Israel election: Netanyahu seeks new term in tight race
- 1 hour ago
Polls have opened in Israel in what is expected to be a close contest between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's party and a centre-left alliance.
The centre-left Zionist Union promises to repair relations with Palestinians and the international community.
Mr Netanyahu, whose party has trailed in opinion polls, vowed on Monday not to allow the creation of a Palestinian state if he wins a fourth term.
The economy and living standards have emerged as key issues.
Polls opened at 07:00 (05:00 GMT) and are due to close at 22:00.
Results could be declared soon afterwards, but a lengthy period of negotiations over the formation of the next coalition government may follow.
By Mark Lowen, BBC News, Jerusalem
Under a sunny Jerusalem sky, voters have been turning out at a polling station surrounded by election posters, party volunteers on hand for a last-minute push. Among them is the banner of Likud, the right-wing party of Benjamin Netanyahu, with the slogan "It's us or them… only Likud".
Burma jails New Zealand bar manager over 'insulting' Buddha images
Phil Blackwood and two Burmese colleagues get two-and-a-half year sentences over use of psychedelic image of Buddha wearing headphones to promote bar
A Burma court has jailed a New Zealand bar manager and two Burmese colleagues for two-and-a-half years for insulting religion by using a psychedelic image of Buddha wearing headphones to promote their bar.
The case comes amid a surge in Buddhist nationalism in Burma with monks forming groups aimed at promoting the country’s Buddhist character.
New Zealander Phil Blackwood, bar manager Htut Ko Ko Lwin and bar owner Tun Thurein had all pleaded not guilty. They were sentenced to jail with labour, the court said on Tuesday.
Rights groups condemned the verdict as an assault on freedom of expression and called for the trio’s release.
French police on trial for negligence in deaths of young immigrants
Electrocution in 2005 of two immigrant teenagers led to major riots in Paris
Lara Marlowe
If policeman Sébastien Gaillemin had cried out a warning to Bouna Traoré (15) and Zyed Benna(17) on that evening in the autumn of 2005, telling them they were in danger of electrocution, the immigrant teenagers might have reached adulthood.
If policewoman Stéphanie Klein had had the presence of mind to ring the electricity company EDF when Gaillemin called in to say he thought the youths were hiding in a power substation, the young men known throughout France simply as “Bouna and Zyed” might be alive today.
That is the contention of nine civil plaintiffs and the court of cassation, which sent Gaillemin and Klein to trial in Rennes this week on charges of failing to assist persons in danger. If convicted, they risk up to five years in prison and a €75,000 fine.
Boko Haram ousted from key Nigerian cities
Nigeria's army has said its troops have ousted Islamist group Boko Haram from the northeastern state of Yobe. The military has also reclaimed Bama, close to the Borno state capital of Maiduguri.
In a tweet on Monday, Nigerian defense spokesman Chris Olukolade said the town of Goniri in Yobe state had been liberated from the terrorist group.
"That was the last stronghold of terrorists in Yobe... #YobeIsFree," Olukolade wrote.
In a later tweet, the defense spokesman also confirmed that the Nigerian military had claimed victory in Bama.
"Nigerian troops have this afternoon routed terrorists from #Bama in #Borno state. Mopping up operation is ongoing," he tweeted.
In an official statement, Olukolade said the recapture of Bama had inflicted "massive" casualties on the militants.
Bama, the second-biggest town in the troubled Borno state, was seized by Boko Haram in early September during the rapid capture of several towns and villages in northeastern states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe. The Islamists continued to widen their attacks into neighboring Chad, Cameroon and Niger.
Islamic State hostage James Foley gave up chance to flee
March 17, 2015 - 11:15AM
Colin Freeman
James Foley, the American journalist kidnapped and beheaded by the so-called Islamic State in Syria, sacrificed a chance to escape because he did not want to leave his British colleagueJohn Cantlie behind, a fellow hostage has revealed.
Javier Espinosa, who was held with both men by the gang of British jihadists known as "The Beatles", disclosed how Foley and Cantlie twice attempted to escape from their makeshift prison.
On the second occasion, after both men had already freed themselves of their shackles, Foley had clambered over a wall and was waiting for Cantlie to follow when they were spotted by a guard. Rather than seizing the chance to flee alone, Foley chose to give himself up.
Southeast Asia
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By Diana Mendoza
MANILA - Filipino Catholic priest and activist Reverend Father Robert Reyes, dubbed by media as the "running priest", joined a protest of environmental and public health activists last week by running along the streets of the Makati Business District, the Philippines' financial capital, to urge the government to immediately re-export the 50 Canadian containers filled with hazardous wastes that have been in the Port of Manila for 600 days now.
Along with the groups BAN Toxics, Ecowaste Coalition and Greenpeace, Reyes staged BasuRUN, a name derived from the Filipino word basura, which means trash or waste.
"These toxic wastes are the worst forms of expressing friendship
between our two countries," said the politically active and socially conscious Reyes. Although praised by activists but criticized by the Filipino Catholic bishops, Reyes' latest run, which ended across the Canadian Embassy located in the financial district, added another voice to the call for Canada to take responsibility for its "overstaying" toxic shipment in the Philippines.
Along with the groups BAN Toxics, Ecowaste Coalition and Greenpeace, Reyes staged BasuRUN, a name derived from the Filipino word basura, which means trash or waste.
"These toxic wastes are the worst forms of expressing friendship
between our two countries," said the politically active and socially conscious Reyes. Although praised by activists but criticized by the Filipino Catholic bishops, Reyes' latest run, which ended across the Canadian Embassy located in the financial district, added another voice to the call for Canada to take responsibility for its "overstaying" toxic shipment in the Philippines.
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