world news

Saturday, 30 December 2017

Russian environmental activist hospitalized after beating

A leading Russian environmental activist said on Friday he had been hospitalized after being severely beaten by unknown assailants in the southern city of Krasnodar. Andrei Rudomakha, head of the Environmental Watch on the North Caucasus NGO, told Reuters he and a group of activists were assaulted late on Thursday upon returning from the Black Sea coastal city of Gelendzhik where they were documenting the illegal construction of a mansion for high-ranking officials. The regional branch of the Russian Interior Ministry, in a statement sent to Reuters, said authorities were investigating the attack by what it said were three assailants.

Brazil's top court suspends parts of President Temer's Christmas pardons

By Ricardo Brito and Jake Spring BRASILIA (Reuters) - The head of Brazil's Supreme Court suspended parts of a Christmas decree from President Michel Temer granting pardons to convicted criminals on Thursday, saying Temer's actions needed further examination by the court. Cármen Lúcia ruled largely in favor of a legal challenge by Brazil's top prosecutor, Raquel Dodge, who said on Wednesday that the pardons were unconstitutional and threatened a probe into the country's largest-ever corruption scandal.

Hedge Fund Bets Bilked Kentuckians Out Of Their Pensions, Lawsuit Says

Years of risky hedge fund investments helped plunge Kentucky’s public pension system billions of dollars into the red, making it one of the worst-funded state pension systems in the country.

Putin warns terror suspects can be killed 'on the spot'

On Wednesday evening, a homemade bomb placed in a locker at the supermarket in northwestern Saint Petersburg, Russia's second city and Putin's hometown, went off sowing panic among customers and wounding 14 people including a pregnant woman. "As you know, an act of terror took place in Saint Petersburg yesterday," Putin said on Thursday, speaking at a ceremony to award officers who took part in Russia's Syria campaign.

Trump's vacation: golf, tweets and phone calls

President Donald Trump is spending his winter vacation at his exclusive Mar-a-Lago Club in Florida but he is not taking a break from two of his favorite things -- golf and Twitter. Trump flew to his Florida resort on Air Force One a week ago, and his days since have tended to follow the same routine. Shortly before 9:00 am, the presidential convoy leaves Mar-a-Lago and heads for the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach.

Turkey says EU funds not being actively used for needs of Syrian refugees

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - A substantial portion of the funds promised by the European Union (EU) to help Syrian refugees in Turkey is still not being used actively to meet their needs, Turkey's EU Ministry said on Saturday.