Global News

Alabama school district accused of segregated classrooms in lawsuit

Parents in Troy, Alabama have sued the local school district for an alleged system of segregated classrooms disguised as “parent choice,” Courthouse News reported Tuesday. Classrooms and teachers for children from kindergarten to sixth grade were assigned according to requests made by parents. In the filed complaint, plaintiffs said the school district allowed a “racially engineered classroom setting that consisted of...a total of 12 all African American classes” in the 2012-2013 school year. The school district is comprised of 2,087 students, 62 percent of whom are African American.

Muslim Brotherhood appoints interim leader following Mohammed Badie’s arrest

Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood has appointed an interim leader in the wake of Mohammed Badie’s arrest in Cairo. The Brotherhood announced via its website on Tuesday that Badie’s deputy, 69-year-old Mahmoud Ezzat, “will assume the role of supreme guide of the group on a temporary basis after the security forces of the bloody military coup arrested Supreme Guide Mohammed Badie.” Ezzat is said to represent the conservative wing of the Brotherhood, according to a McClatchy report. Badie had been charged with inciting violence that led to the murder of eight anti-Brotherhood protesters outside of the group’s headquarters in June. Ali Kamal, a lawyer for Badie and several other Brotherhood members, said that Badie had been transferred to Cairo’s Tora prison. His arrest was the latest of many, as the country’s military regime has arrested dozens of the group’s top leaders since President Mohamed Morsi’s ouster on July 3.

Gunman leaves 3 dead, 5 wounded in southern Germany

Police say a gunman opened fire in southern Germany, killing three people and wounding five others, the Associated Press reported. The shooting occurred during a property meeting in Dossenheim near Heidelberg. Following a verbal altercation, police say the man stormed out of the meeting, returned with a gun, and began firing. The gunman fatally shot himself after killing and injuring the seven victims.

Car bombings in three southern Iraq cities kill 10, wound dozens

Iraqi officials say separate car bombings in three southern cities have killed ten civilians and wounded 61 others, the Associated Press reported. The most deadly of Tuesday’s attacks occurred in Amara, where a car bomb killed four and wounded 42. Two additional car bombs killed three and wounded 18 in Iskanadariyah, and a bomb detonated near a power plant in Nasiriyah killed three and wounded 21. Medical officials have confirmed the ten casualties.

Israelis, Palestinians hold secret meeting in Jerusalem

Israeli and Palestinian negotiators have secretly met in Jerusalem, a senior Palestinian official told AFP. Details of the discussions were not revealed. However, Israeli Justice Minister Tzipi Livni stated on Tuesday that the US-brokered talks would result in “dramatic decisions” for peace by Israel, Reuters reported.She acknowledged though that at least one partner in Israel's right-wing coalition opposed the goal set by Washington to create a Palestinian state alongside a secure Israel. This comes after talks between the two sides renewed last month after a three-year standoff.

Czech parliament votes to dissolve

The lower house of the Czech parliament voted to dissolve itself, Tuesday, meaning that elections are likely to take place in October. The Election will end months of political turmoil that has crippled the center right government of Prime Minister, Petr Necas, which collapsed in June. At that time Necas resigned after prosecutors charged his chief of staff, Jana Nagyova, with abuse of power. She is believed to have bribed former MPs with offers of posts in state-owned firms. The former Prime Minister is also suspected of having an affair with Nagyova.

8 sailors injured in boathouse blast at New Jersey Naval base

Eight US sailors and civil employees were injured in an explosion which occurred during boat maintenance at a New Jersey Naval base on Tuesday, AP reported. According to the Navy, one person was hospitalized with serious injuries as a result of the blast which happened inside a boathouse at the Earle Naval Weapons Station in Middletown. No ammunition was involved in the explosion. The cause is under investigation.

Russia condemns ‘provocative’ terror attack in Sinai

The Russian Foreign Ministry has condemned the killing of 24 Egyptian policemen in an attack on Monday near Rafah in Sinai and described it as a ‘provocative terrorist act’. The attack came at a moment when Egyptian authorities are continuing their efforts to secure the region and neutralize terrorist and criminal groups there, the ministry said in a statement on its website on Tuesday. The ministry also reiterated its recommendation to Russian tourists in Egypt to refrain from frequenting unguarded places.

Military judge begins deliberating Manning's sentence

A military judge has begun deliberating Army Pfc. Bradley Manning's sentence for disclosing reams of classified information through WikiLeaks. Col. Denise Lind said she would announce the sentence as early as Wednesday morning. Manning faces up to 90 years in prison for leaking more than 700,000 Iraq and Afghanistan battlefield reports and State Department diplomatic cables in 2010, while working as an intelligence analyst in Iraq. Manning was convicted last month of 20 offenses, including six violations of the Espionage Act, five counts of theft and computer fraud.

Syrian Kurds leave country, facing threat from militants – Moscow

The unsettled domestic crisis in Syria has created numerous problems, including the rapid growth in the number of Syrian refugees, the Russian Foreign Ministry said, commenting on the plight of Syrian Kurds. Many Kurdish refugees are seeking refuge in neighboring states to hide from “the atrocities committed by the militants of the terrorist groups Jabhat al-Nusra and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant,” a statement on the ministry’s website said. The disastrous situation stemmed “from the economic breakdown caused by unilateral sanctions by the United States, the EU and others against the Syrian Arab Republic,” it added.

Red Cross chief to discuss separated families in N.Korea

The president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Peter Maurer arrived in Pyongyang on Tuesday to discuss the reunification of families on the divided Korean peninsula. North Korea said on Sunday it had accepted a South Korean offer to hold talks on resuming reunions of families separated by the Korean War, Reuters reported. It was the first visit in 21 years by an ICRC president to North Korea. “We reiterate ICRC willingness to offer our support in an advisory capacity for family reunifications,” ICRC spokesman Ewan Watson said in Geneva.

Japan puts troops on display in exercise at foot of Mount Fuji

Japan put its army on display Tuesday in an annual exercise at the foot of Mount Fuji intended to showcase the nation's ability to defend itself. The exercises focus on a scenario in which Japan is attacked from the sea as thousands of spectators in grandstands were shown a wide array of aircraft, artillery, tanks and helicopters. Under Japan's postwar constitution, the military is limited to a strictly defensive role, but speculation is growing about plans to give Japanese troops a broader role at home and abroad.

UK rejects Spanish request for Gibraltar talks

Britain rejected a Spanish proposal to hold one-on-one talks over the sovereignty of the contested British overseas territory of Gibraltar on Tuesday. Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo made the appeal for such negotiations to be held “as soon as possible,” in the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday. However, a spokeswoman from British Prime Minister David Cameron’s office said London would not enter into any talks on the subject, Reuters reported. The only talks Britain could envisage would be between Spain and Gibraltar over fishing practices, but not over the enclave’s sovereignty or control of its fishing waters, she said.

Britain defends detention of Snowden journalist's partner

Britain on Tuesday defended the detention under anti-terrorism powers of the partner of a journalist who has written about US and British surveillance programs based on leaks by Edward Snowden. David Miranda, partner of US journalist Glenn Greenwald, was questioned for nine hours on Sunday at London's Heathrow Airport before being released without charge, Reuters reported. “The government and the police have a duty to protect the public and our national security,” a Home Office spokesman said. “If the police believe that an individual is in possession of highly sensitive stolen information that would help terrorism, then they should act,” he added.

Ezzat named by Egypt’s Brotherhood as interim head

The Muslim Brotherhood has named Mahmoud Ezzat as interim leader to head the group after its supreme guide was arrested Tuesday, AFP reported. Ezzat, deputy leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, will assume the role of supreme guide of the group on a temporary basis after the security forces arrested supreme guide Mohamed Badie, the Freedom and Justice Party website said. Badie was arrested as the army-installed government cracks down on the Brotherhood, from which ousted President Mohamed Morsi hails.

Syrian refugees streaming over border into northern Iraq

Syrian refugees continue to stream over the border into northern Iraq, aid agencies said on Tuesday. The Kurdistan regional government has put in place a daily quota of 3,000. About 30,000 refugees, believed to be mainly Syrian Kurds, have poured into Iraq since Thursday. Up to 3,000 are lined up to cross on Tuesday, Reuters said, citing the United Nations agency UNHCR.

Court to review petition for Mubarak’s release on Wednesday

An Egyptian court will on Wednesday review a petition for the release of deposed President Hosni Mubarak filed by his lawyer, judicial sources said. The court will convene at the Cairo prison where Mubarak is being held, Reuters reported, citing the sources. If the court upholds the petition, Mubarak will be released, as there remain no further legal grounds for his detention. However, he is being retried on charges of ordering the killing of protesters in the 2011 uprising.

Anti-fracking protests to continue in Britain

Campaigners were expected to begin a second day of direct action against fracking in Britain on Tuesday. Green Party MP Caroline Lucas was among more than 30 people arrested when campaigners staged a series of protests around the country against the controversial drilling technique on Monday. The arrest in West Sussex came as police attempted to move hundreds of protesters who had been blocking the B2036 road between the villages of Balcombe and Cuckfield as part of a demonstration.

Iran foreign minister to become chief nuclear negotiator

Iran’s foreign minister will lead nuclear talks with world powers, taking over from the country's national security council, an Iranian diplomatic official said Tuesday. “The nuclear dossier has been transferred to the Foreign Ministry,” AP quoted the official as saying. Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, a Western-educated veteran diplomat, will be top nuclear negotiator. The move transfers the nuclear file to professional diplomats rather than security-minded figures at the Supreme National Security Council.

Israeli troops kill Palestinian in W.Bank raid

Israeli troops shot dead a Palestinian during an operation early Tuesday to arrest a Palestinian militant in the West Bank city of Jenin, the army said. “During the activity, shots were fired at the forces and improvised explosive devices and rocks were hurled at the security personnel, injuring two soldiers,” a military spokeswoman told AFP. Troops responded to the live fire, and “initial reports indicate that one Palestinian was killed and two injured,” she added. Both the wanted man, believed to be an Islamic Jihad activist, Bassam Saadi, and those involved in the violence that erupted at the scene were taken into custody.

Australia rescues 106 from sinking asylum-seeker boat

Rescuers say they plucked to safety 106 people from a sinking asylum-seeker boat off Australia Tuesday, with just two suffering minor injuries. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) had earlier said a boat with approximately 105 people on board was in trouble. AMSA received a request for assistance from someone onboard the boat Tuesday morning, AFP reported. It was not clear if everyone had been accounted for.

Boat with 105 asylum-seekers sinks off Australia’s Christmas Island

A rescue operation of Australian Navy is underway some 120 nautical miles north of Australia’s Christmas Island after a boat with 105 immigrants from Asia sent a distress signal. "HMAS Parramatta arrived on scene at around 12:20pm [02:30 GMT] and reported the vessel had foundered,” reported the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. An Australian Customs Dash-8 aircraft is operating at the scene. Reportedly yet another Australian navy ship and a merchant vessel are also due to arrive at the distress zone soon.

Head of Muslim Brotherhood Mohamed Badie arrested in Cairo

Security forces in Egypt have arrested the head of the Muslim Brotherhood, Mohamed Badie, according to state media. Badie, who is usually described as the Brotherhood’s spiritual leader or “General Guide,” was held at an apartment in Nasr City in the northeast of Cairo, Reuters reported, citing Egyptian media. Nasr City was the location of a six-week sit-in protest held by supporters of deposed president Mohamed Morsi, which was violently cleared out by the country’s security forces last Wednesday. Both Badie and his deputy, Khairat el-Shater - who is already in custody - are appearing before a court later this month for their alleged role in the deaths of eight protesters who were demonstrating outside the Brotherhood’s Cairo headquarters in June.