Austria says will not sign global migration pact

Austria will follow the United States and Hungary in backing out of a United Nations pact on migration over concerns that it will blur the line between legal and illegal migration, the right-wing government told media on Wednesday.

from Reuters: World News https://ift.tt/2OhsLFp

Pakistan frees Christian woman facing death in blasphemy case

Pakistan's Supreme Court on Wednesday overturned the conviction of a Christian woman sentenced to death for blasphemy against Islam and ordered her freed, a ruling that set off protests by hardline Islamists but was welcomed by human rights advocates.

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South Sudan rebel leader Machar arrives in capital, first time since 2016

South Sudan rebel leader Riek Machar returned to the capital Juba on Wednesday, according to a Reuters witness, more than two years after he fled the country after the collapse of a 2016 peace deal.

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Afghan army helicopter crashes, killing 25 on board: officials

An Afghan army helicopter crashed in southwestern Afghanistan on Wednesday, killing 25 crew and passengers, provincial officials said.

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Indonesian rescue workers believe fuselage of crashed plane found

Indonesian search and rescue workers believe they have found the fuselage of a Lion Air passenger jet that crashed with 189 people on board, and are also trying to confirm the origin of an underwater "ping" signal, officials said on Wednesday.

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Indonesia removes Lion Air director after plane crash: Antara news agency

Indonesia's transport minister removed on Wednesday the technical director of the Lion Air airline and several of its technicians after the crash of one of its jets with 189 people on board, the Antara news agency reported on Wednesday.

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Indonesia search team finds 22-meter object in hunt for plane

Indonesian search and rescue workers have detected a 22-metre long object underwater in area where a Lion Air passenger jet with 189 people on board crashed, a navy official said on Wednesday.

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Secretary of State Pompeo calls for end to fighting in Yemen

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called on Tuesday for a cessation of hostilities in Yemen and said U.N.-led negotiations to end the civil war should begin next month.

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Meghan and Harry name newly hatched kiwi chicks on final day of Pacific tour

Britain's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan bestowed names on Wednesday to two newly-hatched young of New Zealand's national bird, the kiwi, in the northeastern town of Rotorua, on the final day of their two-week tour of the Pacific.

from Reuters: World News https://ift.tt/2CUOj99

Pakistani court overturns death sentence for Christian woman in blasphemy case

Pakistan's Supreme Court on Wednesday overturned the conviction of a Christian woman sentenced to death for blasphemy against Islam's prophet, ordering her to be freed if she was not accused of any other crime.

from Reuters: World News https://ift.tt/2SuAofj

Philippines races to free 30 trapped in landslide; typhoon kills seven

Philippine rescue teams worked to free at least 30 people trapped under earth and rubble on Wednesday after a typhoon dumped heavy rainfall on a mountainous region, triggering floods and deadly landslides.

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Suicide blast kills six near prison in Afghan capital

A suicide bomber blew himself up near the gate of Afghanistan's largest prison on Wednesday, killing at least six people and wounding three, officials said, but there was no immediate claim of responsibility.

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U.S. says gravely concerned by any non-peaceful means of deciding Taiwan's future

Efforts to decide self-ruled Taiwan's future by "other than peaceful means" are a grave concern to the United States, a senior American diplomat said on Wednesday, amid renewed tension between China and the island it considers a wayward province.

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