3/14/19)(AP, 3/16/19)(SSFC, 3/17/19, p.A7)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, NATO's 2018 annual
report showed that the US-led alliance moved closer to a pledge to
dedicate 2 percent of national economic output on defense every
year, with European allies reaching the 1.51 percent level, a
five-year high.
   (Reuters, 3/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, In Pakistan a
roadside bomb went off in a market near the town of Panjgur,
Baluchistan province, killing two people and wounding seven.
   (AP, 3/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, Hundreds of
Palestinians began taking to the streets in multiple locations
throughout the Gaza Strip, protesting the rising cost of living in
the Palestinian enclave. Over the next days dozens of people were
arrested, including journalists and human rights workers, with
security forces using violence to break up the demonstrations.
   (AFP, 3/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, Philippine Pres.
Rodrigo Duterte publicly named 46 government officials, including
three congressmen, who he says are involved in illegal drugs, and
said criminal investigations of them are underway.
   (AP, 3/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, In the Philippines
a spokesman for Manila Water Co. Inc., Jeric Sevilla, said that
water supplies will be cut for at least six hours a day for an
estimated 6.8 million people in more than a million households until
the rainy season fills dams and reservoirs in May or June.
   (AP, 3/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, In the Philippines
Abu Dar, the leader of Dawla Islamiya, an alliance of pro-Islamic
State fighters, was believed to be one of four rebels killed during
fighting in Lanao del Sur province. The gunbattle that also left
four soldiers dead near southern Tubaran town. DNA tests later
confirmed his identity.
   (Reuters, 3/15/19)(AP, 4/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, Poland's Catholic
Church leaders revealed that they have recorded cases of 382 priests
abusing minors since 1990.
   (AP, 3/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, The head of the
state-backed Saudi human rights commission dismissed an
international investigation into the killing of journalist Jamal
Khashoggi as interference, and said everyone accused was already
facing justice in the kingdom.
   (Reuters, 3/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, Slovak police and
prosecutors said a suspect has been charged with ordering the
slaying last year of an investigative reporter and his fiancee, a
case that brought down the Slovak government. Slovakian media
reported the suspect was Marian Kocner, a businessman long suspected
of involvement in the crime. Kocner was already in detention in a
separate case involving alleged forgery and securities crime.
   (AP, 3/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, In Sudan hundreds
of protesters chanting anti-government slogans took to the streets
of several neighborhoods in Khartoum, while President Omar al-Bashir
said he would seek dialogue with the opposition for the sake of
stability.
   (Reuters, 3/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, In eastern Syria
Islamic State militants accompanied by women and children
surrendered to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in their hundreds
as the jihadists lost ground to a US-backed assault on their last
shred of territory. More than 15 militants were reported killed this
morning.
   (Reuters, 3/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, Turkey's President
Tayyip Erdogan opened one of the world's largest hospitals in
Ankara, brushing aside criticism of what is the latest in a series
of mega projects that have marked his 16 years in power. The Ankara
City Hospital, built at a cost of around 1 billion euros, is
equipped with some 3,810 beds and covers an area the size of around
100 football pitches.
   (Reuters, 3/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, The United Nations
said that no UN staff should travel on the Boeing 737 Max 8 planes.
   (AP, 3/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, In Yemen the
Saudi-led coalition launched a series of airstrikes along the
Yemen-Saudi border that mistakenly killed 8 border guards and
wounded 33 others allied with the government in the Jawf
governorate.
   (AP, 3/14/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 15, Pres. Donald Trump
signed the first veto of his presidency, overriding congressional
opposition to secure emergency funds to build more walls on the
US-Mexico border.
   (AFP, 3/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 15, The US State
Department said that it is eliminating a coveted five-year tourist
visa for Cubans, dealing a heavy blow to entrepreneurs and Cuban
members of divided families, who used the visas to see relatives in
the United States and buy precious supplies for their businesses on
the island.
   (AP, 3/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 15, US Secretary of
State Mike Pompeo said the United States will revoke or deny visas
to International Criminal Court personnel who attempt to investigate
or prosecute alleged abuses committed by US forces in Afghanistan or
elsewhere and may do the same with those who try to take action
against Israel.
   (AP, 3/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 15, The US Special
Counsel's Office asked a court to delay sentencing for US President
Donald Trump's former deputy campaign chairman, Rick Gates, amid
"ongoing investigations" stemming from the Russia investigation.
   (Reuters, 3/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 15, The US
Environmental Protection Agency banned consumer sales of a paint
stripper following personal appeals by families of men who died
while using the product. The rule does not affect commercial uses.
   (SFC, 3/16/19, p.A5)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 15, American poet W.S.
Merwin died at his home in Hawaii. Merwin was a two-time winner of
the Pulitzer Prize and the US poet laureate from 2010-2011.
   (SFC, 3/18/19, p.C3)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 15, In Minnesota the
body of a child was found inside a blanket along a highway near
Austin. Dariaz Higgins, the father of Noelani Robinson (2), was
accused of killing her mother, Sierra Robinson (24), in Milwaukee
last week.
   (SSFC, 3/17/19, p.A8)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 15, The Univ. of
Tennessee said it will begin providing free tuition to state
residents stating in the fall of 2020.
   (SFC, 3/16/19, p.A5)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 15, In Washington
state a US District judge granted a temporary restraining order that
let Microsoft take over 99 websites that Iranian hackers had used to
try to steal sensitive information from targets in the US.
   (SSFC, 3/31/19, p.D2)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 15, In Afghanistan
Sultan Mahmoud Khirkhowa, a reporter with the local Zhman TV and
radio, was killed when two men on a motorcycle opened fire on his
vehicle in eastern Khost province.
   (AP, 3/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 15, In Algeria a huge
crowd of demonstrators marched through Algiers for a fourth
consecutive Friday to step up demands for President Abdelaziz
Bouteflika's ouster, rejecting his offer not to seek re-election.
   (AFP, 3/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 15, In London Michael
Seed , a 58-year-old man nicknamed "Basil," was found guilty of
being the sixth member of a gang of aging criminals who carried out
the 2015 Easter weekend robbery at the Hatton Garden Safety Deposit
building, one the most audacious in the annals of British crime.
   (Reuters, 3/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 15, In northern China
a landslide knocked down several buildings, killing seven people and
leaving 13 others missing in Xiangning county, Shanxi province.
   (AP, 3/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 15, In Congo DRC at
least one person was left dead after protests over local elections
turned violent. Members of President Felix Tshisekedi's Union for
Democracy and Social Progress took to the streets in Kinshasa and in
other parts of the country after the party failed to win any senate
seats from Kinshasa in the regional assembly.
   (AP, 3/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 15, The Catholic
Church in Costa Rica asked for forgiveness following recent
accusations that three of its priests sexually abused minors, amid a
clerical abuse scandal that has ravaged the institution's
credibility around the globe.
   (Reuters, 3/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 15, Czech police said
they have broken up an international ring smuggling migrants from
southeast Asia to western Europe.
   (AP, 3/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 15, The EU imposed
sanctions on eight more Russian officials that it says were involved
in the seizure by Russia of Ukrainian ships and crew in November.
   (AP, 3/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 15, Greece backed
calls by Bolivia's left-wing President Evo Morales for a negotiated
settlement to the severe political and financial crisis in
Venezuela, in what marks a different approach to that pursued by key
European allies.
   (AP, 3/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 15, The Iraqi
government started exhuming a mass grave left behind by the Islamic
State group in the northwestern Sinjar region in the presence of
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Nadia Murad, whose slain relatives are
believed to have been buried in the area. Over 70 mass graves have
been discovered in Sinjar since it was liberated from IS in November
2015.
   (AP, 3/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 15, Israel struck
dozens of Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip overnight in response to
rockets from the Palestinian enclave, including rare fire toward its
economic capital Tel Aviv.
   (AFP, 3/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 15, In Kenya nations
meeting at the UN environment assembly in Nairobi announced that
they had agreed to "significantly reduce" single-use plastics over
the next decade.
   (AFP, 3/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 15, A court in North
Macedonia sentenced 16 people, including a former interior minister,
from 7 to 18 years in prison for their role in a violent intrusion
in parliament at the height of a political crisis in 2017.
   (AP, 3/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 15, In Poland
thousands of students marched in rainy Warsaw and other cities to
demand a ban on burning coal, a major source of carbon dioxide. Tens
of thousands of young people skipped school across the globe to
march through the streets for an international day of student
protests aimed at pushing world leaders into action on climate
change.
   (AP, 3/15/19)(AFP, 3/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 15, In New Zealand
shootings at two mosques in Christchurch left 50 dead in the
country's worst-ever mass shooting. Video footage by the shooter was
live streamed and widely shared online. Brenton Harrison Tarrant, an
Australian-born man (28), was arrested and charged with murder. He
left behind a 74-page document posted on social media under his name
in which he said he hoped to survive the attack to better spread his
views in the media.
   (Reuters, 3/15/19)(AFP, 3/15/19)(AP, 3/16/19)(AP,
3/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 15, Nicaragua released
50 prisoners held for taking part in anti-government protests,
authorities said, giving a fresh impetus to peace talks on ending
the country's long running political crisis.
   (AFP, 3/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 15, In eastern Syria
the IS launched three suicide attacks outside Baghouz, killing six
people as they fled the village near the Iraqi border. An SDF
official said IS militants were holding some 300 prisoners, both
civilians and SDF fighters.
   (AFP, 3/16/19)(SFC, 3/16/19, p.A2)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 15, Freeman Mbowe, the
head of Tanzania's main opposition party, condemned what he
described as a climate of fear installed by a "police state" after
he was held in prison for more than three months.
   (AFP, 3/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 15, A Turkish court
convicted Neil Prakash (27), an Australian-born Islamic State
militant, of belonging to a terror group and sentenced him to more
than seven years in prison. The court said he could be released in
2½ years under Turkish law.
   (AP, 3/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 15, Venezuela
President Nicolas Maduro created a military unit charged with
protecting basic installations and services such as electricity and
water just over a week after the country was hit with a massive
blackout.
   (AFP, 3/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 15, In Venezuela
German journalist Billy Six, detained by Venezuelan intelligence
services four months ago, was freed in Caracas, but must report to
the court every 15 days. Six was allowed to leave Venezuela if he
chose and soon flew home from Caracas.
   (AFP, 3/15/19)(AP, 3/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 15, Cyclone Idai hit
Zimbabwe, cutting off power and communications. At least 31 people
died in southeastern Zimbabwe as homes and bridges were swept away
by the tropical storm. The confirmed dead soon rose to 98 with least
217 more missing.
   (Reuters, 3/16/19)(SSFC, 3/17/19, p.A7)(AFP,
3/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 16, Facebook Inc said
it removed 1.5 million videos globally of the New Zealand mosque
attack in the first 24 hours after the attack.
   (Reuters, 3/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 16, It was reported
that Michael R. White, a US Navy veteran from California, has been
sentenced to 10 years in prison in Iran, becoming the first American
known to be imprisoned there since President Donald Trump took
office. White was reportedly convicted of insulting Iran's supreme
leader and posting private information online.
   (AP, 3/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 16, American rock
guitarist Dick Dale (b.1937) died in Los Angeles. His loud chord
instrumentals on songs like "Miserlou" and "Let's Go Trippin'"
earned him the title King of the Surf Guitar.
   (SFC, 3/19/19, p.A9)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 16, In Nevada a
robbery suspect died following a shootout the previous evening
outside the Bellagio hotel-casino in Las Vegas.
   (SSFC, 3/17/19, p.A8)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 16, In Afghanistan at
least 50 members of the Afghan security forces surrendered to the
Taliban in a fight for control of the western province of Badghis.
The Red Cross facilitated the handover of the bodies of 20 soldiers
to the Afghan National Army Corps.
   (Reuters, 3/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 16, Albanian
opposition supporters clashed with police while trying to storm the
parliament building in a protest against the government of Socialist
PM Edi Rama, which they accuse of being corrupt and linked to
organized crime.
   (AP, 3/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 16, The local bonfire
group in Lustenau, Austria, took three months to build a structure
that burned down in less than half an hour this evening. The world's
tallest bonfire clocked in at 60.646 meters (198.97 feet). The
previous record structure was a 47-meter (154.2-foot) bonfire in
Alesund, Norway in 2016.
   (AP, 3/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 16, Nigel Farage, the
politician who probably did more than anyone else to force Britain's
referendum on membership of the European Union, joined protesters at
the start of a 270-mile march over what they call a betrayal of the
Brexit vote.
   (Reuters, 3/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 16, China's
anti-corruption watchdog said it would prosecute Nur Bekri, one of
the highest-ranking Uighur officials in the country, over
allegations of graft and corruption during his time as governor of
Xinjiang province.
   (Reuters, 3/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 16, Several thousand
Croats demonstrated in Zagreb, demanding tougher measures against
domestic violence and more training for employees in state
institutions to help them tackle the problem.
   (AP, 3/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 16, In France
demonstrators looted and torched shops and businesses on the famed
Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris, on the 18th straight weekend of
"yellow vest" protests.
   (AFP, 3/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 16, Indonesia's
anti-graft agency named Muhammad Romahurmuziy, a prominent Islamist
politician backing President Joko Widodo's re-election campaign, as
a suspect in a bribery case. Romahurmuziy, chairman of the United
Development Party (PPP), was arrested a day earlier.
   (Reuters, 3/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 16, In Nicaragua riot
police used tear gas against opposition demonstrators and reporters,
temporarily detaining over a hundred people after they attempted to
protest for the release of opponents to President Daniel Ortega's
government.
   (AFP, 3/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 16, In northeastern
Nigeria a fire killed at least eight people and left 15,000 others
without shelter after raging through a camp for people displaced by
a war against Islamist insurgents in the town of Gajiram, Borno
state.
   (Reuters, 3/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 16, Russia said it
will respond to new European Union sanctions, without saying what
action it would take.
   (Reuters, 3/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 16, Slovaks voted in
round one of a ballot that could usher in Zuzana Caputova (45), a
vocal government critic, as the country's first female president.
Caputova, an anti-corruption campaigner with no experience in public
office, won the first round, setting up a tough clash with the
ruling Smer party's candidate.
   (AP, 3/16/19)(Reuters, 3/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 16, In eastern Syria
US-backed forces battled Islamic State group fighters Saturday as
the holdout jihadists clung to the last dregs of their crumbling
"caliphate." The latest fighting broke out after the Kurd-led force
attacked IS positions inside Baghouz. The SDF said around 32
jihadists, including at least four senior IS figures, were killed in
the battle.
   (AFP, 3/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 16, Two Turkish
soldiers were killed and eight others were wounded in a clash during
operations into northern Iraq. Six militants, including a woman,
were "neutralized" during the operations.
   (Reuters, 3/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 16, Police in the
Ukrainian city of Poltava arrested 10 people as nationalist
demonstrators attempted to interrupt a campaign appearance by
President Petro Poroshenko. In Kiev about 3,000 nationalists
demonstrated outside the presidential administration building,
demanding arrests in an alleged embezzlement scheme in Ukraine's
defense industries that allegedly involves figures close to
Poroshenko and a factory controlled by him.
   (AP, 3/16/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 17, The Missouri River
reached a record 30.2 feet in Iowa's Fremont County. Heavy rainfall
and snowmelt caused flooding in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska
with at least two deaths reported.
   (SFC, 3/18/19, p.A8)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 17, Afghan officials
said an overnight Taliban assault on checkpoints in northern Faryab
province killed 22 troops.
   (AP, 3/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 17, Algeria's Ministry
of Religious Affairs informed clerics that they are no longer
required to submit texts of their sermons to authorities for
approval.
   (Reuters, 3/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 17, The French
government faced heavy criticism over failing to maintain law and
order during an arson and looting rampage by "yellow vest"
protesters along the famous Champs-Elysees in Paris.
   (AFP, 3/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 17, France's BEA air
accident investigation said data from the flight data recorder of
the Ethiopian jet that crashed last week has been successfully
downloaded. BEA said the information has been transferred to
Ethiopian investigators and that its technical work on the flight
data recorder and cockpit voice recorder was now done.
   (Reuters, 3/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 17, Indonesian
disaster officials said flash flood and mudslides triggered by days
of torrential downpours have torn through mountainside villages in
Papua province, killing at least 58 people and injuring 59 others.
   (AP, 3/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 17, In Indonesia a
magnitude 5.5 earthquake triggered a landslide that hit a popular
waterfall on the tourist island of Lombok, killing at least two
people and injuring dozens.
   (AP, 3/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 17, Iran's President
Hassan Rouhani inaugurated a new phase in the development of a
massive natural gas field. The development will allow Iran to
overtake Qatar in the production of natural gas.
   (AP, 3/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 17, In Mali gunmen
attacked and briefly seized an army base overnight, killing at least
16 soldiers and destroying five vehicles in the central Mopti
region. Central Mali is the locus of the Macina Liberation Front,
led by Salafist preacher and militant leader Amadou Koufa.
   (Reuters, 3/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 17, In Northern
Ireland two 17-year-olds and a 16-year-old died after a crowd of
revelers trying to get into a St. Patrick's Day event caused what
appears to be a crush at the Greenvale Hotel in Cookstown.
   (AP, 3/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 17, In Pakistan four
people were killed and 10 injured when a bomb went off on a train
track in the resource-rich province of Baluchistan.
   (Reuters, 3/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 17, A Palestinian
stabbed an Israeli soldier to death in the occupied West Bank and
used his rifle to wound another soldier and a Jewish settler before
escaping.
   (Reuters, 3/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 17, Serbia's Pres.
Aleksandar Vucic pledged to defend the country's law and order a day
after opposition supporters stormed the national TV station
protesting what they said is his autocratic rule and firm control of
the media. Thousands of demonstrators rallied around the
presidential palace in Belgrade to protest the speech by Vucic.
   (AP, 3/17/19)(AFP, 3/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 17, In Somalia a US
air strike killed four people near the town of Afgoye. The US Africa
Command (AFRICOM) later said it carried out the air strike and that
three militants had died in the attack.
   (Reuters, 3/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 17, In eastern Syria
Lorenzo Orsetti (33), an Italian fighting alongside the Kurdish-led
YPG force, was killed in battle as he fought diehard jihadists in
the village of Baghouz.
   (AFP, 3/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 17, Hundreds of
Sudanese took part in anti-government protests in the capital and
other cities as the government announced it had secured $300 million
in loans to address the economic crisis that triggered the unrest.
   (AP, 3/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 17, In eastern Syria
the SDF admitted to facing difficulties defeating the IS extremists,
saying they were being slowed by mines, tunnels and concerns over
harming women and children still in Baghouz. The SDF said it would
no longer estimate how many people remained, but said recent
evacuees told the fighting forces that another 5,000 were still
inside.
   (AP, 3/17/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 17, In Turkey Kurdish
activist Zulkuf Gezen died late today. He was one of scores of
detainees on hunger strike in support of a Kurdish lawmaker in
Diyarbakir. He reportedly hanged himself after 12 years in prison on
charges of membership of the PKK Kurdish militant group.
   (AFP, 3/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 18, US federal
authorities said 1 million pounds (0.45 million kg) of pork products
allegedly smuggled from China have been seized at a New Jersey port.
Officials feared the meat could be contaminated with African swine
fever virus, which has killed more than a million pigs in China.
   (AP, 3/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 18, Former
Pennsylvania pediatrician Johnnie Barto was sentenced to at least 79
years in prison for the sexual assault of 31 children, most of them
patients.
   (SFC, 3/19/19, p.A8)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 18, A group of big
internet companies added more than 800 different versions of the New
Zealand mosque shooting video to a shared database used to block
violent terrorist images and videos.
   (AP, 3/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 18, The world's
biggest plane maker faced escalating pressure after Ethiopia pointed
to parallels between its crash and one in Indonesia, sharpening
focus on the safety of software installed in Boeing's 737 MAX
planes.
   (Reuters, 3/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 18, Brazilian
President Jair Bolsonaro visited the Central Intelligence Agency's
headquarters, an unusual move for a foreign head of state that was
not on the public agenda for his first official trip to Washington.
   (Reuters, 3/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 18, In Chechnya Oyub
Titiev, who runs the office of the Memorial Human Rights Center in
the southern Russian region, was sentenced to four years in a penal
settlement after he was found guilty of possessing illegal drugs.
His supporters say he was framed, with the drugs planted in his car.
   (AP, 3/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 18, China reported
that it has arrested nearly 13,000 people, described as terrorists,
and broken up hundreds of "terrorist gangs" in Xinjiang since 2014.
   (AP, 3/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 18, In Congo DRC 32
people were killed and 91 others injured when a freight train
carrying stowaways derailed overnight in central Kasai province.
   (AFP, 3/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 18, In Crimea Russian
flags flew across Simferopol as Pres. Vladimir Putin flew in to mark
the fifth anniversary of Moscow's internationally condemned
annexation of the peninsula from Ukraine. Putin inaugurated two new
power stations in Crimea.
   (AFP, 3/18/19)(Reuters, 3/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 18, In Egypt new
regulations were published in the official gazette late today,
allowing the Supreme Media Regulatory Council to block websites and
accounts for "fake news," and impose stiff penalties of up to
250,000 Egyptian pounds ($14,400), all without having to obtain a
court order.
   (AP, 3/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 18, The European Union
and NATO condemned Russia's 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimean
Peninsula five years after Moscow declared the region Russian
territory.
   (AP, 3/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 18, French PM Edouard
Phillipe announced a ban on "yellow vest" protests on Paris'
Champs-Elysees avenue and two other cities.
   (SFC, 3/19/19, p.A2)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 18, An Indian police
official said a protester and a policeman have died in clashes
outside Vedanta Ltd's eastern Indian alumina refinery in Odisha
state.
   (Reuters, 3/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 18, Indonesian
officials said the number of people killed after torrential
downpours triggered flash floods and mudslides that tore through
mountainside villages in Papua province has climbed to 79.
   (AP, 3/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 18, An Indonesian
official and veterinarian said that an endangered orangutan with a
young baby on Sumatra island was blinded after being shot at least
74 times with an air gun last week. The baby died from malnutrition
as rescuers rushed the two animals to an orangutan veterinary
clinic.
   (AP, 3/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 18, An Iraqi court
sentenced Bilal al-Marchohi (23), a Belgian man, to death by hanging
for being part of the Islamic State militant group. He was one of
dozens of foreign nationals facing the death penalty in Iraq.
   (Reuters, 3/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 18, Israel's military
expanded its massive manhunt for a Palestinian assailant as
authorities announced that a second Israeli died of wounds sustained
in a West Bank shooting attack the previous day.
   (AP, 3/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 18, Milan's Mayor
Giuseppe Sala said Italy's famed La Scala opera house will
immediately return 3 million euros ($3.4 million) sent to an escrow
account by Saudi Arabia. He did not rule out future dealings with
the kingdom despite concerns raised over its human rights record.
   (AP, 3/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 18, It was reported
that military roadblocks on Kashmir's main highway are delaying
ambulances carrying patients and leading to confrontations with
motorists that occasionally turn physical.
   (Reuters, 3/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 18, Mozambique's
President Filipe Nyusi said that more than 1,000 may have by killed
by Cyclone Idai. The official death count stood at 84. The Red Cross
said that 90 percent of Beira, a city of 500,000, had been damaged
or destroyed. The death toll in Malawi from heavy rains and flooding
stood at 56 as of last week.
   (AP, 3/18/19)(Reuters, 3/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 18, Dutch police
launched a huge manhunt for a gunman who killed three people and
wounded nine others in a suspected terror attack inside a tram in
Utrecht. Turkish-born suspect Gokmen Tanis (37) was arrested after a
seven-hour manhunt by security forces. Two other suspects were also
in custody, but were soon released. Another suspect was arrested the
next day. On March 20, 2020, Tanis was sentenced to life in prison
for killing four people.
   (AFP, 3/18/19)(Reuters, 3/19/19)(SFC, 3/20/19,
p.A2)(SFC, 3/21/20, p.A3)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 18, It was reported
that Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed bills restricting
online media and making a criminal of anyone who insults the state,
laws that critics see as part of Kremlin efforts to stifle criticism
and tighten media control.
   (AP, 3/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 18, Dozens of Serbian
high school students have staged a sit-down protest demanding that
authorities release a fellow student who was jailed during weekend
anti-government protests in Serbia.
   (AP, 3/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 18, Scores of Sudanese
protesters chanting "freedom, peace, justice" rallied in Khartoum,
as a campaign against President Omar al-Bashir's rule was poised to
enter its fourth month.
   (AFP, 3/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 18, Syria's the
defence minister warned that government forces will reclaim control
of northeastern areas controlled by the US-backed Kurds, whether by
force or through reconciliation.
   (AFP, 3/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 18, In eastern Syria
US-backed SDF forces battled holdout jihadists after a night of
shelling and heavy air strikes.
   (AP, 3/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 18, Turkey and Iran
carried out a joint operation against militants from the outlawed
Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) on Turkey's eastern border.
   (Reuters, 3/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 18, A UN report
released today showed an increase in allegations of sexual abuse and
exploitation by staff working in UN agencies and their partner
organizations.
   (AFP, 3/18/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 18, Pope Francis
turned down an offer to resign by French Roman Catholic cardinal
Philippe Barbarin (68), but suggested he stand aside "for a while."
Barbarin, the archbishop of Lyon, was recently convicted of failing
to report a known predator priest to police.
   (Reuters, 3/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 19, President Donald
Trump hosted Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, the so-called Trump
of the Tropics, launching what officials tout as a new alliance
between their right-wing governments.
   (AFP, 3/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 19, The United States
imposed sanctions against Venezuela's state-run mining company
Minerven and its president, Adrian Perdomo, in a bid to further cut
off funding to the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas
Maduro.
   (Reuters, 3/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 19, The US Supreme
Court ruled 5-4 to uphold the Trump administration's power to arrest
and hold immigrants indefinitely if they have past crimes on their
records that could trigger deportation.  Â
   (SFC, 3/20/19, p.A6)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 19, A federal jury in
San Francisco found that Monsanto's Roundup was a likely cause of a
Sonoma man's non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Edwin Hardeman (70) was
diagnosed with the cancer in 2015 after spraying Roundup on his
property for decades. On March 27 a jury awarded Hardeman more than
$80 million. This included $75 million in punitive damages against
Monsanto. On July 15 a judge lowered the award to $25.2 million.
   (SFC, 3/20/19, p.C1)(SFC, 3/28/19, p.A1)(SFC,
7/16/19, p.C1)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 19, In Washington
state sheriff's deputy Ryan Thompson (42) was killed during an
exchange of gunfire with a road rage driving suspect near the town
of Kittitas. The suspect was also shot in the exchange and later
died in the hospital.
   (http://tinyurl.com/y3w22md7)(SFC, 3/21/19, p.A6)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 19, The US FDA
approved a new drug, brexanalone, made by Sage Therapeutics, as the
first drug to treat postpartum depression. Infusion will average
$34,000 per patient before discounts.
   (SFC, 3/21/19, p.A8)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 19, In Algeria
thousands of students, university professors and health workers
rallied in Algiers calling for President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to
quit, and a new group headed by activists and opposition figures
told the army not to interfere.
   (Reuters, 3/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 19, Brazilian
physicist and astronomer Marcelo Gleiser was awarded the 2019
Templeton Prize, worth $1.4 million, for his work blending science
and spirituality. Gleiser, a professor at Dartmouth College, New
Hampshire, has written best-selling books and appeared on numerous
TV and radio shows, discussing science as a spiritual quest to
understand the origins of the universe and life on Earth.
   (Reuters, 3/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 19, In Colombia former
Southampton and Portsmouth midfielder Jhon Viafara (40) was arrested
near Cali on a US drug warrant. A month ago, former national team
defender Diego Leon Osorio was convicted for distributing narcotics.
   (AP, 3/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 19, In western
Ethiopia gunmen shot and killed five workers from a mining company
near Nedjo town in the restive Oromiya region.
   (Reuters, 3/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 19, French authorities
reopened a case against Russian billionaire Suleyman Kerimov and
indicted him for tax fraud in connection with the suspicious
purchase of five luxury villas in southern France.
   (AFP, 3/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 19, Hundreds of Indian
traders in New Delhi burned Chinese goods and urged the government
to raise import taxes on them to protest against China's trade and
foreign policies. Chinese good were burned in similar protests in
several other cities.
   (Reuters, 3/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 19, Indonesian
officials said the number of people killed after torrential
downpours triggered flash floods and mudslides in Papua province has
climbed to 89.
   (SFC, 3/20/19, p.A2)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 19, In Iraq three
soldiers were killed and five wounded in an ambush on an army patrol
in Tarmiyah, 50 km north of Baghdad.
   (AP, 3/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 19, Tsunekazu Takeda
(71) said he is stepping down as the president of the Japanese
Olympic Committee amid a vote-buying scandal that French
investigators suspect helped Tokyo land next year's Olympics. He
again denied corruption allegations against him.
   (AP, 3/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 19, Protests flared in
parts of Indian Kashmir after police said a man being questioned in
connection with a security investigation had died in custody. Rizwan
Asad Pandit, a chemistry graduate who taught at a private school,
had been arrested as part of a "terror case investigation".
   (Reuters, 3/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 19, Indonesian
officials said the number of people killed after torrential
downpours triggered flash floods and mudslides in Papua province has
climbed to 89.
   (SFC, 3/20/19, p.A2)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 19, Kazakhstan's
President Nursultan Nazarbayev (78), the only leader that the
independent country has ever known, abruptly announced his
resignation after three decades in power, raising uncertainty over
the future course of the country.
   (AP, 3/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 19, A boat carrying 27
people sank near Libya's coastal town of Sabratha. A baby's body was
found after the shipwreck. At least eight migrants were missing at
sea.
   (AFP, 3/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 19, Aid workers in
Mozambique said rapidly rising floodwaters have created "an inland
ocean" endangering scores of thousands of families, as they
scrambled to rescue survivors of Cyclone Idai who clung to rooftops
and trees.
   (AP, 3/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 19, In Myanmar at
least six people were wounded in gunfire as government soldiers
hunted ethnic Rakhine insurgents in the western town of Mrauk U.
   (Reuters, 3/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 19, The Norwegian
Academy of Science and Letters announced in Oslo that Karen Keskulla
Uhlenbeck of the University of Texas at Austin was this year's
winner of the Abel Prize, seen by many as the Nobel Prize in
mathematics.
   (AP, 3/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 19, Philippine
authorities seized methamphetamine concealed in tea wrappers and
biscuit cans in their second-largest drug haul this year. Three
Chinese nationals and a Chinese-Filipino interpreter were arrested.
   (AP, 3/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 19, Switzerland's
parliament approved allowing convicted militants to be sent home to
countries where they could face torture, leaving the government to
decide how to implement the motion without breaking international
law.
   (Reuters, 3/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 19, In eastern Syria
US-backed Syrian forces took control of an encampment held by the
Islamic State group in eastern Syria, after dozens of militants
surrendered overnight. An unknown number of militants still clung to
a tiny sliver of land about 200 meters by 200 meters trapped between
the Euphrates River and the encampment now held by the SDF.
   (AP, 3/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 19, The UAE said 11
Arab states including Saudi Arabia, Algeria and Morocco have signed
on to the first regional team to cooperate on a space program at the
Global Space Congress in Abu Dhabi.
   (AFP, 3/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 19, In Zambia two
workers died in an accident at Glencore's operation Mopani Copper
Mines (MCM), prompting it to suspend production pending
investigations.
   (Reuters, 3/19/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, In Los Angeles a
pregnant woman was stabbed multiple times during a carjacking in a
San Fernando Valley neighborhood. Two people were soon taken into
custody.
   (SFC, 3/23/19, p.A5)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, Philadelphia
health officials said 74 people have contracted mumps at Temple
Univ. This included 15 confirmed and 59 probable cases.
   {Pennsylvania, USA, Microbiology}
   (SFC, 3/21/19, p.A6)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, Afghanistan's
election board said the presidential election has been postponed by
two months to Sept. 28, as authorities tried to iron out problems
with the voting process.
   (Reuters, 3/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, Albania's Pres.
Ilir Meta said he would be ready to resign from his post — or even
to kill himself — if it would help resolve his country's political
crisis.
   (AP, 3/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, Algeria's ruling
FLN party said it fully supports protesters, dealing one of the
heaviest blows to President Abdelaziz Bouteflika since mass
demonstrations against his rule began nearly a month ago.
   (Reuters, 3/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, Britain's PM
Theresa May asked for a three-month delay to Brexit on to buy time
to get her twice-rejected departure deal though parliament, but the
request faced immediate resistance from the European Commission.
   (Reuters, 3/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, Diamond tycoon
Nirav Modi, whose jewels once adorned stars from Bollywood to
Hollywood, was ordered held without bail in London, more than a year
after Indian authorities alleged he was involved in a $1.8 billion
bank fraud.
   (AP, 3/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, Britain's historic
National Portrait Gallery said it has cancelled a £1 million ($1.3
million, 1.1 million euros) donation from the Sackler family, which
is accused of contributing to the US opioid crisis. The Sackler
Trust, run by the family that owns the controversial Purdue Pharma,
which sells the prescription painkiller OxyContin.
   (AFP, 3/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, European Union
regulators fined Google 1.49 billion euros ($1.7 billion) for
abusing its dominant role in online advertising, the third big
antitrust penalty they've given the internet giant since 2017.
   (AP, 3/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, Finland topped the
UN index of the happiest nations for the second consecutive year,
with researchers saying the small Nordic country of 5.5 million has
succeeded in generating a happiness recipe for a balanced life not
simply dependent on economic and material wealth. Denmark, Norway
and Iceland took the next spots. The remaining top ten nations were
The Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden, New Zealand, Canada and
Austria. The United States dropped from the 18th to 19th place.
   (AP, 3/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, An Indian court
acquitted four Hindu men accused of bombing a train between India
and Pakistan on Feb. 19, 2007, that killed 68 people, mostly
Pakistanis, citing a lack of evidence.
   (Reuters, 3/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, The Italian
parliament blocked prosecutors from pursuing an investigation into
Deputy PM Matteo Salvini for abuse of power and kidnapping migrants.
   (Reuters, 3/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, Marcello De Vito,
president of Rome's city council and a senior figure in Italy's
ruling 5-Star Movement, was arrested for allegedly accepting bribes
in a widening corruption scandal centered on AS Roma's long-delayed
plans to build a new stadium.
   (Reuters, 3/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, Japanese police
arrested an American man on suspicion of fatally stabbing his
Japanese wife at a court where they were to settle a divorce at the
entrance to Tokyo Family Court.
   (AP, 3/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, In Kazakhstan
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev (65), speaker of the upper chamber of
parliament, was officially sworn in as interim president. Dariga
Nazarbayeva (55), the eldest daughter of the outgoing leader, was
appointed speaker of parliament, fueling speculation that she may
succeed her father as president after next year's election.
Nazarbayev remained chairman of the security council and leader of
the ruling party. Tokayev immediately proposed changing the name of
the capital from Astana to Nursultan (Sultan of Light). Parliament
approved the change within hours.
   (AP, 3/20/19)(AFP, 3/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, In Mozambique aid
workers scrambled to save hundreds trapped by floods around the port
city of Beira. At least 200 people have died in Mozambique and 98 in
Zimbabwe, but the death toll is likely to rise as rescuers are still
finding bodies.
   (Reuters, 3/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, In the Netherlands
right wing populist Thierry Baudet's Forum for Democracy emerged
from the sidelines into the Dutch political mainstream as the
biggest winner in provincial elections that determine the makeup of
the parliament's upper house and also impact the coalition
government of PM Mark Rutte.
   (AP, 3/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, A Pakistani
student stabbed a college professor to death in Bahawalpur,
apparently because he felt that a planned party that women were
going to be involved with would be un-Islamic.
   (Reuters, 3/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, A Pakistani court
sentenced Czech model Tereza Hluskova (22) to eight years and eight
months in prison on charges of drug trafficking. Hluskova was
arrested in possession of 8.5 kg, or 19 pounds, of heroin in January
2018 at the Lahore airport from where she was heading to Ireland via
Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.
   (AP, 3/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, Ahmad Manasra (22)
was traveling home from a wedding when he spotted a family in
distress on the side of a West Bank road. Moments later, the
Palestinian was fatally shot while another Palestinian driver was
seriously wounded — both by an Israeli soldier in a nearby
watchtower. In 2020 a plea bargain offered the soldier three months
of community service. In Dec. 2020, an Israeli military tribunal
upheld the contentious plea bargain.
   (AP, 9/8/20)(AP, 12/10/20)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, The five parties
of the Slovenian center-left government coalition signed an
agreement of cooperation with the opposition Left party to secure
support for its main projects over the next year.
   (Reuters, 3/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, South Korean
police said they have arrested two men for using illegal spy cameras
at motels to film and livestream videos of about 1,600 guests,
raking in about 7 million won ($6,200) over the past three months.
   (Reuters, 3/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, Ukraine's Pres.
Petro Poroshenko ordered new sanctions against Russian companies and
individuals involved in construction and other activities in Crimea.
   (SFC, 3/21/19, p.A2)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, UN judges
sentenced former Bosnian Serb political leader Radovan Karadzic to
life in prison on appeal, ending one of the most momentous trials
over massacres and other atrocities committed during the Balkan wars
of the 1990s.
   (Reuters, 3/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, The UN human
rights chief warned that children in Yemen continued to be killed
and maimed at an alarming rate, despite a three-month-old truce in
Hodeida. The UN said thousands of tons of food aid near the port
city of Hodeida is infested with insects and must be fumigated to
feed millions of people.
   (AP, 3/20/19)(AFP, 3/20/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, Vietnamese police
arrested eight Chinese suspected of drug trafficking after seizing
300 kg (660 pounds) of methamphetamine worth up to $26 million.
   (AP, 3/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 21, Pres. Donald Trump
signed an executive order requiring colleges and universities to
protect free speech or loose federal funding for research.
   (SFC, 3/22/19, p.A9)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 21, The Trump
administration sanctioned two Chinese shipping companies, Dalian
Haibo International Freight Co., because they are suspected of
helping North Korea evade sanctions.
   (AP, 3/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 21, US President
Donald Trump's recognized Israeli sovereignty over the occupied
Syrian Golan Heights. The Golan Heights are scattered with villages
inhabited by 22,000 Druze, an Arab minority who practice an offshoot
of Islam. Around 20,000 Jewish settlers live in the Golan itself,
many working in farming, leisure and tourism.
   (Reuters, 3/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 21, San
Francisco-based Levi Strauss made its debut on the New York Stock
Exchange and rose more than 30% to $22.41 per share. The company had
already gone public in 1971 and was taken private by the Haas family
in 1985.
   (SFC, 3/22/19, p.A1)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 21, Mississippi Gov.
Phil Bryant signed one of the strictest abortion laws in the nation.
The measure, effective July 1, bans most abortions once a fetal
heartbeat can be detected.
   (SFC, 3/22/19, p.A5)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 21, Missouri Gov. Mike
Parson declared a state of emergency following extensive flooding.
   (SFC, 3/22/19, p.A5)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 21, Schools were
closed in Charlottesville, Va., after a 17-year-old made online
racist threats. Nine schools were closed for two days and the teen
faced a felony charge.
   (SFC, 3/23/19, p.A5)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 21, A Wisconsin
circuit court judge blocked Republicans' contentious lame-duck laws
limiting the powers of new Democratic Gov. Tom Evers.
   (SFC, 3/22/19, p.A5)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 21, The US Distilled
Spirits Council said American whiskey producers are suffering a
worsening hangover from the Trump administration's trade disputes.
   (AP, 3/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 21, In Afghanistan a
string of bombs exploded near a Shiite shrine and cemetery in Kabul
as people gathered to mark Nowruz, the Persian new year, leaving six
people dead and as many as 20 wounded.
   (AP, 3/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 21, In Albania several
thousand opposition protesters tried to enter the parliament
building calling for the government's resignation and an early
election.
   (AP, 3/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 21, Brazil's former
President Michel Temer was arrested in an investigation of alleged
graft in the construction of nuclear plant Angra 3, rattling the
political class and threatening to delay a major pension reform.
   (Reuters, 3/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 21, British PM Theresa
May said a short delay to Britain's departure from the European
Union would give parliament time to make a final choice on Brexit.
   (Reuters, 3/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 21, In eastern China a
huge explosion rocked a chemical plant killed at least 64 people and
injured more than 600 at the Chenjiagang Industrial Park in Yancheng
city, Jiangsu province. More than two dozen people were missing. The
death toll soon rose to 78.
   (Reuters, 3/22/19)(AP, 3/23/19)(Reuters,
3/23/19)(AFP, 3/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 21, Human Rights Watch
reported that authorities in China and Myanmar are failing to stop
the brutal trafficking of young women, often teenagers, from the
conflict-ridden Kachin region for sexual slavery.
   (AP, 3/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 21, Congo DRC's health
ministry said a six-month-old baby in the eastern city of Bunia has
died of Ebola, becoming the first fatality of the disease in a
provincial capital.
   (AFP, 3/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 21, In Egypt at least
10 people were killed in an explosion at a chemical plant in Ain
Sokhna on the Red Sea coast.
   (AFP, 3/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 21, EU leaders told
British PM Theresa May she can have two months to organize an
orderly Brexit. More than one million people have rushed to sign a
petition on the British parliament's website calling for the
government to revoke its divorce notice to the European Union and
remain in the bloc. Backers of Brexit said the petition needed to
attract more signatures than the 17.4 million people who voted to
leave the EU three years ago before anyone should take any notice.
   (Reuters, 3/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 21, Wikipedia's
German-language page was blacked out in protest of a proposal to
change European Union copyright rules.
   (AP, 3/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 21, Berlin police made
nine arrests late today after a fight broke out on the
Alexanderplatz in the city center among some 400 backers of two
rival stars of YouTube.
   (AFP, 3/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 21, In Iraq a ferry
overloaded with people celebrating the Kurdish new year sank in the
Tigris River near Mosul, killing at least 100 people, mostly women
and children.
   (AFP, 3/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 21, Mozambique
authorities said the death toll in the country has risen to 217 and
around 15,000 people, many of them very ill, still need to be
rescued. In neighboring Zimbabwe, the death toll from Cyclone Idai
jumped to 139.
   (Reuters, 3/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 21, In Myanmar six
villagers were killed and five injured in Rakhine state late today
amid clashes between government troops and ethnic Rakhine rebels.
   (Reuters, 3/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 21, The government of
New Zealand announced a ban on "military-style" semi-automatic
firearms and high-capacity magazines, just a week after such weapons
were used in attacks on two mosques in the city of Christchurch that
killed 50 people.
   (AP, 3/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 21, A Pakistani
anti-terrorism court sentenced two men, including a local government
official, to life in prison for their role in the brutal campus
lynching two years ago of Mashal Khan (23), a university student
accused of blasphemy.
   (Reuters, 3/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 21, Two former
Philippine officials said they filed a complaint last week with the
International Criminal Court accusing Chinese Pres. Xi Jinping of
crimes against humanity over his government's assertive actions in
the disputed South China Sea, which they say deprived thousands of
fishermen of their livelihood and destroyed the environment.
   (AP, 3/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 21, A Serbian court
sentenced seven people, three of them in absentia, to up to 11 years
in prison for joining Islamic State and conspiring to recruit others
to fight for the militants in Syria and elsewhere.
   (Reuters, 3/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 21, In South Korea
K-pop singer and television celebrity, Jung Joon-young, was arrested
over accusations he shared his secret sex videos.
   (Reuters, 3/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 21, Sudan's President
Omar al-Bashir appointed ruling party head Ahmed Haroun, who is
wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC), as an assistant.
   (Reuters, 3/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 21, In Switzerland a
woman (75), who wasn't named, stabbed to death a boy (7) as he
walked home from school. She was arrested shortly after the attack
in the northwestern city of Basel. The boy's family was originally
from Kosovo and police investigations indicated he hadn't known the
attacker.
   (AP, 3/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 21, In eastern Syria
Kurdish-led forces combed the banks of the Euphrates to smoke out
the last jihadists preventing the much-delayed announcement of the
demise of the Islamic State's "caliphate".
   (AFP, 3/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 21, The International
Rescue Committee said 12 people died overnight after arriving at a
camp in northeastern Syria from Islamic State's final enclave at
Baghouz. Some 2,000 women and children arrived at the al-Hol camp
from Baghouz.
   (Reuters, 3/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 21, Venezuelan
intelligence agents detained Roberto Marrero, the chief of staff of
opposition leader Juan Guaido, during a pre-dawn raid, putting to
the test repeated US warnings that President Nicolas Maduro should
not go after his opponents.
   (Reuters, 3/21/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, US President
Donald Trump met with five Caribbean leaders who have sided with the
United States and most Western countries in backing Venezuelan
opposition leader Juan Guaido as head of state. Trump met with
leaders from the Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica and
Saint Lucia at his private club in Palm Beach, Florida.
   (Reuters, 3/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, The Trump
administration hit Iran with new sanctions while Secretary of State
Mike Pompeo denounced Iran's growing influence on a visit to
Lebanon.
   (AP, 3/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, President Donald
Trump said he is reversing his administration's decision to slap new
sanctions on North Korea, ordering them withdrawn.
   (AP, 3/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, US Attorney
General William Barr received special counsel Robert Mueller's
confidential report on the Russia investigation.
   (AP, 3/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, In Arizona
Fernando Acosta (25) fatally stabbed Martha Tye in Peoria after
their car veered off a freeway and crashed in the Phoenix suburb. A
passer-by tackled the suspect and others helped to hold him until
police arrived.
   (SFC, 3/25/19, p.A5)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, In Fresno, Ca., a
one-year-old boy was fatally mauled by two roaming rottweiler dogs
in the front yard of his home.
   (SSFC, 3/24/19, p.A10)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, In Michigan an
agreement was announced between the state and attorneys for the ACLU
in which faith-based adoption agencies paid by the state will no
longer be able to turn away couples or individuals because of
religious objections.
   (SSFC, 3/24/19, p.A13)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, A US federal judge
ruled that New York state's ban on personal ownership of stun guns
is unconstitutional.
   (SSFC, 3/24/19, p.A10)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, Texas sheriff's
Deputy Peter Herrera was critically wounded during a traffic stop in
San Elizario. Gunman Facundo Chavez (27) was arrested. Herrera died
of his wounds on March 24.
   (SFC, 3/26/19, p.A6)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, In Texas benzene
and other contaminants seeped into a portion of the Houston Ship
Channel after a dike failed near a fire-ravaged petrochemical tank
farm.
   (SSFC, 3/24/19, p.A10)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, In Afghanistan two
American service members were killed during an operation. A suicide
bomber killed one person and injured four, all members of the same
family, in an attack in the southern province of Kandahar. The
Taliban attacked two outposts in Sangin, killing 48 Afghan security
personnel. Taliban spokesman Qari Yousuf Ahmadi said the two
outposts were over-run, killing 52 Afghan troops and wounding 11
more.
   (AP, 3/22/19)(Reuters, 3/22/19)(Reuters, 3/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, Tens of thousands
of Algerians rallied to demand the immediate resignation of Pres.
Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who is fighting for his political survival in
the face of relentless protests and the desertion of long-time
allies.
   (Reuters, 3/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, Scott Walker (76),
the influential singer, songwriter and producer whose hits with the
Walker Brothers in the 1960s included "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine
Anymore," died in London.
   (AP, 3/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, In Canada Vlad
Cristian Eremia (26) stabbed priest Claude Grou (77) in front of his
congregation live on television during mass at St Joseph's Oratory
in Montreal.
   (AFP, 3/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, Chadian security
sources said Boko Haram militants killed at least 23 Chadian
soldiers overnight in the town of Dangdala, near the banks of Lake
Chad.
   (Reuters, 3/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, In Chile a group
of South American presidents formed Prosur, a new regional bloc to
replace Unasur, founded in 2008. The new bloc included Argentina,
Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay and Peru.
   (SSFC, 3/24/19, p.A4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, China said it will
look into charges against two Chinese firms sanctioned by the US
because they are suspected of helping North Korea evade sanctions.
   (AP, 3/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, In China a
document by the Communist Youth League (CYL) said it aimed to
organize more than 10 million volunteering trips by 2022 for
students pursuing technical degrees, seeking to deepen a "rural
rejuvenation" drive christened by Xi.
   (Reuters, 4/12/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, A Chinese court
fined the firm behind the now-defunct Fanya Nonferrous Metals
Exchange 1 billion yuan ($149.04 million) for illegal fundraising
and sentenced founder Shan Jiuliang 18 years in prison for crimes
including embezzlement.
   (Reuters, 3/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, In central China a
fire on a tour bus traveling along a highway left 26 people dead and
as many as 30 injured in Changde, Hunan province.
   (AP, 3/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, Egypt's Musicians
Union barred singer Sherine Abdel-Wahab, popularly known by her
first name, from performing after she suggested that Egypt does not
respect free speech. It also summoned her for questioning. The
singer apologized again after the latest remarks in a TV interview
saying she was joking.
   (AP, 3/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, The European Union
underlined it does not recognize Israel's sovereignty over the Golan
Heights after US President Donald Trump moved to do so for the
territory viewed by European allies as occupied.
   (Reuters, 3/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, The EU rejected PM
May's request to extend the Brexit deadline until June 30. Leaders
agreed to extend the date until May 22, on the eve of EU elections,
if she can persuade the British Parliament to endorse her deal.
Failing that she would have until April 12 to choose a new path.
   (SFC, 3/23/19, p.A3)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, In Germany police
arrested 11 people in raids around Frankfurt on a group suspected of
planning an Islamic extremist attack using a vehicle and firearms.
   (SSFC, 3/24/19, p.A4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, Hungarian
authorities detained a Syrian man accused of taking part in
beheadings in Syria as a member of Islamic State.
   (Reuters, 3/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, Indian security
forces killed seven militants who they said belonged to
Pakistan-based groups during four gunbattles in Kashmir - the
highest number of clashes in a single day in recent years. Police
said the militants belonged to Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad
(JeM).
   (Reuters, 3/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, Indonesian airline
Garuda said it plans to cancel a $6 billion order for Boeing 737 MAX
jets, saying some passengers would be frightened to board the plane
after two fatal crashes. Analysts said the deal had long been in
doubt.
   (Reuters, 3/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, Indonesian
authorities detained a Russian man at Ngurah Rai airport in Bali as
he was caught trying to smuggle a young orangutan in a suitcase.
Zhestkov Andrei also had two live geckos and five lizards in his
luggage and was scheduled to fly to Russia.
   (Reuters, 3/23/19)(AFP, 3/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, Italy's Pres.
Sergio Mattarella told visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping that
China's new "Silk Road" linking Europe and Asia must be a "two-way
street," addressing concerns among Western allies that the colossal
infrastructure project is meant merely to amplify Beijing's global
influence.
   (AP, 3/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, In Italy a
5-month-old baby was brought to a hospital in Bologna by helicopter
in cardiac arrest due to a home circumcision and soon died.
   (AP, 3/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, The confirmed
death toll in Mozambique and neighboring Zimbabwe reached 432, with
293 killed in Mozambique, and around 1.7 million people affected.
Hundreds of thousands of people scrambled for shelter, food and
water across a swathe of southern Africa.
   (AFP, 3/22/19)(Reuters, 3/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, New Zealand's
deputy prime minister Winston Peters said Brenton Harrison Tarrant,
the gunman accused of killing 50 people in two mosques in the South
Pacific nation, would spend the rest of his life in isolation in
prison.
   (AP, 3/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, North Korea
abruptly withdrew its staff from a liaison office with South Korea,
a development that is likely to put a damper on ties between the
countries and further complicate global diplomacy on North Korea's
nuclear program.
   (AP, 3/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, In Pakistan gunmen
on motorcycles opened fire on a convoy carrying Maulana Taqi Usmani,
a prominent religious scholar, and his associates in the southern
port city of Karachi, killing the cleric's two guards and seriously
wounding his driver.
   (AP, 3/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, Two Palestinians
were killed by Israeli fire in separate border clashes.
   (AFP, 3/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, Prosecutors said
Panama's ex-president Ricardo Martinelli faces up to 21 years in
jail for spying on political foes, reporters and business leaders
while in power.
   (AFP, 3/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, A Russian court
sentenced Pavlo Gryb (20), a Ukrainian teenager, to six years in
prison for plotting a bombing in a Russian school. He was kidnapped
in summer 2017 in Belarus where he had traveled to meet a girl he
met online. He later surfaced in a Russian prison. The girl turned
out to be an officer from the Russian intelligence services who was
messaging him on her behalf shortly before his trip. Gryb's family
said he suffers from cirrhosis of the liver and partial vision loss,
urgently needs surgery and may die in a Russian prison.
   (AP, 3/22/19)(AFP, 3/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, The Swiss
government said Britons will be exempt from visa requirements to
enter Switzerland in case Britain leaves the EU without a withdrawal
agreement.
   (Reuters, 3/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, Turkey's lira
tumbled more than 4 percent against the US dollar, its biggest
one-day fall since a currency crisis took hold in August, raising
concerns that Turks are buying more foreign cash as ties with
Washington deteriorate.
   (Reuters, 3/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, The UN Human
Rights Council criticized Israeli settlement expansion in the
occupied Syrian Golan Heights a day after US President Donald
Trump's decision to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the disputed
territory.
   (Reuters, 3/22/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, Venezuelan
opposition leader Juan Guaido said Pres. Maduro had lost the ability
to "finance political blackmail" to retain power thanks to pressure
brought by foreign governments who have recognized him as the South
American country's rightful leader in the midst of a
hyperinflationary economic collapse.
   (Reuters, 3/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 23, A student (16) at
the Parkland, Florida, high school, where 17 people were killed in a
mass shooting last year, took his own life. A week earlier student
Sydney Aiello (19) took her own life. Her mother said she suffered
from PTSD and survivor's guilt.
   (SFC, 3/25/19, p.A5)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 23, In southern
Afghanistan a twin bombing at a public ceremony killed at least four
people, including a provincial official, and wounded more than 30 in
Lashkar Gah, Helmand province. In the north US air strikes in Kunduz
province killed about a dozen civilians, as battle intensified there
and in southern Helmand province. Four Afghan soldiers died in the
fight.
   (AP, 3/23/19)(Reuters, 3/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 23, Hundreds of
lawyers in Algeria marched in the country's capital, Algiers, to
demand the departure of ailing 82-year-old President Abdelaziz
Bouteflika at the end of his term scheduled on April 28.
   (AP, 3/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 23, Cyclone Trevor
made landfall along a remote stretch of the northern Australian
coast, bringing fierce winds and heavy rains amid safety fears for a
small number of residents who've stayed in the area. Meanwhile
Cyclone Veronica, another category 4 system, was expected to cross
the northwest Australian coast late today.
   (AP, 3/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 23, Hundreds of
thousands of people opposed to Britain's withdrawal from the EU
marched through central London to demand a new referendum as the
deepening Brexit crisis risked sinking PM Theresa May's premiership.
   (Reuters, 3/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 23, Bulgarian Justice
Minister Tsetska Tsacheva resigned following media reports that she
and three other ruling center-right GERB party politicians have
bought luxurious apartments at below market prices. Deputy Sports
Minister Vanya Koleva also resigned over the deals.
   (Reuters, 3/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 23, French "yellow
vest" demonstrators began their 19th consecutive weekend of protests
against President Emmanuel Macron's government as military units
were deployed to help police clamp down on any trouble.
   (Reuters, 3/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 23, Iraqi PM Adel
Abdul Mahdi sought Egypt's support for efforts to tackle Islamist
militants in the region during a visit to Cairo his first trip
abroad since taking office in October.
   (Reuters, 3/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 23, Ireland extradited
dual citizen Eric Eoin Marques (33) to the US, where he faced
charges of conspiracy to advertise and distribute child pornography.
Prosecutors said Marques hosted an anonymous hosting service on the
darknet that spread the porn for five years.
   (AP, 3/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 23, Italy endorsed
China's ambitious "Belt and Road" infrastructure plan, becoming the
first major Western power to back the initiative to help revive the
struggling Italian economy. The signing ceremony was the highlight
of a three-day trip to Italy by Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Italian firms also inked deals with Chinese counterparts worth an
initial 2.5 billion euros ($2.8 billion).
   (Reuters, 3/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 23, In Kazakhstan the
order to change Astana's name to Nur-Sultan was issued by interim
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who took power after Nursultan
Nazarbayev resigned March 19.
   (AP, 3/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 23, In Libya relatives
and supporters of Abdullah al-Senussi, a Kadhafi-era intelligence
chief jailed for his alleged role in a bloody crackdown during the
country's 2011 uprising, protested in Tripoli to demand his release
over health concerns.
   (AFP, 3/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 23, In central Mali an
ethnic Dogon militia already blamed for scores of attacks over the
past year attacked Ogossogou, an ethnic Peuhl village just before
dawn. The death toll from the massacre soon rose to 134 dead.
   (AP, 3/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 23, Mexican police and
federal officials detained 107 Central American migrants seeking to
enter the United States in the border city of Reynosa. Unidentified
gunmen began shooting at police, and one of the attackers was killed
in the ensuing exchange of fire.
   (Reuters, 3/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 23, Mozambique said
the number of people killed after Cyclone Idai tore through the
country has risen to 417.
   (Reuters, 3/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 23, New Zealand's
chief censor banned a 74-page manifesto written by the man accused
of slaughtering 50 people at two mosques in the city of
Christchurch. The ban means anybody caught with the document on
their computer could face up to 10 years in prison, while anyone
caught sending it could face 14 years.
   (AP, 3/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 23, Nigerians returned
to vote in governorship and state elections after polling a
fortnight ago was declared invalid in some areas because of
violence.
   (AFP, 3/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 23, Pakistan
celebrated its national day with a military parade showcasing its
missiles, tanks and aircraft. The prime minister and his Indian
counterpart exchanged goodwill messages in a sign of easing tensions
between the nuclear-armed rivals.
   (AP, 3/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 23, Palestinian Habib
al-Masri (24) was shot in the chest at protests near Beit Hanoun
late today. Two others were wounded. Al-Masri soon died of wounds
sustained from Israeli gunfire.
   (AP, 3/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 23, Somalia's al
Shabaab stormed a government building, detonating a suicide car bomb
in the heart of Mogadishu with at least 15 people, including an
assistant minister, killed during the ensuing gun battle. The four
militants who attacked the building were shot dead.
   (Reuters, 3/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 23, In Sudan eight
children were killed in an explosion near a military facility in
Omdurman, where they were searching for scrap metal to resell.
   (AP, 3/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 23, The Syrian
Democratic Forces (SDF) announced it had liberated the last village
held by IS in Syria, declaring victory over the group. The SDF said
it would continue its military and security campaigns against
jihadist sleeper cells. IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi remained at
large.
   (AP, 3/23/19)(Reuters, 3/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 23, The Vatican said
Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Cardinal Ricardo Ezzati
(77) as archbishop of Santiago, the highest-ranking member of the
Catholic Church in Chile, who has been caught up in the country's
sex abuse scandal. Spanish-born Capuchin friar and current bishop of
Copiapo, Chile, Monsignor Celestino Aos Braco was named as temporary
replacement.
   (Reuters, 3/23/19)(AP, 3/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 23, Al-Arabiya TV
reported that the Saudi-Led coalition in Yemen launched raids on
Houthi camps in the capital Sanaa, including the Al-Dailami air
base.
   (Reuters, 3/23/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 24, The United States
clinched a strategic port deal with Oman which US officials say will
allow the US military better access to the Gulf region and reduce
the need to send ships through the Strait of Hormuz, a maritime
choke point off Iran.
   (Reuters, 3/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 24, US Attorney
General William Barr Mueller sent a letter to Congress saying he
found no evidence in Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Russia report
that the Trump campaign colluded with Russia in the 2016 election.
   (Reuters, 3/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 24, Chinese President
Xi Jinping visited Monaco. This was the first state visit by a
Chinese president to the principality. The palace said Monaco is
seeking to boost its trade and economic cooperation with China.
   (AP, 3/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 24, China's President
Xi Jinping arrived in France where he had a private dinner with
Macron in the resort town of Beaulieu-sur-Mer on the French Riviera.
   (AP, 3/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 24, Voters on the tiny
archipelago of Comoros went to the polls, with Pres. Azali Assoumani
(60) widely expected to win a new term in an election that rivals
say has been hijacked. The archipelago has had more than 20
successful or attempted power grabs since gaining independence from
France in 1975. Its first leader, Ahmed Abdallah, lasted barely a
month before being ousted.
   (AFP, 3/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 24, A Hungarian court
ordered the arrest of a 27-year-old Syrian man suspected of taking
part in beheadings in Syria as a member of Islamic State.
   (Reuters, 3/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 24, Indonesia's
long-awaited first subway opened in Jakarta with the aim of
relieving crippling traffic gridlock in Southeast Asia's biggest
economy. President Joko Widodo then presided over a groundbreaking
ceremony to mark the beginning of the second phase 8-km (5-mile)
northward line.
   (AP, 3/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 24, Iraq's parliament
sacked Nineveh provincial governor Nawfel Akoub, after 100 people
died in the March 21 ferry disaster that sparked a wave of grief and
anger. Sixteen people have been arrested as part of an investigation
into the ferry capsize. 63 people were still listed as missing.
   (AFP, 3/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 24, Israeli aircraft
targeted Hamas positions in the Gaza Strip early today after
Palestinians there threw explosive devices at the border fence
during "riots".
   (AFP, 3/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 24, Mali's government
announced the sacking of senior military officers and the
dissolution of a militia, a day after the massacre of more than 130
Muslims, including women and children.
   (AP, 3/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 24, In Morocco about
10,000 teachers staged a new protest in Rabat to demand permanent
jobs, hours after police had used water cannon to disperse an
overnight demonstration.
   (Reuters, 3/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 24, Mozambique's death
toll rose to 446 from 417. In Zimbabwe, UN agencies have given
different tolls of 259 and 154, while in Malawi 56 people died in
heavy rains ahead of Cyclone Idai.
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 24, In New Zealand
thousands gathered in cities to protest racism and remember the 50
Muslims killed by a gunman in Christchurch and as PM Jacinda Ardern
announced a national remembrance service to be held later this week.
   (AP, 3/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 24, Viking Ocean
Cruises said rescue helicopters took more than 475 passengers from
the Viking Sky cruise ship that got stranded off Norway's western
coast in bad weather before the vessel departed for a nearby port
under escort and with nearly 900 people still on board.
   (AP, 3/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 24, In the Philippines
more than 10,000 motorcycle riders staged a motorcade in the main
highways of Manila to protest at new regulations forcing them to
display bigger license plates, saying the measure would not solve
the problem. President Rodrigo Duterte signed a measure into law
earlier this month requiring all licensed motorbikes to display
bigger front and rear plates to make them more visible to the
authorities and any witnesses to crimes.
   (AP, 3/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 24, Two Russian air
force planes carrying a Russian defense official and nearly 100
troops arrived in Caracas, Venezuela, amid strengthening ties
between the two countries.
   (Reuters, 3/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 24, In Sri Lanka work
began on a $3.9 billion oil refinery to be funded by a
Singapore-Oman joint venture next to a Chinese-run port in what will
be Sri Lanka's largest foreign investment ever. The refinery is
expected to be up and running in 2023.
   (AP, 3/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 24, In eastern Syria
Islamic State group jihadists emerged from tunnels to surrender to
US-backed forces in Baghouz.
   (AP, 3/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 24, Thailand held its
first election since a 2014 military coup. Preliminary results
indicated that Thailand's military-backed party won the most votes
in the country's first election since a 2014 coup.
   (AP, 3/24/19)(AP, 3/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 24, In Turkey
thousands of supporters of a pro-Kurdish party gathered in Istanbul
to celebrate the Kurdish New Year and to attend a campaign rally for
local elections that will test the Turkish president's popularity.
   (AP, 3/24/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 24, Clashes late today
in Yemen's Hodeida left five fighters dead, despite a ceasefire
agreement between warring parties in the port city.
   (AFP, 3/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 25, Jeremy Richman
(49), the father of one of the 20 children killed in the 2012 Sandy
Hook Elementary School shooting in Connecticut, was found dead of an
apparent suicide inside his office building in Newtown.
   (SFC, 3/26/19, p.A6)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 25, Doctors in
Baltimore performed what's thought to be the world's first kidney
transplant from a living donor with HIV to an HIV-positive stranger.
   (SFC, 3/29/19, p.A12)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 25, Attorney Michael
Avenatti (48) was arrested in New York City on charges that included
trying to shake down Nike for as much as $25 million by threatening
the company with bad publicity. He was released after posting a
$300,000 bond. Avenatti has also been charged with bank and wire
fraud in separate cases in New York and California.
   (SFC, 3/26/19, p.A7)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 25, Prosecutors said
that faked data by a research technician was used to obtain federal
grants for North Carolina's Duke Univ. The problem was discovered in
2013 after the technician was fired for embezzling university money.
A former Duke employee will get nearly $34 million for alerting the
government. Duke pay $112 million to settle the whistle-blower
lawsuit.
   (SFC, 3/26/19, p.A6)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 25, In North Carolina
five inmates escaped from the Nash County Detention center. Four of
the five were caught within 24 hours.
   (SFC, 3/27/19, p.A4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 25, Austria arrested
an Iraqi man "under suspicion to have carried out terrorist attacks
on railways in Germany in October and December 2018".
   (AFP, 3/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 25, British lawmakers
exasperated by failed efforts to split from the European Union after
three years of debates and negotiations voted to give themselves a
broader say on what happens next.
   (AFP, 3/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 25, China ordered a
nationwide inspection of chemical firms four days after one of the
country's worst industrial accidents.
   (AFP, 3/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 25, Chinese President
Xi Jinping signed multibillion-dollar deals on energy, the food
industry, transport and other sectors as well as a bilateral
statement on climate change during his state visit to France.
Jinping received the full honors of a formal reception during his
state visit that included attending the signing of a multi-billion
dollar deal between European aircraft maker Airbus to China. Jinping
agreed to work with European leaders to seek fairer international
trade rules and to address the world's economic and security
challenges.
   (AP, 3/25/19)(AP, 3/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 25, Police in Comoros
used tear gas to disperse demonstrators led by opposition leaders
protesting against what they said were fraudulent presidential
elections.
   (Reuters, 3/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 25, The EU announced
it has completed its preparations for Britain crashing out of the
bloc without a divorce accord, as fears of a chaotic "no-deal"
Brexit grew.
   (AFP, 3/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 25, In France around
20 people were arrested late today after gangs of vigilantes
attacked camps of ethnic Roma people in northeast Paris after false
reports that they were responsible for abductions in the area using
white vans.
   (AFP, 3/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 25, The Hong
Kong-based lawyer for two Saudi sisters who fled the kingdom said
the young women have secured emergency visas and departed to a new
country of residence.
   (AP, 3/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 25, The board of
India's private Jet Airways accepted the resignations of Chairman
Naresh Goyal, his wife and a nominee of Gulf carrier Etihad Airways.
Goyal quit amid mounting financial woes which have forced Jet
Airways to suspend 14 international routes and ground more than 80
planes. The board approved the setting up of an interim management
committee to oversee daily operations and cash flow of the company.
   (AP, 3/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 25, Iranian state TV
reported that flash floods in southern Iran have killed at least 17
people and injured 74.
   (AP, 3/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 25, Italian media
reported that former communist militant Cesare Battisti, jailed for
life over four murders carried out in the 1970s, has confessed to
the killings after decades of denying involvement.
   (AFP, 3/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 25, Mexican President
Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador called on Spanish King Felipe VI and
Pope Francis to apologize for the conquest and the rights violations
committed in the aftermath of Spanish rule over Mexico dating back
to 1519. Madrid firmly rejected the proposal.
   (AFP, 3/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 25, Morocco hosted
ministers from 36 African countries for UN-backed talks on ending
the four-decades-old conflict in Western Sahara, a swathe of desert
on Africa's Atlantic coast.
   (AFP, 3/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 25, A long-range
rocket fired from the Gaza Strip slammed into a house in central
Israel and wounded seven people early today. PM Benjamin Netanyahu,
who faces an election on April 9, cut short his US visit after the
rocket attack.
   (AP, 3/25/19)(Reuters, 3/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 25, Poland's
Constitutional Tribunal ruled that controversial rules introduced by
the right-wing government that allow lawmakers to choose members of
a judicial body are in line with the constitution.
   (AP, 3/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 25, In South Africa
the 16-nation Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) began
2-day talks pushing for a referendum on the status of Western
Sahara.
   (AFP, 3/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 25, In South Africa
mobs armed with metal rods and machetes began breaking into the
homes of foreigners in Durban, chasing them out and looting their
belongings. Three days of attacks displaced some 300 Malawi
migrants, but no arrests resulted.
   (AFP, 4/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 25, The US-backed
Syrian fighters who drove the Islamic State from its last
strongholds called for an international tribunal to prosecute
hundreds of foreigners rounded up in the nearly five-year campaign
against the extremist group.
   (AP, 3/25/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 25, Venezuela was hit
by a power blackout. Power was restored to much of the country by
the evening but went out again during the night.
   (Reuters, 3/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 26, US Sec. of State
Mike Pompeo expanded the Trump administration's ban on US aid to
groups that promote or provide abortions to include organizations
that that comply with the rules but give money to others that don't.
   (SFC, 3/27/19, p.A4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 26, The US Treasury
took fresh aim at the international network funneling dollars and
euros to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), naming 25
individuals and entities for financial sanctions.
   (AFP, 3/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 26, The US Supreme
Court threw out a nearly $315 million judgment against Sudan
stemming from the USS Cole bombing in 2000, saying Sudan hadn't
properly been notified of the lawsuit.
   (AP, 3/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 26, In the US a
nationwide ban on bump stocks took effect. The attachment allowed
semiautomatic weapons to fire rapidly like machine guns.
   (SFC, 3/30/19, p.A6)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 26, Prosecutors in
Illinois' Cook County, who handle crimes in Chicago, dropped charges
against actor Jussie Smollett who was accused of staging a hoax hate
crime attack against himself. Details of the case were sealed.
   (AFP, 3/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 26, An attorney said
the Pennsylvania Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie has agreed to pay $2
million to a man who was sexually abused as a child by a priest who
made him say confession after the assaults. Defrocked priest David
Poulson was sentenced this year to 2½ to 14 years in prison after
pleading guilty to the sexual assault of one boy and attempted
sexual assault of another.
   (AP, 3/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 26, Facebook said it
has shut down more than 2,600 fake accounts linked to Iran, Russia,
Macedonia and Kosovo and aiming to influence political sentiment in
various parts of the world.
   (AFP, 3/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 26, SF-based
ride-hailing service Uber announced that it has acquired Dubai-based
competitor Careem for $3.1 billion.
   (SFC, 3/27/19, p.D1)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 26, Algeria's powerful
army chief Ahmed Gaid Salah said he wants to trigger the
constitutional process that would declare President Abdelaziz
Bouteflika unfit for office, after more than a month of mass
protests against the ailing leader's long rule.
   (AP, 3/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 26, The Canola Council
of Canada confirmed that China formally posted a web notice
suspending the license of Viterra for canola seed. Exporters
reported last week that Chinese importers are unwilling to purchase
the seeds at this time. This was seen as retaliation for Canada's
arrest of a top executive of Chinese tech giant Huawei.
   (AP, 3/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 26, China's former
internet censor Lu Wei, who once held high-profile meetings with
industry leaders such as Apple CEO Tim Cook and Facebook founder
Mark Zuckerberg, was sentenced to 14 years in prison on corruption
charges.
   (AP, 3/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 26, A court in the
Czech Republic convicted Radim Zondra of knifing two-time Wimbledon
champion Petra Kvitova in her home in December, 2016, and sentenced
him to eight years in prison.
   (AP, 3/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 26, The European
Commission ignored US calls to ban Chinese tech supplier Huawei as
it announced a series of new cybersecurity recommendations for
next-generation mobile networks.
   (AP, 3/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 26, The European
Parliament adopted copyright reforms championed by news publishers
and the media business, in defiance of the tech giants that lobbied
against it.
   (AFP, 3/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 26, A German court
upheld the murder convictions of two men whose midnight drag race in
downtown Berlin in 2016 ended with a crash that killed another
driver.
   (AP, 3/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 26, Germany's
meteorological agency DWD says 2018 was the warmest in the country
since records began in 1881.
   (AP, 3/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 26, A court in Georgia
ruled that Jack Shepherd (31), a fugitive British man wanted for the
manslaughter of a woman killed during a London date on a speedboat
in 2015, is to be extradited. The web designer had showed up at a
police station in Tbilisi, Georgia, in January and turned himself
in.
   (AP, 3/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 26, Israel kept up air
strikes on Gaza and Palestinian militants launched new rockets
despite the ceasefire claim. The UN envoy for the Middle East warned
of catastrophic consequences from escalating violence in Gaza as
Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas continued to exchange fire
despite a ceasefire deal.
   (AFP, 3/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 26, The academy of
Italy's premier opera house, Teatro alla Scala, agreed to start a
conservatory for both girls and boys in Saudi Arabia.
   (AP, 3/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 26, In Mexico the head
prosecutor of Veracruz state said search teams exhumed 12 sets of
remains and have located three more bodies but not yet extracted
them.
   (AP, 3/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 26, In Morocco Larbi
Rich (54), the driver of a passenger train that derailed and killed
seven people last year, was convicted of manslaughter but ordered
released on time already served.
   (AFP, 3/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 26, Myanmar's Supreme
Court agreed to rule on an appeal filed by lawyers for Reuters
journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo sentenced to seven years in
prison for their reporting on Myanmar's brutal crackdown on Rohingya
Muslims.
   (AP, 3/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 26, A Pakistani court
placed two teenage sisters from the minority Hindu community in a
government shelter as authorities launched an investigation into
whether the girls were abducted and forced to convert and marry two
Muslim men.
   (AP, 3/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 26, In South Africa
several southern African leaders threw their support behind Western
Sahara, with one calling the disputed territory the "last colony" on
the African continent.
   (AFP, 3/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 26, Spanish weather
authorities said 32 million people in the southern European country,
or around two-thirds of Spain's population, are having to deal with
higher temperatures, longer summers and more frequent tropical
nights as a result of climate change.
   (AP, 3/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 26, In northern Syria
the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for an attack early
today on a checkpoint of US-backed forces in Manbij that killed
seven fighters.
   (AP, 3/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 26, Demonstrations
spread across Syria denouncing Washington's recognition of Israeli
sovereignty over the Golan Heights, in a show of unity in the
war-torn country.
   (AFP, 3/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 26, Turkish and
Russian forces carried out the first "independent and coordinated"
patrols in the mainly Kurdish-controlled northern Syrian region of
Tel Rifaat.
   (Reuters, 3/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 26, In Tunisia UN
official Moncef Kartas, charged with investigating alleged
violations of a UN arms embargo on Libya, was detained in Tunis on
suspicion of spying. On March 29 Tunisian authorities confirmed that
they had detained two Tunisians, including Kartas, on suspicion of
"spying for foreign parties".
   (AFP, 3/29/19)(AFP, 4/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 26, The all-female
staff of the Vatican newspaper's monthly magazine on women's issues
resigned abruptly en masse, saying the new editor was trying limit
their autonomy and put them "under direct male control".
   (Reuters, 3/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 26, Venezuela canceled
work and school as the second major blackout this month left streets
mostly empty in Caracas and residents of the capital wondering how
long power would be out amid a deepening economic and political
crisis.
   (Reuters, 3/26/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 26, Yemenis held a
mass rally in Sanaa to show support for the Houthi movement on the
fourth anniversary of a war that has killed thousands of people and
pushed the country to the brink of starvation. An airstrike killed
seven people near the Kitaf rural hospital.
   (Reuters, 3/26/19)(SFC, 3/28/19, p.A4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, The head of the US
Customs and Border Protection held a press conference in El Paso to
say the breaking point had arrived. Arrests all along the southern
border have skyrocketed in recent months. Border agents were on
track to make 100,000 arrests and denials of entry at the southern
border this month.
   (AP, 3/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, In Arkansas Andre
Jackson (34) pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 25 years in prison
for the murder of an Italian tourist during an attempted robbery.
Carlo Marigliano was found shot to death in a crashed jeep outside a
Little Rock apartment complex in July 2017.
   (AP, 3/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, In California
PG&E received approval from a bankruptcy court to fully access
$5.5 billion in financing it lined up from major banks, despite
objections from wildfire victims.
   (SFC, 3/28/19, p.D1)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, Speaking in Hawaii
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen said her government has asked to
purchase advanced new fighter jets and tanks from the US, a request
that if approved, could set off new tensions between the US and
China. Tsai said requests have been submitted for F-16V fighters and
M1 Abrams tanks.
   (AP, 3/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, In NYC Anna
Sorokin (28), the one-time darling of the Big Apple social scene,
stood trial on grand larceny and theft of services charges alleging
she swindled $275,000 in a 10-month odyssey that saw her jetting to
Omaha and Marrakesh before landing in a cell at Rikers Island.
   (AP, 3/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, In Texas a
helicopter crashed during a controlled burn at the Sam Houston
National Forest killing Daniel Laird, a firefighter from northern
California.
   (SFC, 3/30/19, p.A6)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, In Virginia James
Alex Fields Jr. pleaded guilty to 29 of 30 federal charges stemming
from the 2017 "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville.
Anti-racist activist Heather Heyer was killed when Fields plowed his
car into a crowd of protesters.
   (SFC, 3/28/19, p.A6)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, In Wisconsin the
3rd District Court of Appeals reinstated laws passed during the 2018
lame-duck legislative session that weaken powers of the Democratic
governor and attorney general.
   (SFC, 3/28/19, p.A6)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, The $1 million
Turing Award went to artificial intelligence pioneers Yoshua Bengio,
Yann LeCun and Geoffrey Hinton.
   (SFC, 3/28/19, p.D2)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, Ford said it will
close three factories in Russia, causing heavy job losses, as it
pulls out of passenger vehicle manufacturing in the country.
   (AP, 3/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, Algeria's biggest
union and an influential party backed an army call for President
Abdelaziz Bouteflika to quit in a managed exit plan that was quickly
rejected by protesters demanding the overthrow of the entire
political elite.
   (Reuters, 3/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, Australia's top
cyberwarrior revealed that his country actively participated in the
electronic war against the Islamic State group in Syria, degrading
their communications during military operations and actively
stopping people seeking to join the extremist group.
   (AP, 3/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, Austrian
Chancellor Sebastian Kurz confirmed that Martin Sellner, head of the
far-right Identitarian Movement, received 1,500 euros in 2018 from
the man charged with killing 50 people in mass shootings at mosques
in Christchurch, New Zealand. Sellner said he would give the money
to a charitable foundation.
   (Reuters, 3/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, British lawmakers
debated multiple options for leaving the European Union as they
sought to bring some clarity to the tortured Brexit process and stop
the country tumbling out of the bloc within weeks with no exit plan
in place. PM Theresa May offered to give up her job in exchange for
her Brexit deal.
   (AP, 3/27/19)(SFC, 3/28/19, p.A5)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, Amnesty
International slammed plans by Brunei to implement what the rights
group called "vicious" Islamic criminal laws such as stoning to
death for gay sex and amputation for theft. The new sections under
Brunei's Sharia Penal Code and will come into effect April 3.
   (AP, 3/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, China said that it
has expelled former Interpol President Meng Hongwei from public
office and the ruling Communist Party as he awaits trial on
corruption charges.
   (AP, 3/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, A $436 million
superyacht belonging to Russian billionaire Farkhad Akhmedov, at the
center of one of the world's costliest divorce battles, was released
by a Dubai court after being impounded last year. Forbes has
estimated Akhmedov's net worth is $1.4 billion. The US Treasury
Department has put him on a list of sanctioned Russian state-owned
companies.
   (Reuters, 3/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, A coalition of
opposition parties urged Egyptians to vote against constitutional
amendments that would potentially allow President Abdel-Fattah
el-Sissi to remain in power until 2034.
   (AP, 3/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, The EU said it
will suspend ship patrols that have rescued tens of thousands of
migrants in the Mediterranean and brought them to Italy, amid deep
resistance by populist-led Rome. The rescues were part of the EU's
Operation Sophia which diplomats have decided to extend by six
months beyond its March 31 expiry date, but without new ship
deployments.
   (AFP, 3/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, A report by the
investigative group Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project
said Gambia's ex-President Yahya Jammeh looted the tiny West African
nation of $1 billion through fear and privilege during his 22 years
in power, an amount more than 10 times higher than originally
estimated by the new government, leaving the country in lingering
debt. The $1 billion was used to finance his lavish lifestyle and is
believed to still support him in his exile in Equatorial Guinea.
   (AP, 3/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, India shot down
one of its satellites in space with an anti-satellite missile. The
government said the test was aimed at protecting India's assets in
space against foreign attacks. The United States ran the first
anti-satellite test in 1959, when satellites themselves were rare
and new.
   (Reuters, 3/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, Indonesia's
Supreme Court rejected the appeal of Meliana, an ethnic Chinese
woman, whose complaint about the volume of mosque loudspeakers led
to an 18-month prison sentence for blasphemy.
   (AP, 4/8/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, Iran's Pres.
Hassan Rouhani travelled to flood-hit zones for the first time after
nine days of heavy rains inundated most of the country and killed 43
people.
   (AFP, 3/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, Iraqi court
officials said a warrant has been issued for the arrest of the
former governor of Nineveh on corruption charges after at least 90
people were killed in a ferry accident in the provincial capital
Mosul. The warrant also included the arrest of some local officials
after a court investigation concluded they colluded with the former
governor in misusing their powers and committed financial
violations. Nawfal Hammadi al-Sultan has fled to the Kurdish
regional capital Erbil.
   (Reuters, 3/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, In Japan a Nissan
committee set up to strengthen corporate governance after the arrest
of former Chairman Carlos Ghosn said an investigation found he had
wielded too much power and recommended the scandal-hit automaker add
more independent outside directors to its board and better oversee
compensation and auditing.
   (AP, 3/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, A Kazakh military
helicopter with 13 people on board crashed on during exercises.
There were casualties, but that it was not yet clear how many.
   (Reuters, 3/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, The cargo ship El
Hiblu 1 picked up 108 migrants stranded at sea. Some of them then
hijacked the vessel when it became clear that it planned to take
them back to Libya. The small tanker docked in Malta's port of
Valletta the next day after Maltese special forces took control of
the vessel. Three migrant teenagers were soon charged in a Maltese
court with hijacking the small tanker. They pleaded not guilty.
   (Reuters, 3/28/19)(Reuters, 3/30/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, A Lithuanian court
found former Soviet defense minister Dmitry Yazov (94) guilty of war
crimes and crimes against humanity for his role in a 1991 crackdown
against the Baltic state's pro-independence movement. 67 former
military officials and army officers were being sentenced after a
three-year trial.
   (Reuters, 3/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, A report released
today found gaps in the investigation and possible obstruction of
justice in Malaysia's 2015 discovery of mass graves believed to be
of Rohingya Muslims and Bangladeshis held in trafficking camps in a
hilly jungle area on its border with Thailand. The report said
Malaysian authorities were aware of the human trafficking camps more
than four months before they were announced publicly.
   (AP, 3/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, A Mozambique
government official said five cases of cholera have been confirmed
following Cyclone Idai that ravaged the country, killing at least
468 people.
   (AFP, 3/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, In New Zealand
Artemiy Dubovskiy (54) killed himself during a standoff with police.
Police searched three of Dubovskiy's properties and found guns,
ammunition and violent extremist content.
   (http://tinyurl.com/y5vsnklh)(AP, 4/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, Pakistani police
arrested a man for beating his wife in public after the incident
triggered wide condemnation and uproar on social media. Faisal's
wife had complained that her husband had stripped her naked, beat
her and shaved her head for refusing to dance for his friends at
their home.
   (AP, 3/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, About 150
Palestinian students threw firebombs and rocks at Israeli soldiers
who responded with tear gas and rubber-coated metal bullets in the
occupied West Bank after an Israeli raid on their university.
Palestinian volunteer medic Sajid Muzher (17) was killed by Israeli
forces during the clashes. He was shot while trying to treat one of
those wounded.
   (Reuters, 3/27/19)(AFP, 3/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, In Thailand the
leader of the Pheu Thai party, which headed the last elected
government, and the leaders of five other parties held a news
conference to say they believed they had won more than 250 seats in
the 500-seat lower house.
   (AP, 3/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, UN officials said
at least 707 people had been reported killed by Cyclone Idai, the
flooding it caused and heavy rains before it hit. This included 468
in Mozambique, 259 in Zimbabwe and 60 in Malawi.
   (Reuters, 3/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, In Venezuela new
disruption to the power grid had left 91 percent of the country
offline, reversing a "partial recovery" since the latest blackouts
started March 25.
   (AP, 3/27/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 28, Pres. Donald Trump
announced that he was backing off a budget request to eliminate
funding for the Special Olympics following days of criticism for the
proposed cut.
   (SFC, 3/29/19, p.A5)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 28, The US House of
Representatives voted 238-185 to condemn Pres. Donald Trump's move
to restrict transgender men and women from military service. Five
Republicans broke ranks to vote with all the Democrats in the
non-binding resolution.
   (SFC, 3/29/19, p.A5)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 28, George Clooney
called for the boycott of nine hotels in the US and Europe with ties
to the sultan of Brunei, which on April 3 will implement Islamic
criminal laws to punish gay sex by stoning offenders to death.
   (AP, 3/30/19)(Reuters, 3/30/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 28, In the SF Bay Area
Rev. Hector David Mendoza-Vela (42), the head priest of Corpus
Christi Parish in Fremont, was arrested on suspicion of 30 counts
child sex abuse from 2016-2017.
   (SFC, 4/1/19, p.C1)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 28, In Texas Javier
Ambler (40) died after a car chase that started when he did not dim
his headlights for oncoming traffic in Williamson County. When
authorities reached Ambler, they tased him multiple times. Body
camera footage showed Ambler telling them that he could not breathe.
In 2021 a court approved a settlement in the Javier Ambler lawsuit
of $5 million.
   (The Hill, 12/15/21)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 28, In Virginia Darwin
Martinez-Torres of Sterling was sentenced to life in prison for
raping and killing Nabra Hassanen (17) of Reston, a Muslim teenager,
as she walked back to a mosque with friends for pre-dawn religious
services in June 2017. immigration authorities said Martinez-Torres
is an El Salvador native and was in the country illegally.
   (AP, 3/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 28, Albanian
opposition protesters made further attempts to enter the parliament
by force as they demand the government's resignation and an early
election.
   (AP, 3/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 28, Hundreds of
protesters took to the streets of central Algiers again to demand
the resignation of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and changes to the
political system after the powerful army called for the veteran
leader to be removed.
   (Reuters, 3/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 28, In Australia Saeed
Noori (37), an Islamic State group sympathizer, was sentenced to
life in prison. He had rammed a car into pedestrians on a busy
Melbourne sidewalk on Dec. 21, 2017, killing one person and injuring
16 others.
   (AP, 3/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 28, In Bangladesh a
fire broke out in a 22-storey commercial building, killing 25
people, injuring at least 60 and trapping many. The building had
four upper floors constructed illegally in the Banani district of
Dhaka.
   (AP, 3/28/19)(AP, 3/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 28, Human Rights Watch
said at least 170 civilians have been killed since October in
fighting in English-speaking western Cameroon between separatists
and government forces.
   (AFP, 3/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 28, Cuba and Google
signed a deal moving the island one step closer to having a
state-of-the-art connection to the internet. They agreed to create a
seamless, cost-free connection between their two networks once Cuba
is able to physically connect to a new undersea fiber-optic cable
that would be laid sometime in the future.
   (AP, 3/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 28, A French court
granted bail to Belhassen Trabelsi, a brother-in-law of ousted
Tunisian leader Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali, who was arrested on fraud
charges this month after three years on the run.
   (AFP, 3/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 28, German automaker
Daimler and China's Geely, its largest single shareholder, said that
they are setting up a joint venture to develop and operate Daimler's
Smart compact car brand worldwide as an all-electric car.
   (AP, 3/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 28, In western
Guatemala a large truck slammed into a crowd gathered on a dark
highway, killing 18 people and leaving bodies scattered on the
roadway. The truck driver fled the scene.
   (AFP, 3/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 28, Icelandic budget
airline WOW Air collapsed under its financial problems, leading it
to ground planes and leave passengers stranded across two
continents. The airline had delivered more than a fourth of all
visitors to the nation.
   (AP, 3/28/19)(SFC, 9/2/19, p.D1)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 28, Kosovo banned all
gambling for the next decade in a bid to crack down on crime after
two casino staff were murdered last week.
   (AFP, 3/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 28, A court in the
Maldives ordered the release of former president Abdulla Yameen,
saying there was not enough reason to hold him beyond a month under
the law.
   (Reuters, 3/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 28, Norway's justice
Minister Tor Mikkel Wara submitted his resignation after his partner
was accused of setting his car on fire and other threatening acts.
   (AP, 3/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 28, In the Philippines
a rebel assault on a police station in eastern Victoria town
backfired when officers fought back and killed three insurgents and
captured three others. In the north two Muslim militants were
arrested with guns, explosives and Islamic State group-style black
flags in in Baggao town, Cagayan province, far from the traditional
territory of Muslim militants in the volatile south. Militants
Altero Bello and Greg Bello belonged to an IS-aligned jihadist group
named Syuful Khilafa Fi Luzon, which was established in 2016.
   (AP, 3/29/19)(AP, 4/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 28, Russia detained a
former cabinet minister and oil executive on suspicion of defrauding
oil giant Rosneft. Viktor Ishaev was the second former minister from
PM Dmitry Medvedev's cabinet to be detained this week.
   (Reuters, 3/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 28, Three of eleven
Saudi women's rights activists were temporarily released after 10
months in prison. The releases came a day after 11 women's rights
activists appeared before a three-judge panel in a Riyadh courtroom
and laid out their defense.
   (AFP, 3/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 28, In Siberia a
ruling by Sakha Republic head Aisen Nikolaev was made public. It
bans migrants from driving trucks or buses, producing food,
repairing vehicles and other jobs. Tensions between locals and
migrants soared this month after three Kyrgyzstan citizens were
arrest in a rape and kidnapping case.
   (AP, 3/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 28, Slovakia's
Parliament amended the country's constitution to cap the retirement
age at 64. Some women can retire up to a year and a half earlier
than that, depending on the number of children they've had.
   (AP, 3/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 28, In Somalia an
explosives-laden vehicle detonated outside a busy restaurant in
Mogadishu, killing at least 16 people. The al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab
extremist group claimed responsibility.
   (AP, 3/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 28, Ukraine's interior
minister accused both Pres. Petro Poroshenko and former PM Yulia
Tymoshenko of waging campaigns that involve bribing voters ahead of
the March 31 presidential election.
   (AP, 3/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 28, The UN Security
Council ordered countries worldwide to step up the fight against
terrorism financing by ensuring they have laws that make it a
serious crime to fund terrorist acts.
   (AFP, 3/28/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 28, Venezuela's
government said it has barred opposition leader Juan Guaido from
holding public office for 15 years citing irregularities in his
financial records. Guaido has taken 90 international trips without
accounting for the origin of an estimated $94,000 in expenses.
   (SFC, 3/28/19, p.A2)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 29, President Donald
Trump declared he is likely to shut down America's southern border
next week unless Mexican authorities immediately halt all illegal
immigration. The president, who also cut US aid to three Central
American nations whose citizens are fleeing north, emphasized "I am
not kidding around" about closing the border, even though such a
severe move could hit the economies of both countries.
   (AP, 3/30/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 29, The US urged
Venezuela's military to act to "protect" its citizens as it renewed
criticism of Russia's deployment of forces to prop up Pres. Nicolas
Maduro.
   (AFP, 3/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 29, In Alaska US
District Judge Sharon Gleason ruled that an executive order by Pres.
Donald Trump that lifted an Obama-era ban on drilling in the Arctic
Ocean and parts of the North Atlantic coast was unlawful.
   (SSFC, 3/31/19, p.A8)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 29, San
Francisco-based ride-hailing company LYFT debuted on Nasdaq at $72
per share. Shares closed up 9 percent at $78.29.
   (SFC, 3/29/19, p.D1)(SFC, 3/30/19, p.A1)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 29, In New York City
genre-bending acts Radiohead and The Cure led a British invasion
into Brooklyn to take their spots in the Rock & Roll Hall of
Fame, while pop icon Janet Jackson entered the shrine in an
induction many industry insiders consider long overdue. American
folk rock legend Stevie Nicks became the first woman inducted twice.
Heavy metal group Def Leppard, pop experimentalists Roxy Music and
English psychedelic rock harmonists The Zombies rounded out the
five-strong class of British inductees.
   (AFP, 3/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 29, A US federal judge
in North Carolina ruled that a charter school promoting traditional
values is engaging in unconstitutional sex discrimination by
requiring girls to wear skirts.
   (SFC, 3/30/19, p.A6)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 29, South Carolina
Univ. student Samantha Josephson (21) was last seen early today as
she got into a car she mistook for an Uber. Her body was found in a
wooded area in Clarendon County. Nathaniel Rowland (24) was arrested
the next day and faced kidnapping and murder charges.
   (SFC, 4/1/19, p.A6)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 29, An Afghan official
says at least 16 people have been killed and nine injured as heavy
rains and flooding swept through the country's northern and western
provinces over the past two days.
   (AP, 3/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 29, Algerian police
used tear gas and water cannon to try to disperse hundreds of
thousands of demonstrators demanding the resignation of Pres.
Abdelaziz Bouteflika days after the army called for his removal to
end weeks of political crisis.
   (Reuters, 3/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 29, Bosnia's top court
upheld a ban on a controversial Serb holiday that is seen as
discriminatory to the country's Muslims and Croats. Bosnian Serbs
criticized the ruling as political.
   (AP, 3/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 29, Thousands of
people opposed to Britain delaying its departure from the European
Union marched through central London as the government scrambled to
salvage its Brexit plan.
   (Reuters, 3/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 29, Burundi banned the
BBC and indefinitely suspended Voice of America, moves that
campaigners and the international broadcasters described as a blow
to press freedom. Burundi's regulator also banned journalists from
working for either organization. Burundi ranks 159th out of 180
countries on the World Press Freedom Index 2018.
   (Reuters, 3/30/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 29, In China a notice
posted on the official website of the Guangzhou Department of Ethnic
and Religious Affairs said up to 10,000 yuan ($15,000) would be paid
for verified information and assistance in hunting down key members
and leaders of illegal foreign religious groups and revealing their
structures.
   (AP, 3/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 29, Chinese and US
negotiators adjourned trade talks in Beijing with US Treasury
Secretary Steven Mnuchin saying they had been "constructive".
   (AP, 3/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 29, Chinese tech giant
Huawei's deputy chairman defended its commitment to security after a
stinging British government report added to Western pressure on the
company by accusing it of failing to repair dangerous flaws in its
telecom technology.
   (AP, 3/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 29, Egypt released
Alaa Abdel Fattah, a blogger and software engineer, after he spent
five years in jail. Abdel Fattah was jailed for protesting without
permission in breach of a 2013 law that rights groups say
effectively bans protests. Fattah is required to spend his nights at
a police station for the next five years despite his release.
   (Reuters, 3/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 29, The European
Commission said a no-deal Brexit on April 12 was now "likely" after
UK parliament rejected for the third time British PM Theresa May's
divorce deal with the European Union.
   (Reuters, 3/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 29, European Union
countries decided to extend the mandate of a naval mission hunting
smugglers in the Mediterranean Sea, but took the unusual step of
restricting the operation by refusing to allow it to deploy any
ships, in an effort to ease tensions with Italy's anti-migrant
government.
   (AP, 3/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 29, The European
Commission criticized Romania for backsliding on the rule of law and
called on Bucharest to treat fairly Laura Kovesi, a candidate to
become the bloc's first-ever chief prosecutor.
   (Reuters, 3/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 29, In France Jawad
Bendaoud was convicted on appeal of hiding Islamic State jihadist
Abdelhamid Abaaoud and his accomplice Chakib Akrouh, who holed up
after the November 13, 2015, attacks in Bendaoud's apartment in the
Paris suburb of Saint-Denis. He was sentenced to four years in
prison.
   (AFP, 3/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 29, In Germany
thousands of students skipped school in Berlin as part of a growing
worldwide youth movement demanding faster action against climate
change. Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg, who inspired the protests
in Germany and elsewhere by staging weekly "school strikes,"
headlined the demonstration.
   (AP, 3/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 29, Greece's
parliament approved a bill to protect borrowers from foreclosures on
their primary homes after tense negotiations with the country's
international creditors.
   (Reuters, 3/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 29, Thousands of
Jordanians protested against the US decision to recognize Israeli
sovereignty over the Golan Heights and against the escalation of
hostilities between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
   (AP, 3/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 29, In Mozambique the
number of confirmed cases of cholera in the cyclone-hit port city of
Beira jumped from five to 138, as government and aid agencies
battled to contain the spread of disease among the tens of thousands
of victims of the storm.
   (Reuters, 3/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 29, The government of
Nicaragua pledged to restore protest and press freedom rights while
disarming paramilitaries under a deal reached today, after a
year-long political upheaval.
   (AFP, 3/30/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 29, Northern Ireland's
small but powerful Democratic Unionist Party crushed PM Theresa
May's hopes of getting parliament to vote for her Brexit divorce
deal on a third attempt.
   (AFP, 3/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 29, Peruvian police
freed Gregorio Rojas, the leader of an indigenous community that has
blocked roads to a major Chinese-run copper mine. Hours later they
arrested his second-in-command, accusing him of running over police
officers while driving drunk.
   (Reuters, 3/30/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 29, In the Philippines
the rebel New People's Army marked a half a century after its
founding with an attack on a police patrol in northern Mountain
Province that killed a policeman.
   (AP, 3/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 29, In the Philippines
the head of Rappler Inc., an online news site that has been critical
of President Rodrigo Duterte, was arrested for the second time in
two months, this time over a ban on foreign ownership of news media.
Maria Ressa later posted bail at a regional trial court.
   (AP, 3/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 29, Slovakia's
lawmakers approved a resolution to reject an international treaty on
women's rights. Opponents of the 2011 Istanbul Convention charged
that some provisions would violate the Slovak constitution — for
example because the constitution defines marriage as a union of a
man and a woman.
   (AP, 3/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 29, A court in
Slovenia sentenced right-wing politician Andrej Sisko to eight
months in prison for organizing a self-style militia that was filmed
posing with weapons like axes and rifles.
   (AP, 3/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 29, Thailand's
Election Commission, facing widespread criticism for inconsistent
and delayed vote totals from the March 24 general election, said
computer software was partly to blame.
   (AP, 3/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 29, In Turkey five
Afghan workers were killed and eleven others were injured as a
result of a fire in an abandoned three-story building in Ankara.
   (Reuters, 3/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 29, Pope Francis
enacted sweeping new legislation to protect children from sexual
abuse within the Vatican and other Holy See institutions in Rome, as
well as by its diplomatic corps worldwide.
   (Reuters, 3/29/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, Cities around the
world marked Earth Hour this night by turning off the lights in a
call for global action on climate change. Beginning in Sydney in
2007, Earth Hour has spread to more than 180 countries, with tens of
millions of people joining in. The UN headquarters in New York, the
pyramids of Egypt and Rio's Christ the Redeemer statue were among
top world monuments plunged into darkness for an hour to put the
spotlight on climate change and its impact on the planet.
   (AP, 3/30/19)(AFP, 3/31/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, The US government
cut aid to El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras after President
Donald Trump blasted the Central American countries for sending
migrants to the United States and threatened to shutter the
US-Mexico border.
   (Reuters, 3/31/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, In Florida Yujing
Zhang (32), a Chinese woman, was held on charges of illegal entering
and lying to US agents. Court documents later alleged she told a
Secret Service agent she was a Mar-a-Lago member there to use the
pool.
   (AP, 4/4/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, Illinois state
Trooper Gerald Ellis (36) was killed when a wrong-way vehicle struck
his squad car in Green Oaks. The driver of the other vehicle was
also killed.
   (SSFC, 3/31/19, p.A7)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, Billy Adams (79),
Hall of Fame pioneer of rockabilly music, died in Westmoreland,
Tenn. His hits included "Rock, Pretty Mama" (1957).
   (SFC, 4/4/19, p.C4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, An Afghan
government official said flash floods have killed at least 32 people
across seven western provinces, destroyed homes and swept through
makeshift shelters that housed displaced families.
   (Reuters, 3/30/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, In Afghanistan a
Taliban assault on a police checkpoint led to the deaths of four
students in eastern Ghazni province. 17 others, including 15
students and two teachers, were wounded when an explosion, likely
caused by rocket fire, hit the school in Andar district. Vice
president, Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum escaped unharmed after Taliban
ambushed his convoy while traveling form northern Balkh to
neighboring Zawzjan province. A security guard in the convoy was
killed, and two others wounded in the attack.
   (AP, 3/30/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, In Australia two
Japanese teenagers were found dead in Lake McKenzie after being
reported missing from a school tour.
   (AP, 3/30/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, China's Customs
Administration confiscated nearly 7.5 tons (6,803 kg) of ivory.
Since the start of the year, customs officers have seized a total of
8.5 tons (7,711 kg) of ivory products through 53 investigations.
   (AP, 4/15/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, Egypt President
Abdel Fattah el-Sissi said he has raised the minimum wage to 2,000
Egyptian pounds ($115.74) per month from 1,200 ($69.27).
   (AP, 3/30/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, An Egyptian court
sentenced 18 suspected militants to life in prison for allegedly
forming a "terrorist cell" affiliated with the Islamic State group.
The Cairo criminal court sentenced another 12 defendants to 10 to 15
years on charges that include plotting attacks on the country's
Christian minority in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria.
   (AP, 3/30/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, French "yellow
vests" demonstrators staged their 20th week of anti-government
protests despite bans in hotspot areas, as banks called for an end
to violence against branches, cash machines and personnel.
   (AFP, 3/30/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, Authorities in
Iran worked to evacuate villages threatened by flooding in
southwestern areas as forecasters predicted more of the heavy rains
that have killed at least 45 people this week.
   (Reuters, 3/30/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, Israeli troops
shot and killed a Palestinian man near the perimeter fence early
today hours before a planned mass rally. Tens of thousands of
Palestinians rallied in heavy rain at the Israel-Gaza border to mark
the first anniversary of a new wave of protests, facing off against
Israeli tanks and troops massed on the fortified frontier. Four
Palestinians were killed at the Israel-Gaza border on the first
anniversary of the 'Great March of Return' demonstrations.
   (AP, 3/30/19)(Reuters, 3/30/19)(Reuters, 3/31/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, In Italy the
US-based International Organization for the Family began a 2-day
congress in Verona. The organization defines family as strictly
centering around a mother and father. A coalition of civic groups
mobilized against what they see as a counter-reform movement to
limit LGBT and women's rights.
   (AP, 3/30/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, Mozambique
authorities said cholera cases among cyclone survivors have jumped
to 271, a figure that nearly doubled from the previous day.
   (AP, 3/30/19)  Â
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, In Nicaragua at
least four people were hurt and 10 detained during a demonstration
calling for the release of prisoners, a day after President Daniel
Ortega's government and the opposition reached an agreement to
restore protest and press freedom rights while disarming
paramilitaries.
   (AFP, 3/31/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, In Pakistan a bus
hit a rickshaw killing six schoolgirls and driver in the eastern
Bhakkar district of Lahore.
   (AP, 3/30/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, Pakistani
journalist Matloob Musavi was forcibly taken by masked men in
private and police vehicles in Karachi.
   (AP, 3/30/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, Philippine police
killed 14 suspected communist rebels after they opened fire during
raids in a central province. Rights groups countered that the men
were farmers and the latest victims of extrajudicial killings.
   (AP, 3/31/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, Slovakia voted in
an election dominated by calls for change, with anti-corruption
activist Zuzana Caputova likely to be chosen as its first female
president a year after a journalist's murder sparked mass
anti-government protests.
   (AFP, 3/30/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, In Spain police in
Barcelona arrested seven people during clashes with radical Catalan
separatists protesting against a political rally by Vox, a new
far-right party.
   (AP, 3/30/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, Thailand's King
Maha Vajiralongkorn revoked royal decorations that had been awarded
to ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in a document
published in the royal gazette. The royal command was for Thaksin's
2008 corruption conviction and for fleeing the country to escape a
two-year prison sentence.
   (AP, 3/30/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, In Turkey the
pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party, or HDP, said in a statement
that 53 people were detained in Istanbul overnight in the lead-up to
the March 31 municipal elections.
   (AP, 3/30/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, United Nations
officials said at least 746 people have been reported killed in
Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe since Cyclone Idai landed on March
14.
   (Reuters, 3/30/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, Pope Francis
started a two-day visit to Morocco. He said that problems of
migration would never be resolved by physical barriers but instead
required social justice and correcting the world's economic
imbalances. He also backed Moroccan King Mohammed VI's efforts to
spread a moderate form of Islam that promotes inter-religious
dialogue and rejects any form of terrorism or violence in God's
name.
   (Reuters, 3/30/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, In southern
California rapper Nipsey Hussle (33) (born as Ermias Asghedom) was
shot and killed outside his clothing store in South Los Angeles. Two
other people were wounded. The suspected shooter fled the scene. On
April 2 police arrested suspect Eric Holder (29) in Bellflower.
   (SFC, 4/1/19, p.A6)(SFC, 4/3/19, p.A7)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, In Florida Mexican
soap opera actor Pablo Lyle (32) punched Juan Ricardo Hernandez (63)
in a road rage confrontation. Lyle initially faced only a battery
charge, but Hernandez later died in a hospital and Lyle was charged
with manslaughter.
   (AP, 5/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, A top Algerian
businessman, Ali Haddad, was arrested overnight at an Algerian
border post as he was apparently trying to go to Tunisia amid
political crisis in the country. Haddad, long a backer of President
Abdelaziz Bouteflika, resigned this week as head of Algeria's
Business Forum.
   (AP, 3/31/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, Police in
Bangladesh arrested the F.R. Tower's owners Tasvir-ul-Islam and
S.M.H.I. Faruque overnight in Dhaka and charged them with negligence
and violations of a building code that resulted in the deaths of 26
people.
   (AP, 3/31/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, Brazil said it had
a opened a new diplomatic office in Jerusalem that would serve as
part of its embassy to Israel, which is located in Tel Aviv.
   (Reuters, 3/31/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, In Brazil Rio de
Janeiro Gov. Wilson Witzel said in an interview that snipers were
already operating in the state. He said he would empower policemen
to shoot down any criminal seen carrying a rifle.
   (AP, 4/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, The Canadian
Women's Hockey League said it will discontinue operations on May 1.
The CWHL was founded in 2007 with a mandate to increase interest in
women's hockey.
   (AP, 3/31/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, In eastern China
at least seven people were killed and five injured when a container
containing scrap metal exploded in the latest in a series of
industrial accidents.
   (AP, 3/31/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, In China a fire
high in the mountains of western Sichuan province killed 30
firefighters and others.
   (AP, 4/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, Police in
Colombia's second-largest city said they have arrested Thomas Renno
of California for allegedly offering cash over Facebook to girls as
young as 13 in exchange for sexual acts.
   (AP, 3/31/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, In northeastern
Congo DRC voters in Beni and Butembo, towns ravaged by conflict and
an Ebola epidemic, took part in long-delayed elections. At stake
were 15 seats in the lower house of parliament, which counts 500
lawmakers.
   (AFP, 3/31/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, In Germany Russian
airline S7 Group co-owner Natalia Fileva was aboard a single-engine,
six-seat Epic LT aircraft that crashed and burned in a field as it
approached the small airport at the town of Egelsbach near
Frankfurt. Three bodies were recovered in the crash.
   (AP, 4/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, Fashion magazine
Vogue hit the newsstands in Greece, relaunched after a seven-year
absence as publishers bet that the country's economic recovery after
a debt crisis will revive an appetite for glossy fashion and
lifestyle prints.
   (AP, 3/31/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, Thousands of
protesters hit the streets of Hong Kong to demonstrate against a new
extradition proposal. Hong Kong's government has recently announced
plans to overhaul its extradition rules, allowing the transfer of
fugitives with Taiwan, Macau and mainland China on a "case-basis"
for the first time.
   (Reuters, 3/31/19)(AFP, 4/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, It was reported
that air quality in Indonesia has deteriorated from among the
cleanest in the world to one of the most polluted over the past two
decades. A study blamed coal-fired power stations, burning land for
agriculture and rising car ownership.
   (SSFC, 3/31/19, p.A4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, Iranian media said
a man has shot dead seven members of his wife's family in the
southwestern city of Dezful.
   (AP, 3/31/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, Israel's PM
Benjamin Netanyahu warmly received President Jair Bolsonaro, on the
Brazilian leader's first state visit to Israel.
   (AP, 3/31/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, Israel reopened
its commercial crossing with the Gaza Strip but kept military
reinforcements deployed on the volatile frontier, a day after a
smaller than expected Palestinian protest along the border.
Militants fired five rockets from Gaza into Israel early today.
   (Reuters, 3/31/19)(AP, 3/31/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, In Italy several
tens of thousands of people marched in support of the
ultra-Conservative World Congress of Families, on the final day of
their conference in Verona.
   (AFP, 3/31/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, In Morocco Pope
Francis told Catholic priests and sisters that even though they are
few in number, they shouldn't seek to convert others to Christianity
but rather engage in dialogue and charity.
   (AP, 3/31/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, In southern Nepal
a powerful rainstorm killed at least 28 people and injured hundreds
in a farming region in Bara and Parsa districts.
   (AP, 4/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, Catholic priests
in Poland burned books they say are sacrilegious, including tomes
from British author J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series of fantasy
novels. Rev. Rafal Jarosiewicz apologized on April 2, saying the
ritual was not intended to condemn specific authors, religions or
social groups.
   (AFP, 4/1/19)(AP, 4/3/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, Somalia's
al-Shabab Islamic extremist group said it has executed four men
accused of spying for the British, Djibouti and Somali intelligence
agencies.
   (AP, 3/31/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, In Spain at least
50,000 people took to the streets of Madrid to draw attention to the
emptying of the countryside, a growing issue for rural voters with
less than a month to go before general elections.
   (AFP, 3/31/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, Sudanese security
forces fired tear gas at scores of protesters as they defied a
nationwide state of emergency to demonstrate in Khartoum, its twin
city Omdurman and other cities across the country.
   (AFP, 3/31/19)(AP, 4/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, In northwest Syria
one Turkish soldier was killed and another was wounded in a mortar
attack on their position. Turkey's military launched retaliatory
fire. Turkey said the attack was carried out by the Kurdish YPG
militia in the Afrin region.
   (Reuters, 3/31/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, Taiwan condemned
what it called a "provocative" move by China after two Chinese
fighter jets crossed a maritime border separating the two sides amid
growing friction between Taipei and Beijing.
   (Reuters, 3/31/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, Thai demonstrators
protested against alleged cheating in the junta-ruled kingdom's
first election since a 2014 coup, a week after the controversial
poll sowed confusion over the ballot results.
   (AFP, 3/31/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, In Tunisia Arab
leaders, long divided by regional rivalries, condemned a US decision
to recognize Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights and said
Middle East stability depended on creating an Palestinian state.
   (Reuters, 3/31/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, Turkey voted in
local elections in a test for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, with
his ruling party fighting to keep hold of the country's two key
cities as an economic slowdown takes hold. In eastern Turkey an
election observer and another man were killed in a fight at a
school-based polling station. Pres. Erdogan's AKP suffered a major
upset in the ballot after results showed they had lost not only the
capital Ankara and also the country's economic hub Istanbul.
   (AFP, 3/31/19)(AFP, 4/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, Voters in Ukraine
cast ballots in a presidential election. Opinion polls have
indicated that Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who stars in a TV sitcom about a
teacher who becomes president after a video of him denouncing
corruption goes viral, was leading a field of 39 candidates. Police
say they have received more than 1,600 complaints about electoral
violations in the presidential election. Zelenskiy took 30 percent
support in the vote, while President Petro Poroshenko was a distant
second with about 16 percent. The top two candidates advance to a
runoff on April 21.
   (AP, 3/31/19)(AP, 4/1/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, Ukraine police
seized heroin worth about $60 million, over half a ton of the
powder, in raids in the country's center and west, describing it as
the biggest haul they had ever seen.
   (AFP, 3/31/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, Venezuela's Pres.
Nicolas Maduro announced a 30-day plan to ration electricity
following nationwide power cuts.
   (SFC, 4/1/19, p.A4)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar, The US published a
National Space Weather Strategy and Action Plan.
   (https://tinyurl.com/yy7qdl5x)(Econ., 6/27/20,
p.15)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar, The US National
Marine Fisheries Service and the Pacific Fishery Management Council
said a ban on sardine fishing from Mexico to the Canadian border
will go into effect on July 1 for a fifth straight year due to a
dramatic decline in the stock. They said the sardine population has
plummeted 98.5 percent since 2006.
   (SFC, 3/27/19, p.A7)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar, Arizona banned
prisoners from reading "Chokehold: Policing Black Men," by Paul
Butler, a former federal prosecutor. The book discusses the impact
of the criminal justice system on black men. In May the American
Civil Liberties Union called on the Arizona Dept. of Corrections to
rescind the ban.
   (SFC, 5/22/19, p.A6)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar, Canada's Quebec
province introduced Bill 21, a measure that would prohibit civil
servants, teachers, nurses, bus drivers, lawyers and other people
who interact with the public from wearing religious symbols while at
work.
   (AP, 4/13/19)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar, In Ecuador the
government of Lenin Moreno signed a $4.2 billion, 3-year agreement
with the IMF aimed at softening the effects of deficit cutting and
making the economy more competitive.
   (Econ., 7/4/20, p.27)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar, In Egypt university
teacher Manar Adel Abu el-Naga, her husband Omar Abdelhamid Abu
el-Naga and their one-year-old son were taken by security agents
from their home in Alexandria. Their whereabouts remained unknown
until she appeared in February, 2021, before Egypt’s Supreme State
Security prosecutors, who ordered her pre-trial detention over
terror charges. Nothing was publicly said about her husband’s
whereabouts.
   (AP, 3/4/21)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar, In Guinea-Bissau
nearly 800kg of drugs were found hidden in the false bottom of a
Senegalese-registered truck loaded with frozen fish in Safim town,
some 15km (nine miles) from the capital.
   (BBC, 5/28/20)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar, In Norway the
85.4-meter-tall Mjostarnet building, officially the world's tallest
timber building, was completed.
  Â
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mj%C3%B8st%C3%A5rnet)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar, A plot to unseat
Venezuela's government quickly crumbled when a volunteer combatant
was arrested after sneaking across the border into Venezuela from
Colombia. Shortly after, Colombian police stopped a truck
transporting a cache of brand new weapons and tactical equipment
worth around $150,000, including spotting scopes, night vision
goggles, two-way radios and 26 American-made assault rifles with the
serial numbers rubbed off. The plan was led by Jordan Goudreau, an
American citizen and three-time Bronze Star recipient for bravery in
Iraq and Afghanistan.
   (AP, 5/1/20)
Go to April
2019
Go toÂ
http://www.timelinesdb.com
End of file