Connect to share and comment

N. Korea threatens to kill authors of Hitler report

North Korea has angrily denied a report that its ruler used Adolf Hitler's memoir as a leadership guide, threatening to kill the authors of the report. The article by New Focus International, an online news portal run by North Korean defectors, said Kim Jong-Un had given copies of "Mein Kampf" to his top officials, urging them to study it as a leadership skills manual. He handed out translations of the German dictator's manifesto to select officials at the time of his birthday in January, it said, citing an unnamed North Korean official working in China.

AFP Europe News Agenda

What's happening in Europe on Thursday: + Obama to speak at Berlin's Brandenburg gate + Greek PM seeks to defuse crisis over ERT shutdown + Assange fetes one year in Ecuador's embassy + Turkish police detain protesters in crackdown BERLIN: Barack Obama visits Berlin for first time as US president, for talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Press conference 1030 GMT. Obama is to deliver a speech at Brandenburg Gate at 1300 GMT during which he is to call for major nuclear cuts in US and Russian arsenals. Picture. Video. (GERMANY-US-DIPLOMACY)

Jury selection in Trayvon Martin murder case moves into final phase

By Barbara Liston SANFORD, Florida (Reuters) - The Florida murder trial to decide the fate of neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman looks to be on track for lawyers to deliver opening statements and witnesses to begin testifying by next Monday.

California judge irked by accused killer acting as own lawyer

By Ronnie Cohen SAN RAFAEL, California (Reuters) - An accused California serial killer representing himself at his own murder trial drew a series of rebukes from the judge on the first day of testimony and was warned to obey procedural rules in court or risk losing the right to serve as his own attorney.

NSA director defends sweeping surveillance program, says plot against Wall Street thwarted

WASHINGTON - The U.S. foiled a plot to bomb the New York Stock Exchange because of the sweeping surveillance programs at the heart of a debate over national security and personal privacy, officials said Tuesday at a rare open hearing on intelligence led by lawmakers sympathetic to the spying. The House Intelligence Committee hearing provided a venue for officials to defend the once-secret programs and did little probing of claims that the collection of people's phone records and Internet usage has disrupted dozens of terrorist plots. Few details were volunteered.

House of Commons adjourns for the summer after bitter spring session

OTTAWA - The most bitter spring sitting of parliament since Stephen Harper's Conservatives came to power more than seven years ago has ended with a rare piece of agreement — unanimous consent to adjourn for the summer. All parties agreed late Tuesday night to pull the plug after almost a month of late-night sittings. The House of Commons calendar had MPs remaining at work in Ottawa through the end of this week, however proceedings in the House had devolved into acrimonious mud-slinging.

N. Korean leader stresses Hitler's skills

North Korean ruler Kim Jong-Un has reportedly given copies of Adolf Hitler's "Mein Kampf" to his top officials, urging them to study it as a leadership skills manual. Kim handed out translations of the German dictator's manifesto to select officials at the time of his birthday in January, reported New Focus International, an online news portal run by North Korean defectors. The report, sourced to an unnamed North Korean official working in China, was picked up by all major South Korean newspapers on Wednesday.

Obama to invoke call of history in Berlin speech

Barack Obama will Wednesday invoke the Cold War history of German-US solidarity, on a long-awaited first visit to Berlin as president, but will face sharp questions on US spy snooping programmes. Almost 50 years to the day since John Kennedy declared "Ich bin ein Berliner" and 26 years since Ronald Reagan exhorted "Tear down this wall!" Obama will argue that a new generation must muster for history's fresh challenges.

Rousseff salutes Brazil protests, cities cut bus fares

By Todd Benson SAO PAULO (Reuters) - President Dilma Rousseff on Tuesday sought to defuse a massive protest movement sweeping Brazil, acknowledging the need for better public services and more responsive governance as demonstrations continued in some cities around the country. Speaking the morning after more than 200,000 Brazilians marched in over a half-dozen cities, Rousseff said her government remains committed to social change and is listening attentively to the many grievances expressed at the demonstrations.

United States to meet Taliban to seek Afghan peace

By Mark Felsenthal, Hamid Shalizi and Dylan Welch WASHINGTON/KABUL (Reuters) - The United States will meet the Taliban this week for talks aimed at achieving peace in Afghanistan, where U.S.-led forces and the insurgents have fought a bloody and costly war for the past 12 years, U.S. officials said on Tuesday. The Taliban opened an office in Doha, the Qatari capital, on Tuesday to help restart talks and said it wanted a political solution that would bring about a just government and end foreign occupation of Afghanistan.
Syndicate content