Solomons government says China's island lease 'unlawful'

The Solomon Islands government says a contract signed by one of its provinces to lease the entire island of Tulagi to a Chinese company is unlawful and should be terminated.

from Reuters: World News https://ift.tt/33Z2fZH

'Who gives a s*** about Afghanistan?': Trump stunned officials during a military briefing, former aide says

President Trump bemoaned a U.S.-led coalition mission to provide aid to Afghanistan and derailed a meeting with top military officials last year, according to an upcoming book written by former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis’s aide.

Correction: Election 2020-Gabbard-Clinton story

In a story Oct. 18 about Tulsi Gabbard and Hillary Clinton, The Associated Press reported erroneously that Hillary Clinton said she believes the Russians have "got their eye on somebody who's currently in the Democratic primary and grooming her to be the third-party candidate." She was referring to Republicans, not Russians, according to an aide.

ICE agent repeatedly raped and impregnated immigrant for seven years while threatening deportation, lawsuit claims

A Honduran woman has alleged that she was raped repeatedly over seven years by a US immigration agent, who threatened her with deportation should she speak out.The woman, identified in a lawsuit as Jane Doe, is now seeking $10 million in damages from the US government for the assaults and psychological trauma, which resulted in three pregnancies that were terminated by abortions.

China detains journalist who covered Hong Kong protests: sources

A Chinese journalist who covered democracy protests in Hong Kong has been detained after returning to the mainland, sources with direct knowledge of the situation told AFP on Thursday. Huang Xueqin, who became known for her support of the #MeToo movement against sexual harassment in China last year, had travelled to Hong Kong this summer. When Huang returned to the mainland, authorities in the southeastern city of Guangzhou summoned her to a meeting and confiscated her travel documents, the sources said.

Pakistan, India sign deal on visa-free corridor for Sikh pilgrims

Islamabad and New Delhi signed an agreement Thursday on a visa-free corridor between the two countries that will allow Sikh pilgrims in India to visit the shrine to their religion's founder, which is in Pakistan. The Kartarpur Corridor deal -- a rare example of cooperation between the nuclear-armed arch-rivals -- follows months of heightened tensions, mainly over the disputed region of Kashmir. "Indian pilgrims of all faiths and persons of Indian origin... can use the corridor.

Thousands ordered to leave as Northern California fire rages

Officials ordered 2,000 people to evacuate their homes and businesses in Northern California wine country Thursday after a wildfire exploded in size, fueled by powerful winds that prompted utilities throughout the state to impose electrical blackouts to prevent fires. The entire community of Geyserville and nearby residents were told to leave after the fire in the Sonoma County wine region north of San Francisco grew to more than 15 square miles (39 square kilometers). Among those fleeing the flames was 81-year-old Harry Bosworth, who awoke before sunrise to find a firetruck and firefighters in his driveway.