Lebanon: US sanctions won’t affect government – PM Hariri

BEIRUT, July 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri said that US sanctions targeting Hezbollah MPs moved in a “new direction” from existing measures, but would not affect government work. The sanctions against two Hezbollah MPs and one of the Shi’ite Muslim movement’s top security officials widen a U.S. campaign…

Von der Leyen courts EU lawmakers in bid to become Commission chief

BRUSSELS, July 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Germany’s Ursula von der Leyen made her pitch to European lawmakers on Wednesday to be the next head of the EU executive, promising to focus on promoting the rule of law, digitisation, competitiveness and the fight against climate change. The conservative German defence minister has…

Soviet nuclear sub that sank off Norway in 1989 still emitting radiation

OSLO, July 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Soviet nuclear submarine which sank off Norway in 1989 is still emitting radiation, researchers said following an expedition that used a remotely-controlled vehicle for the first time. The wreck of the Komsomolets lies on the bottom of the Norwegian Sea at a depth of…

Taiwan president leaves for Caribbean trip with stopovers in US

TAOYUAN (Taiwan), July 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen left for the United States on Thursday on a trip that has angered Beijing, warning democracy must be defended and the island faced threats from “overseas forces”, in a veiled reference to China. China, which claims self-ruled and democratic Taiwan…

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards deny trying to stop British tanker in Gulf: Report

GENEVA, July 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards rejected on Thursday a US claim that they tried to stop a British tanker in the Gulf a day earlier, the Guards said in a statement carried by the semi-official Fars news agency. Five boats believed to belong to the Guards approached…

Italy: Deputy Prime Minister Salvini denies receiving Russian oil money

ROME, July 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Italy’s deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini denied receiving any money for his party from Russian investors, following allegations that one of his close aides had held secret meetings in Moscow to that end. “I have sued in the past, I will do it again today,…

Egypt opens new international airport for trial period

CAIRO, July 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Egypt has opened a new international airport on a one-month trial basis to serve the city which will become the country’s new capital from mid-2020. The Capital International Airport is located some 70 kilometres to the east of Cairo and is intended to relieve pressure on Cairo…

In France, a woman is killed by partner or ex-partner every three days

PARIS, July 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A total of 121 women were killed by their partner or former partner in France last year, equating to one death every three days, government figures showed. The numbers were made public just days after the French government announced it would hold a major consultation…

US: New Orleans threatened by floods as big storm forms

WASHINGTON, July 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) —  The city of New Orleans was under a storm-surge watch along with a stretch of Louisiana coast as a tropical storm formed in the Gulf of Mexico, threatening the region with potentially life-threatening rains. The storm-surge watches warn residents of possible flooding from rising waters…

Leader of armed group at US border seeks psychiatric evaluation ahead of trial

LOS ANGELES, July 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The leader of an armed group that stopped migrants who crossed the US-Mexico border has sought a psychiatric evaluation to determine if he is competent to stand trial in New Mexico on a weapons charge. A federal judge in Albuquerque will hold a hearing…