Krista's Current News

At least nine journalists among the dead as ISIL suicide bombers launch double bombing attack in Afghan capital. At least 29 people, including nine journalists, have been killed and dozens wounded after two explosions hit Kabul, according to Afghan health officials. The blasts went off during rush hour on Monday morning in the Shash Darak area of the Afghan capital. Al Jazeera's Jennifer Glasse, reporting from Kabul, said the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group claimed responsibility for the attack. In the first explosion, a motorcycle-riding attacker detonated himself close to the National Directorate of Security (NDS), the main Afghan intelligence agency, TOLOnews quoted an interior ministry spokesman as saying. In the explosion that followed about half an hour later, a second suicide bomber targeted emergency medical workers and journalists who had arrived near the scene of the first blast. Al Jazeera's Glasse said the second sui

A woman says she is facing a $500 (£357) fine from the US customs agency after a free apple she was given as a snack on a plane was found in her bag. Crystal Tadlock, travelling to the US from Paris, said she was saving the fruit for her onward flight to Denver. But the apple was found in a random search by US border agents after her first flight landed in Minneapolis. US Customs and Border Patrol would not comment on the case, but said all agricultural items should be declared. The apple was handed out in a plastic Delta Air Lines bag. Ms Tadlock said she did not remove it from the bag, and instead put it in her baggage for the second part of her journey to Denver, Colorado. She posted a photo on Twitter of the plastic bag and box which had contained the contraband sliced fruit, adding the hashtag "#anappleadaydoesntkeepcustomsaway". Twitter Post: False. I did not enjoy the apple. Instead I received a $500 violation, had my global entry revoked (first time I’v

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has said he wants to "vigorously advance" closer ties with South Korea, according to state media. The report follows a rare visit to Pyongyang by senior South Korean officials, who had dinner with the normally reclusive leader. They are the first officials from Seoul to meet Mr Kim since he came to power. The trip was part of a wave of rapprochement moves surrounding the Winter Olympics. South Korea commented only briefly on the meeting, saying the visit was "not disappointing" and the two sides had reached a "satisfactory agreement" on holding future talks. The special envoys returned to Seoul on Tuesday morning, Yonhap news agency said. The delegation is expected to visit Washington later this week to brief US officials on their talks in the North. The US has said it is "cautiously optimistic" about improving North-South contacts, but ruled out formal talks with Pyongyang unless it is ready to give u

Russia's President Vladimir Putin has ordered a daily pause in the assault by its ally, the Syrian government, on the rebel-held Eastern Ghouta area. It will start on Tuesday, and include the creation of a "humanitarian corridor" to allow civilians to leave. The rebel enclave near Damascus, where 393,000 civilians are trapped, has been under intense bombardment by government forces with Russian support. More than 550 people have been killed in eight days, a monitoring group says. Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu made the announcement about the humanitarian pause", saying it would run from 09:00 until 14:00 local time (07:00-12:00 GMT) daily. He said more details on the corridor would be released soon. The United Nations Security Council unanimously called for a nationwide 30-day cessation of hostilities on Saturday. The resolution demanded that "all parties cease hostilities without delay" to allow aid deliveries and medical evacuations

Oxfam has revealed that three of the men accused of sexual misconduct in Haiti physically threatened witnesses during a 2011 investigation. The charity has published its internal report on alleged abuse by some of its staff following public pressure. In the 2011 report, Oxfam said "more needed" to be done to prevent "problem staff" working for other charities. Despite the warning, several men linked to the alleged abuse subsequently took up roles at other charities. Oxfam - which has almost 10,000 staff working in more than 90 countries - has released a redacted version of the report, saying it wants to be "as transparent as possible" about the decisions it made. Parts of the 11-page document are blacked out to hide people's identities, including the names of the three men accused of intimidating witnesses. Oxfam will present the original, unedited report to the government in Haiti on Monday and apologize for "mistakes". Oxfam

The Maldives government has declared a 15-day state of emergency as political tensions on the island nation continue to intensify. Legal Affairs Minister  Azima Shakoor made the announcement on Monday evening on state television, and a statement attributed to President Abdulla Yameen was posted on the ministry of foreign affairs website. "The government of Maldives wishes to also assure all Maldivians and the international community that the safety of all Maldivians and foreigners living in and visiting the Maldives will be ensured," the statement said.  The Maldives plunged into political turmoil last week after the country's top court  threw  out a "terrorism" conviction against its former president Mohamed Nasheed, and ordered the release of other jailed opposition politicians. The ruling dealt a blow to Yameen with critics accusing him of corruption, misrule, and rights abuses. He denies the allegations. Earlier  Shakoor said: "The govern