GOP-requested witness rejects Trump ‘conspiracy theories’

Sought by Republicans to testify, the former U.S. special envoy to Ukraine spoke up instead for Democrat Joe Biden in Tuesday’s impeachment hearings, rejecting “conspiracy theories” embraced by President Donald Trump and some of his allies.

Zimbabwe police fire tear gas at opposition supporters

Dozens of people ran and dodged baton blows in the capital, Harare. Officers cordoned off the Movement for Democratic Change party headquarters ahead of Nelson Chamisa’s speech and patrolled with water cannons.

White House officials to kick off impeachment procedure

Two top national security aides who listened to President Donald Trump’s call with Ukraine are preparing to testify in the impeachment hearings, launching a week of back-to-back sessions as Americans hear from those closest to the White House.

Sri Lanka’s new president may struggle to form government

Rajapaksa, who is credited with helping end the country’s long civil war, comfortably won Saturday’s presidential election with about 52% of the ballots. But minorities largely voted for his opponent, fearing his return to power because of allegations of wartime human rights violations against him.

Over 1,400 killed in traffic accidents from Jan-Sept in Libya: ministry

The Libyan Interior Ministry on Monday said that more than 1,400 people have been killed by traffic accidents during the first nine months in 2019.    

No training, no gloves: Zimbabwe’s desperate childbirths

When her contractions became unbearably painful, 18-year-old Perseverance Kanyoza rushed to a maternity hospital in Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare. But the doors were closed amid a weekslong strike by public health workers. With no money for private care, panic set in.

US draws fewer new foreign students for 3rd straight year

An annual report from the Institute of International Education found that the number of newly enrolled international students dipped by 1% in fall 2018 compared to the year before. It follows decreases of 7% and 3% in the previous two years, which were the first downturns in more than a decade.

'Terminator' Rajapaksa storms to victory in Sri Lanka election

He will be sworn in tomorrow or the day after," spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said. Rajapaksa, 70, had a 49.6 present share of the vote with close to six million ballots counted.

Rajapaksas eye comeback in tense Sri Lanka election

Sri Lankans voted Saturday for a new president in what could mark a comeback for the Rajapaksa clan, lauded by supporters for crushing the Tamil Tigers but condemned by critics for war crimes, corruption and cosying up to China. Despite tight security in an island that emerged from civil war only a decade ago and in April suffered Islamist extremist bombings, gunmen attacked a convoy of 100 buses transporting minority Muslim voters, police said.

Muslim voters attacked as Sri Lanka votes for president

There were no reported injuries in the convoy attack and police were investigating, said Manjula Gajanayake, spokesman for the Colombo-based Centre for Monitoring Election Violence. The center said there were reports elsewhere of minor election law violations, such as supporters influencing voters near polling stations and distributing mock ballots with party symbols.

Student opens fire in California high school, killing 2

The gunfire began around 7:30 a.m. at Saugus High School in the Los Angeles suburb of Santa Clarita. Authorities estimated that the suspect took just 16 seconds to pull out the weapon, shoot five classmates and turn the gun on himself.

China presses Washington for tariff cut in trade deal

A tariff cut is an “important condition” for the agreement that is part of talks on ending a costly trade war, said Commerce Ministry spokesman Gao Feng.

Pope demands tech companies prevent kids from viewing porn

rancis told a Vatican conference of religious leaders and high-tech representatives Thursday that it’s no longer acceptable to merely follow the law in monitoring online content, since technology is fast outpacing regulation.

Chinese president arrives in Brazil for BRICS summit

The summit of BRICS, an emerging-market bloc that groups Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, will be held in the capital of Brazil from Wednesday to Thursday.

Morales says he’s leaving Bolivia for Mexico

Former Bolivian President Evo Morales has tweeted that he is leaving Bolivia for Mexico, which has granted him asylum. Peruvian authorities said earlier Monday evening that a Mexican government plane had flown from Peru to pick up Morales, who resigned Sunday after weeks of social unrest over a disputed presidential election.

US held record number of migrant kids in custody in 2019

After being forcibly separated at the border by government officials, sexually abused in U.S. foster care and deported, the once bright and beaming girl arrived back in Honduras withdrawn, anxious and angry, convinced her father abandoned her.

Iran awards prestigious prize to 2 US-educated scientists

Vice President Sourena Sattari granted the Mustafa award to five scientists, three Iranians and two Turks, during a ceremony.

Queen, politicians out in force as UK remembers its war dead

The 93-year-old monarch, who served as an army mechanic during World War II, performed the wreath-laying for most of her 67-year reign, but has cut back on her public duties. An aide laid a wreath on behalf of the queen’s 98-year-old husband Prince Philip, who has retired from public engagements

SC paves way for temple at disputed site at Ayodhya, alternative land for mosque

"The faith of the Hindus that Lord Ram was born at the demolished structure is undisputed," ruled a 5-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi weeks after a marathon 40-day hearing-- the second longest in the history of apex court. Justice Gogoi is due to retire on November 17

Iran injects gas in new centrifuges as deal unravels

Iran injected uranium gas into centrifuges at its underground Fordo nuclear complex early Thursday, taking its most-significant step away from its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.