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.

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.

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.”

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.

Avoiding the mistake of overconfidence

For weeks, Iraqi officials have sounded optimistic about the battle for Mosul, which is Iraq’s second-largest city. On Monday, they came very close to their own But by Tuesday, those troops were retreating in disorder.

Groundhog wrong? Winter forecast to go out like a lion

It’s frigidly cold in parts of Canada this weekend and the winter weather is expected to continue, with southern Ontario on track to receive an influx of snow on Monday. The mercury in the nation’s capital could dip down past -26 C overnight, feeling like -33 C with the wind chill, according to Environment Canada.

With U.S. troops, Syria confident it can capture ISIS ‘capital’

This frame grab from a video provided by the Syria Democratic Forces , shows fighters from the SDF opening fire on an Islamic State group’s position, in Raqqa’s eastern countryside, Syria, Monday, March 6, 2017. The main U.S.-backed force fighting the Islamic State group in Syria has enough fighters to capture the extremists’ de facto capital of Raqqa north of the country at a time when U.S. troops are playing a bigger role on the ground in the battle to conquer the city, a spokeswoman for the force said Friday, March 10, 2017.

PA officials: Abbas is a ‘peace partner’

Palestinian Authority officials claimed on Saturday night that PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas’s conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday refutes Israel’s claim that Abbas isn’t a partner for peace. During Friday’s conversation, the first between Trump and Abbas since Trump took office, the President invited the PA leader to the White House.

The Latest: Rotterdam mayor issues emergency order in spat

The Dutch government on Saturday withdrew landing permission for the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu’s aircraft, draw… . The Foreign Minister of Turkey Mevlut Cavusoglu speaks during a visit of the booth of Turkey at the tourism fair ITB in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, March 8, 2017.

City revels in Holi spirit

Guwahati, March 11: The spirit of Holi, the festival of colours, remains undeterred in the city despite a forecast of heavy rain and thundersqualls over the next two days. The Borjhar-based Regional Meteorological Centre has issued warnings for tomorrow.

Viva Aztlan Festival prepares for big finale Saturday night

Following a day of competition, the Viva Aztlan Festival is preparing for a performance of the previous year’s “Best of Festival” winner, Austin High’s Ballet Folklorico, along with a special guest from Veracruz, Mexico, harpist, Salvador Pena Herrera. Organizer, Zenaida Aguero-Rayes says the best part of the day’s events has to do with more than competition.

Won’t fight elections ever again: Sharmila

Imphal, March 11: “None of the above” or NOTA in common Indian electoral parlance, could today assume a new meaning for Irom Sharmila, Manipur’s most notable rights crusader. The woman who had the world stand by her at her feeblest, when she sat fasting and force-fed through a Ryles tube in a makeshift hospital jail for nearly 16 years, today lost the state elections from Thoubal, 30km south of Imphal.

What Happens if U.S. Catches Baghdadi?By John Batchelor

ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is reportedly on the move after coalition forces set siege to Mosul, raising the question what the U.S. should do if it ever catches him. , is no longer camped in the besieged Mosul and is somewhere along the Syrian border “between al Hajinn in Syria and al Ba’aaj in Iraq.”

Savannah celebrates 26th annual Tara Feis

Conrad Hartz form Beaufort entertained the crowd with his puppets at the Tara Feis Irish Celebration at Emmet Park on Saturday March 11, 2017. Abbie Smith, 2, from Savannah gets her face painted at the Tara Feis Irish Celebration at Emmet Park on Saturday March 11, 2017 Snowcones were a popular treat at the Tara Feis Irish Celebration Saturday in Emmet Park.

Our Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Controversy

Following an executive order on immigration made at the beginning of the year, by the new US President, Donald Trump, the country’s immigration service allegedly became more aggressive creating anxiety for some travellers. Initially, Nigerians believed they were not likely to be hurt by the plan not just because its enforcement was blocked by federal courts but because the revised order did not include Nigeria among the seven countries on the target list.