New York

SpaceX Dragon cargo craft docks with orbital outpost

NEW YORK, May 6. /TASS/: The US SpaceX Dragon resupply ship docked with the International Space Station (ISS) on Monday.

The spacecraft’s approach and arrival at the docking port of the Harmony module was implemented with the help of the Canadarm 2 remote-controlled robotic arm. The docking process was broadcast live on NASA’s website.

Brother of Paul Whelan says detention hearing due in late May

NEW YORK, May 6. /TASS/: A detention hearing of Paul Whelan, an American charged with espionage in Russia, is expected to take place in late May, Paul’s brother David Whelan told TASS in an email on Monday.

"He will have a detention hearing in late May [probably May 23 or 24, according to Judge Ryabtsev's docket] and is likely to remain in Lefortovo for another two to three months to enable continued FSB pressure," the email reads.

UN envoy says working with Egypt in bid to end Gaza fighting

UNITED NATIONS, May 05 (APP): The United Nations and Egypt are working together to prevent the situation in Gaza from escalating as more than 200 rockets were fired at Israel and some 120 targets in Gaza struck by Israeli war planes on Saturday, according to UN special envoy for Middle East peace, Nickolay Mladenov.

Michael Cohen heads to prison in Trump hush-money scheme

NEW YORK (AP) — Michael Cohen, the former lawyer, media attack dog and all-around fixer for President Donald Trump, is scheduled to begin serving a three-year prison sentence Monday for crimes including campaign finance violations related to hush-money payments made on Trump’s behalf.

Cohen faces a 2 p.m. deadline to report to the Federal Correctional Institution, Otisville, a federal prison in the countryside 70 miles (113 kilometers) northwest of New York City. A minimum-security prison camp there has become a haven for white-collar criminals.

Lahore Literary Festival’s 4th edition ends in New York

NEW YORK, May 05 (APP): The fourth edition of Lahore Literary Festival (LLF) concluded in New York Saturday night after lively discussions of Pakistan’s arts and literature, with Pakistani Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi saying this annual event was an expression of the cultural renaissance that has been underway in the country in recent years.

“The cultural landscape in Pakistan has seen a flowering of art, music, literature, and yes, cinema too, all of which have presented a rich panorama of creativity” ,

USA: 4 young suspects charged for terror plot

GREECE, N.Y. (AP) — The arrest of three young men and a teen on charges of plotting to attack a Muslim settlement in upstate New York has raised a number of questions. Here’s what we know about suspects Vincent Vetromile, Andrew Crysel, Andrew Colaneri and a 16-year-old The Associated Press is not naming because of his age. All have pleaded not guilty. Their families declined comment, and defense lawyers did not return calls for comment.

VETROMILE:

UN special envoy for Syria cautiously optimistic about political process

UNITED NATIONS, April 30 (Xinhua): UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen on Tuesday expressed cautious optimism about the prospects of the political process in Syria.

"After eight years of conflict, this process will be long and difficult. But I think it is possible to move forward step by step," Pedersen told the Security Council in a briefing.

Many earlier differences over the constitutional committee, a key element in the Syrian political process, have been narrowed down, he said.

Foreign attempt to spark civil war in Venezuela has failed

UNITED NATIONS, April 30 (Xinhua): Venezuela's envoy to the United Nations (UN) on Tuesday said the attempt by foreign powers to spark a civil war to open the doors for a military intervention from abroad and impose a puppet government in his country has failed.

The government of President Nicolas Maduro acted rapidly and isolated the "focal point of public disorder" and the country "is in total normality throughout the national territory," Venezuelan Permanent Representative to the UN Samuel Moncada Acosta said at a press briefing.

Security Council renews UN mandate for Western Sahara

UNITED NATIONS, April 30 (Xinhua): The UN Security Council on Tuesday adopted a resolution to renew the mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) for another six months, till Oct. 31, 2019.

Resolution 2468 won the support of 13 of the 15 members of the Security Council. Russia and South Africa abstained.

The resolution emphasizes the need to achieve a realistic, practicable and enduring political solution to the question of Western Sahara.

Harvey Weinstein hearing could be held in secret

NEW YORK (AP) — An important pretrial hearing in Harvey Weinstein’s sexual assault case could play out in secret if a judge rules against news organizations fighting to keep the courtroom open.

Both the prosecution and defense have asked that Friday’s hearing, which will deal with trial strategy and potential witnesses, be held behind closed doors.

Prosecutors say they want to protect Weinstein’s right to a fair trial and shield the identities of women who’ve accused the disgraced movie mogul of wrongdoing.

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