Month: March 2017

Alibaba Group and Government of Denmark …

In a ceremony at Alibaba’s headquarters in Hangzhou today, Alibaba Group Executive Vice-Chairman Joseph Tsai and Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs Anders Samuelsen witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding to increase exports from Denmark to China and promote Denmark as a tourist destination of choice for Chinese travelers. The event saw the unveiling of the new Denmark Pavilion on Alibaba’s Tmall Global imported goods marketplace, enabling Danish producers of fashion, lifestyle, home and food products to reach the over 440 million annual active buyers on Alibaba’s e-commerce platforms, and introduces Chinese consumers to high quality, unique products from Denmark.

Libya’s deepening split finds battleground at oil terminals

Hundreds if not thousands of armed men are converging on Libya’s main oil shipping terminals, which the rival powers in the country’s east and west are fighting to control in a battle being watched by global oil markets. The struggle for the Ras Lanuf refinery and nearby Sidr depot threatens to spiral into an all-out conflict between east and west.

German to deport alleged attacker to Tunisia

A Tunisian man, who allegedly was involved in an attack on the Bardo National Museum that killed more than 20 people in Tunis in 2015, can be deported from Germany. German public broadcaster ARD reported Sunday that German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere confirmed Tunisia had sent the documents needed to deport him.

Grand jury indicts Ohio man accused of fatally shooting 3

Montgomery County Prosecutor Mat Heck says the charges against 61-year-old Muhammad S. Ali carry the possibility of a death sentence if Ali is convicted. Authorities say Ali took a gun to a Dayton home in August 2016 and killed his former girlfriend 53-year-old Tammy Cox; her son, 25-year-old Michael Cox; and 74-year-old Jasper Taylor, who was in the house at the time.

Protestant leader may step aside for new Belfast unity deal

The senior Protestant politician in Northern Ireland left the door open Sunday for stepping aside as part of a potential deal to revive the British territory’s unity government with Catholics. Democratic Unionist leader Arlene Foster said she asserted no personal claim to be “first minister,” the top post that she held before January’s collapse of power-sharing.

Dutch PM: Red line drawn because of Turkey’s ‘blackmail’

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte says he was forced to keep two Turkish ministers from traveling within the Netherlands and to bar them from campaigning among Turkish voters because Ankara had threatened sanctions against his government. The prime minister says he was shocked to see one of the ministers try to get to a Rotterdam rally by car after the government had made clear she was not welcome.

Syrian alliance of Islamist factions says responsible for twin Damascus bombings

A Syrian alliance of Islamist jihadist groups known Tahrir al Sham said on Sunday it was responsible for two suicide attacks in the capital Damascus that killed and injured dozens of Shi’ite visitors. In a statement, the group said the attack targeted “Iranian militias” and pro-government defence militias in revenge for what it said was Iran’s role in supporting President Bashar al Assad’s “tyrannical rule,” holding them responsible for “killing and displacing” Syrians.

Garbage dump landslide kills 35 in Ethiopian capital

A landslide at a huge garbage dump on the outskirts of the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa killed 35 people who were searching for food and other goods there, an official said on Sunday. Hundreds of people rely on the 50-year-old Reppi dump, the city’s only landfill site, to survive.

The Latest: Turkish minister attends France campaign rally

Turkey’s top diplomat has drawn more than a hundred people at a campaign gathering in the northern French city of Metz amid a diplomatic spat with the Netherlands. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu was in France Sunday to whip up support for controversial constitutional reforms to expand the powers of the Turkish presidency.

Al-Qaida-linked group claims deadly attack in Syrian capital

An al-Qaida-linked group has claimed responsibility for twin blasts near holy shrines frequented by Shiites in the Syrian capital Damascus that killed at least 40 people. The Levant Liberation Committee said in a statement Sunday that the attack was carried by two of its suicide attackers, claiming that they targeted pro-Iranian and pro-government militiamen.

Strike on Southern services on March 13

The rail operator says many services are expected to run as normal during the latest industrial action by RMT members, but Southern has confirmed that certain services will not be running at all. * No Rye to Ashford International shuttle services during the morning and evening peaks.

Marlon Samuels wishes to join Pakistan Army

Karachi [Pakistan], Mar. 12 : West Indies batting star Marlon Samuels, who recently played the Pakistan Super League final in Lahore, has expressed his desire to join the Pakistan Army. Samuels, who was part of the PSL champions Peshawar Zalmi, has also thanked the country’s administration for the ‘top class’ security arrangements put in place in Lahore for the summit clash.

Murray suffers shocking second-round exit to qualifier at Indian Wells

Johannesburg [South Africa], Mar. 12 : World No.1 Andy Murray on Sunday suffered a major setback as he was crashed out of the ongoing ATP Indian Wells Masters after getting defeated from Canadian qualifier Vasek Pospisil in straight sets. Pospisil, ranked 129th in the world, beat Murray 6-4, 7-6 in the second round contest that lasted for almost two hours.

Filmart: Chinese Actors Say Farewell to Hollywood

No longer content to play underdeveloped roles in overstuffed tentpoles, China’s screen talents are turning down L.A. offers in search of bigger paydays, greater exposure and meatier roles at home. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Hong Kong’s A-list talent weren’t considered true superstars until they had made their mark in Hollywood.

Qatar stock index gains 17.64 points

Doha: Qatar Stock Exchange index gained 17.64 points when the bourse closed trading at 10,484.87 points Sunday. The volume of shares traded decreased to 9,271,607 from 9,970,846 on Thursday and the value of shares increased QR352,696,354.62 from QR337,205,777.58 on Thursday.

Jordan releases soldier who killed 7 Israeli girls in 1997

In this Sunday, March 16, 1997 file photo, King Hussein of Jordan shakes the hand of members of the Badayev family in Beit Shemesh who are in mourning after their daughter Shiri was killed by a Jordanian soldier. King Hussein came to Israel to offer condolences to the seven families who had lost their daughters in an attack on a class trip.

Nigerian police say 2 teenage suicide bombers shot dead

Police in Nigeria say two teenage female suicide bombers have been shot dead by troops as they tried to sneak into the northeastern city of Maiduguri. Borno State police spokesman Victor Isuku says the two were wearing explosive vests under their clothes when they were shot dead Saturday night.

Panthers rebound in emphatic style in Australia’s NRL

Beaten badly in their opening match of the National Rugby League season, the Penrith Panthers bounced back in the second round with a similarly dominating performance over the favoured Wests Tigers. Center Dean Whare scored a pair of tries as the Panthers beat Wests 36-2, erasing some of the memories of the team’s 42-10 first-round loss to the St. George Illawarra Dragons.

Despite poaching, South Africa plans for rhino horn trade

South Africa’s government is moving ahead with plans to allow a domestic trade and limited export of rhino horns, alarming many international conservationists who believe rhinos will be more vulnerable to poachers who have killed record numbers in the past decade. Draft regulations would allow a foreigner with permits to export “for personal purposes” a maximum of two rhino horns.

Ousted South Korean president prepares to return home

In this Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017, file photo, a South Korean national flag with a picture of impeached South Korean President Park Geun-hye is seen during a rally opposing her impeachment in Seoul, South Korea. Hundreds of police officers, reporters and supporters of the ousted president have gathered near her Seoul home in anticipation of her return from the presidential palace.

Turkey-Dutch relations take dip after Turkish visits banned

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands – The escalating dispute between Turkey and the Netherlands spilled over into Sunday, with a Turkish minister unable to enter her consulate after the Dutch had already blocked a visit by the foreign minister, prompting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to call the Dutch fascists and “Nazi remnants.”