Iran 'Can Do What They Want' in Syria, Trump Says
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that as far as he’s concerned, Iran "can do what they want" in Syria.Trump made the comment during a conversation with reporters at the end of a cabinet meeting in the White House. “Iran is pulling people out of Syria, but they can frankly do whatever they want there,” the U.S. president said.
haaretz.com
Xi Urges Peaceful Unification Of China And Taiwan, But Won't Rule Out Using Force
A Taiwan independent from mainland China is not an option, and no person or party can stop the trend toward "unification," Chinese President Xi Jingping said in a policy speech Wednesday.While Beijing would seek a peaceful "reunification" with the self-governing island of over 23.5 million people, The Associated Press reports Xi said China wouldn't rule out using force if necessary.
npr.org
Fatal train accident closes Denmark's Great Belt Bridge
Six people were killed and 16 others injured on Wednesday morning after a train accident on a bridge linking the Danish islands of Zealand and Funen. A initial investigation by Denmark's Accident Investigation Board showed an empty lorry trailer had blown off a cargo train wagon onto the oncoming tracks.
dw.com
Jair Bolsonaro launches assault on Amazon rainforest protections
Hours after taking office, Brazil’s new president, Jair Bolsonaro, has launched an assault on environmental and Amazon protections with an executive order transferring the regulation and creation of new indigenous reserves to the agriculture ministry – which is controlled by the powerful agribusiness lobby.
theguardian.com
Mexico: Mayor gunned down after swearing-in ceremony
The major of Tlaxiaco, a small municipality of Oaxaca, Mexico, was gunned down on Tuesday straight after he had been sworn in.Alejandro Aparicio was elected mayor of the town in Mexico's most recent elections in 2018. He was a member of the MORENA political party, founded by current President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.
dw.com
Protests in India after women defy ancient ban on visiting Sabarimala temple
Two women defied a centuries-old ban on entering the Sabarimala temple in Kerala on Wednesday, sparking protests and calls for a strike by conservative Hindu groups outraged by their visit.Police fired teargas and used water cannons to disperse a large crowd of protesters in capital Thiruvananthapuram, television news channels showed.There were protests in several other cities in the state, media reported.
in.reuters.com
Israel 'capitalising on Trump' to launch construction binge of new settlements in West Bank
Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank has spiked with Donald Trump in the White House, new data suggests, as campaigners claim a fresh surge in new construction is on the way.Figures compiled from official government sources by the anti-settlement monitoring group Peace Now show an increase in building in 2018 while also recording thousands of plans for additional future development.
independent.co.uk
Japanese emperor makes last new year appearance before abdication
Tens of thousands of people gathered in Tokyo for Emperor Akihito’s final new year appearance of his reign months before he abdicates.“I am truly happy to celebrate the new year with all of you under such cloudless skies,” he told the crowd from a balcony at the Imperial Palace on Wednesday.
theguardian.com
Pompeo, Brazil's new government target Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discussed supporting a return to democracy in Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua with Brazil’s new right-wing government on Wednesday, in a joint effort against what he called authoritarian regimes in Latin America
reuters.com