World
Church leaders in Congo say election observers are critical
United Nations, Aug 28 (AP/UNB) — Catholic leaders who mediated a compromise on elections in Congo warned Monday that the credibility of the long-delayed vote scheduled in December depends "to a great extent" on the presence of national and international observers — and that "bias" will keep the country in crisis.
Iran asks UN's highest court to suspend US sanctions
The Hague, Aug 28 (AP/UNB) — Iran warned Monday that re-imposed U.S. sanctions would cripple its economy and plunge the volatile Middle East deeper into crisis as it urged the United Nations' highest court to suspend the Trump administration's economic pressure on Tehran.
Cold, dry climate shifts linked to Neanderthal disappearance
New York, Aug 28 (AP/UNB) — Ancient periods of cold and dry climate helped our species replace Neanderthals in Europe, a study suggests.
Israel demolishes West Bank home of Palestinian attacker
Jerusalem, Aug 28 (AP/UNB) — The Israeli military says forces demolished the home of a Palestinian who killed an Israeli in a West Bank settlement last month.
UN: China's African swine fever outbreak could cross borders
Beijing, Aug 28 (AP/UNB)— An outbreak of African swine fever in China could jump the border to neighboring countries in Southeast Asia or the Korean Peninsula, the U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organization warned Tuesday.
UAE, Saudis may have committed war crimes in Yemen
Geneva, Aug 28 (AP/UNB) — Three experts working for the U.N.'s top human rights body say the governments of Yemen, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia may have been responsible for war crimes including rape, torture, disappearances and "deprivation of the right to life" during 3½ years of escalated fighting against rebels in Yemen.
4 killed in Indonesia forest fires; police arrest suspects
Pontianak, Aug 28 (AP/UNB) — Police in the Indonesian part of Borneo island have arrested more than a dozen people suspected of starting forest fires that have killed four people in the past month.
Families mark 30th anniversary of Ramstein air show disaster
Berlin, Aug 28 (AP/UNB) — Survivors and the families of those killed during a 1988 air show at the U.S. Air Base in Ramstein are commemorating the 30th anniversary of the aviation disaster in Germany.
Macron loses environment minister in surprise resignation
Paris, Aug 28 (AP/UNB) — France's high-profile environment minister, former TV personality Nicolas Hulot, unexpectedly announced his resignation live on national radio Tuesday, lamenting a lack of decisive action on green issues. The move deals a stinging blow to the environmental credibility of President Emmanuel Macron.
Italy journalist says he helped pen bombshell against pope
Rome, Aug 28 (AP/UNB) — An Italian journalist who says he helped a former Vatican diplomat pen his bombshell allegation of sex abuse cover-up against Pope Francis says he persuaded the archbishop to go public after the U.S. church was thrown into turmoil by sex abuse revelations in the Pennsylvania grand jury report.