News in brief

Vandals set fire to mosque in east Jerusalem
AP, Jerusalem
Israeli police said yesterday they are investigating after a “room was ignited” in a mosque on the outskirts of Jerusalem and Hebrew graffiti was found on an outside wall. The graffiti was hard to make out but appears to have been left by ultranationalist Israelis. One part read, “Demolishing (for) Jews? Demolishing enemies!” an apparent reference to the dismantling of settler outposts in the West Bank.

Large explosion rocks Houston, houses damaged
AFP, Houston
A large explosion shook the US city of Houston, Texas, early on Friday morning, with shocked residents woken before dawn as houses were badly damaged and glass windows blown in. The Houston Fire Department said one person had been taken to hospital as firefighters, emergency services and police rushed to the scene. Police described the incident as a “building explosion” and warned all traffic to avoid the area in the northwest of the city.

Philippines’ Duterte threatens to end US military pact
AFP, Manila
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has threatened to end a pact key to annual war games with American troops if the US does not restore the travel visa of an official who oversaw his drug war. It is the latest in a long line of Duterte’s threats to shrink or sever ties with historical ally Washington, which have periodically followed criticism of his deadly narcotics crackdown. Duterte spoke after Ronald Dela Rosa, the former national police chief who is now a senator, said the US had cancelled his visa but did not tell him why.

Germany’s only black MP reveals death threats
AFP, Berlin
Germany’s only black MP said this week he had received death threats from right-wing extremists days after finding holes probably made by a pellet gun in his constituency office window. Karamba Diaby, a lawmaker for the centre-left Social Democratic Party (SPD), told German media that he had received the anonymous threat by email, which was reportedly signed with the words “Sieg Heil” and “Heil Hitler”.

North Korea names
army figure as foreign
minister
AP, Seoul, South Korea
North Korea has named a sharp-tongued former army officer with little foreign policy experience as its top diplomat, in a possible indication it will take a harder line with Washington in stalled nuclear negotiations. Ri Son Gwon’s new title as foreign minister was disclosed Friday in a Korean Central News Agency dispatch that said he attended a reception for foreign diplomats in Pyongyang the previous day.

 

News in brief

Vandals set fire to mosque in east Jerusalem AP, Jerusalem Israeli police said yesterday they are investigating after a room was ignited in a mosque on the outskirts of Jerusalem and Hebrew graffiti was found on an outside wall. The graffiti was hard to make out but appears to have been left by ultranationalist Israelis. One part read, Demolishing (for) Jews? Demolishing enemies! an apparent reference to the dismantling of settler outposts in the West Bank. Large explosion rocks Houston, houses damaged AFP, Houston A large explosion shook the US city of Houston, Texas, early on Friday morning, with shocked residents woken before dawn as houses were badly damaged and glass windows blown in. The Houston Fire Department said one person had been taken to hospital as firefighters, emergency services and police rushed to the scene. Police described the incident as a building explosion and warned all traffic to avoid the area in the northwest of the city. Philippines Duterte threatens to end US military pact AFP, Manila Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has threatened to end a pact key to annual war games with American troops if the US does not restore the travel visa of an official who oversaw his drug war. It is the latest in a long line of Dutertes threats to shrink or sever ties with historical ally Washington, which have periodically followed criticism of his deadly narcotics crackdown. Duterte spoke after Ronald Dela Rosa, the former national police chief who is now a senator, said the US had cancelled his visa but did not tell him why. Germanys only black MP reveals death threats AFP, Berlin Germanys only black MP said this week he had received death threats from right-wing extremists days after finding holes probably made by a pellet gun in his constituency office window. Karamba Diaby, a lawmaker for the centre-left Social Democratic Party (SPD), told German media that he had received the anonymous threat by email, which was reportedly signed with the words Sieg Heil and Heil Hitler. North Korea names army figure as foreign minister AP, Seoul, South Korea North Korea has named a sharp-tongued former army officer with little foreign policy experience as its top diplomat, in a possible indication it will take a harder line with Washington in stalled nuclear negotiations. Ri Son Gwons new title as foreign minister was disclosed Friday in a Korean Central News Agency dispatch that said he attended a reception for foreign diplomats in Pyongyang the previous day.