Update: Monster cyclone smashes eastern India

PURI (India), May 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Cyclone Fani, one of the biggest storms to come off the Indian Ocean in recent years, slammed into India on Friday, tearing down trees, blowing away food stands and cutting off power and water. The monster weather system, which threatened to bring a dangerous…

Uruguayan beauty queen found dead in Mexico hotel room

MEXICO CITY, May 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Uruguayan beauty queen whorepresented her country at the Miss Universe and Miss World pageants wasfound dead Thursday in a Mexico City hotel room, investigators said. Police responding to an early-morning emergency call found the woman in a bathroom at the hotel, which is…

Sudan: Crowds to flood Khartoum as standoff with military persists

KHARTOUM, May 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Sudanese demonstrators are expected to stage a “million-strong” march to press for a civilian administration after talks with military rulers hit a snag. The two sides have agreed on forming a joint civilian-military council to run Sudan but are at odds over its composition. Protest…

Sexual assault increased in US military in 2018: report

WASHINGTON, May 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Acting Defense Secretary PatrickShanahan called for tougher action against sexual assault in the US militaryafter an annual Pentagon report said the number of assaults in 2018had risen from recent years. Sexual assaults reported by Defense Department employees, both men andwomen, jumped 13 percent last year…

Baby dead, 3 missing after raft capsizes on US-Mexico border

WASHINGTON, May 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A baby boy died after plunging into the fast-moving waters of the Rio Grande River as his family tried to cross into the United States on a rubber raft, authorities said. Three other people, two of them children, were missing after the raftcapsized on the…

Israel says hits Hamas site after arson balloons

JERUSALEM, May 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Israel said its aircraft struck a Hamas military site in the Gaza Strip overnight after balloons carrying firebombs and explosives were launched from the Palestinian enclave. Following the airstrike, Israel’s military said there had been two “launches” — likely rockets — from the Gaza Strip…

US: Mideast plan won’t say ‘two states’, but will be acceptable to Palestinians – Kushner

WASHINGTON, May 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Jared Kushner revealed new contours of the upcoming US peace plan for the Middle East, indicating thatit will pull back from longstanding mentions of a two-state solution with thePalestinians and accept Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Kushner, the son-in-law and senior adviser to President Donald Trump,…

Massive Afghanistan peace summit ends in Kabul

KABUL, May 3 (NNN-BSS/AFP) — A huge peace meeting aimed at finding anexit from Afghanistan’s war is due to finish Friday in Kabul, with leadingpoliticians expected to announce visions for a much-needed breakthrough. This week’s “loya jirga”, or grand assembly, saw about 3,200 religious andtribal leaders, politicians and representatives gather…

Thailand set for coronation of King Rama X, first in 69 years

BANGKOK, May 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn will be crowned this weekend in a pageantry-laden ceremony flecked by Hindu and Buddhist ritual, as Rama X furthers his primacy over one of the world’s richest monarchies and a kingdom beset by ulcerous political divides. The May 4-6 coronation comes…

Sri Lanka attacks death toll rises to 257

154 COLOMBO, May 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The death toll from the Easter suicidebomb attacks in Sri Lanka has risen to 257, authorities said. They warned that the final number of dead from the April 21 attacks onthree churches and three Colombo hotels would rise further. “The death toll stands at…