CHINA has ordered stepped-up safety measures over the CNY travel rush in the wake of terrorist threats and the fatal stampede in Shanghai. Beijing estimates about 2.8 billion trips will be made by train, bus, plane and car during the 40-day travel rush that began in early February and ends around March 15.
SAUDI ARABIA has condemned the killing in N Carolina of three American Muslim college students as a “heinous terrorist” act, and called for respecting religious beliefs and halting incitement against Muslims. The statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency yesterday also condemned as a “terrorist” act the attacks that killed two people in Denmark.
ISRAEL An Israeli settler group is under fire for releasing a YouTube video portraying Israeli leftists as collaborators with European anti-Semites. “The eternal Jew” depicts a grotesquely animated Jew with a long, bent nose who informs on his brethren in return for a coin tossed from his European master.
GERMANY Police in the German city of Braunschweig cancelled a popular Carnival street parade yesterday because of fears of an imminent Islamist terror attack. Police spokesman Thomas Geese said police received credible information that there was a “concrete threat of an attack with an Islamist background” on the parade and therefore called on all visitors to stay at home.
DUBAI State-backed conglomerate Dubai World says it has reached a deal with creditors to rework terms on USD14.6 billion of debt, giving it more breathing room as it works to move beyond its financial challenges. The company said it will pay back $2.92 billion worth of the debt earlier than scheduled this year and extend repayment of the rest from 2018 until 2022. The lenders include banks and investors from the Middle East, Europe and Asia.
USA The payment processing company Visa will roll out a new feature this spring that will allow its cardholders to inform their banks where they are automatically, using the location function found in nearly every smartphone.
USA A man from India who was slammed to the ground by a police officer had been singled out by police after a caller said a “skinny black guy” with a toboggan hat was walking in the neighborhood and peering into garages, recordings show.
NEW YORK Prince woke up early Saturday to share some love and hits on Valentine’s Day to a star-stud crowd. Former basketball star Michael Jordan, Beyonce, Jay Z, Chris Rock and Queen Latifah, were among those dancing and singing to his rousing set in downtown New York City.
NEW ZEALAND Police ejected several men from the opening match of the Cricket World Cup between New Zealand and Sri Lanka for what they suspect were prohibited betting activities.
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