China’s New Ethnic Unity Law Could Target Taiwanese, Taipei Officials Warn

TAIPEI, March 12 (Reuters) – A new Chinese law on ethnic unity ⁠could ⁠give Beijing another legal basis to go ⁠after Taiwanese it views as separatists given language it contains on protecting China’s ​sovereignty and security, officials in Taipei say. China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, already has laws and regulations …

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UN Panel Says Racist Hate Speech by Trump and Other US Leaders Has Led to Human Rights Violations

GENEVA (AP) — A U.N.-backed panel of independent experts focusing on racial discrimination says racist hate speech by U.S. President Donald Trump and other American political leaders, along with a crackdown on immigration in the United States, have led to “grave human rights violations.” The Geneva-based Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination issued its …

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Italian Base in Iraqi Kurdistan Hit by Missile, Defence Ministry Says

ROME, March 12 (Reuters) – ⁠An ⁠Italian military ⁠base in Iraqi Kurdistan was ​struck by a missile overnight ‌though no injuries ‌were reported, the ⁠Italian ⁠defence ministry said on Thursday. “A missile hit our ​base in Erbil. There are no casualties or injuries ​among the Italian personnel. They are ⁠all ⁠fine,” the ministry ⁠said ​on …

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France’s Far Right Taps Into Security Fears in Marseille Mayoral Race

MARSEILLE, March 12 (Reuters) – Security-focused campaign videos by the far-right National Rally candidate shaking up ⁠Marseille’s ⁠mayoral race have helped die-hard supporter Marie-Helene Martin convince previously ⁠reticent relatives to vote for him, she said. To rousing music, Franck Allisio promises to triple the number of municipal cops, double the ​number of security cameras and …

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US Sued by Food Stamp Recipients Over Restrictions on Sugary Drinks, Candy

March 11 (Reuters) – Food stamp recipients ⁠sued ⁠the U.S. Department of Agriculture ⁠on Wednesday to undo Trump administration efforts to prevent them ​from using benefits to buy products such as sugary drinks, energy drinks and candy. In a ‌complaint filed in the Washington, ‌D.C. federal court, five plaintiffs said the restrictions “destabilize food access” …

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A Red Fox Stows Away on a Cargo Ship, Traveling From England to US

NEW YORK (AP) — This stowaway truly was sly as a fox. A red fox somehow slipped onto a cargo ship that traveled from Southampton, England, to New York, where the animal is now in the Bronx Zoo’s care. The zoo said Wednesday that the 11-pound (5-kilogram) male fox appears healthy after early examinations. “He …

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