News round up

Egypt to choose Interim PM

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Egypt to choose interim prime minister

Egypt is to name its interim prime minister amid confusion following its president being removed from power by the military.

State-run television reported on Saturday that a former chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mohamed ElBaradei, is expected to be named Egypt’s interim prime minister.

But a spokesperson of the President’s office said at a news conference that they are still in the final stages of selecting an interim prime minister. The military has been pushing for a transition of power based on its own roadmap to elections.

Bolivia joins  offer Snowden asylum

Bolivia joins countries offering Snowden asylum

Bolivia has become the third country to offer asylum to a former contractor to the US National Security Agency who leaked classified information about the agency’s surveillance programs.

Bolivian President Evo Morales announced that he will offer Edward Snowden asylum in his country in a speech at his home town on Saturday.

The decision comes after the president’s plane was forced to reroute to an airport in Austria last Tuesday on his way back home from Russia.

Canada train explosion

The disaster occurred shortly after 1 AM in the heart of Lac-Megantic, a town in the province of Quebec. The train with about 70 cars was bound for the US state of Maine.

At least 4 of the tank cars caught fire and blew up in a fireball. The fire spread to about 30 buildings nearby and continued for several hours.

Local police say they have confirmed one death, adding that they have been unable to contact dozens of other people. The explosion also forced about 2,000 residents to evacuate.

Snowden support rallies held across Australia

Rallies in support of Edward Snowden have taken place across Australia as activists demanded more privacy protection from government and freedom for the former NSA analyst. Demonstrations took place in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth and attracted hundreds of supporters. The protesters blame media outlets and politicians for attacking Snowden, instead of focusing on protecting internet users’ right to privacy.

Pipeline in Egypt’s Sinai blasted

The pipeline, which supplies gas to Jordan has been hit by an explosion on the Sinai Peninsula, state TV said. Since 2011, the pipeline has been attacked more than 10 times. Four security checkpoints were also attacked on Saturday, killing a Christian priest. It is unclear who carried out the attacks as Egypt’s regions slip into violence following the ousting of President Morsi on Wednesday.

Radical cleric Abu Qatada arrives in Jordan

UK-based Islamist cleric Abu Qatada, known for his radical views and alleged affiliation with al Qaeda, haslanded in Jordan to face terror charges. He departed for Jordan from RAF Northolt airbase on Sunday morning, according to local media. The UK has been trying to deport Qatada since 2005. The cleric has been sentenced to life imprisonment for conducting terror attacks on tourists in Jordan and other terrorist conspiracies. Initially sentenced in absentia, he will now face a retrial for the offences.

Blast in Lahore Pakistan kills 5, injures 45

At least five people, including a six year old girl have been killed and 45 injured after an explosion ripped through a busy market street in Lahore, Pakistan, the police said. The blast next to the Anarkali bazar, came from a remote controlled bomb that was installed and attacked to a deep freezer in one of the restaurants adjacent to the marketplace. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Venezuala says it will wait until Monday for Snowden to accept assylum

Venezuela says it has not had a reply from the NSA leaker, Edward Snowden after the country’s President Nicolas Maduro offered him asylum on Friday. “We are waiting until Monday to know whether he ratifies his wish to take asylum in Venezuela,” Foreign Minster Elias Jaua told state television as “there has not been any type of communication” from Snowden who is now stuck in Moscow after US revoked his passport.

Thousands march in Ireland to protest abortion bill

More than 35,000 abortion critics rallied in Dublin on Saturday demanding the Irish government to abandon plans to legalize abortions for women in life-threatening pregnancies. Shouting “Kill the bill! Not the child,”the activists ended up in front of the parliament where the lawmakers are expected to approve the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill next week. If approved, the new law would permit abortion for a suicidal woman if a panel of three doctors unanimously agree that the woman’s threats are genuine. The issue of abortion is acute in Ireland, with a Catholic population of 6.5 million.