German justice minister backs second Brexit
referendum
Reuters, Berlin
A second referendum on Britain’s exit from the European Union would make sense, German Justice Minister Katarina Barley told a German broadcaster on Thursday, after British lawmakers rejected Prime Minister Theresa May’s draft Brexit agreement.
She told NDR that the first referendum was on the idea of Brexit while a second one would be on the draft exit deal with the EU. “These are two different things,” said Barley, a Social Democrat in conservative Chancellor Angela Merkel’s coalition, according to a transcript of the interview.
Storm claims 5 lives in California
Reuters, California
At least five people have died in severe rain and snowstorms that blanketed parts of California with at least five feet of snow in the Sierra Nevada mountains this week, besides triggering flooding and mudslides, officials said.
Forecasters expect the bitter weather to push eastwards into the Rockies and U.S. Midwest through the weekend, while the California Highway Patrol said rain-slicked highways led to two fatal accidents that killed four people.
Trump picks 3 Indian-Americans for key posts
AP, Washington
US President Donald Trump has nominated three influential Indian-Americans, including a nuclear expert, to important administration positions.
Rita Baranwal was nominated for the post of Assistant Secretary of Energy (Nuclear Energy), Aditya Bamzai for member of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board and Bimal Patel as the assistant secretary of Treasury.
The nomination of Ms Baranwal, Mr Bamzai and Mr Patel was sent to the Senate on Wednesday.
Israeli student, 21, killed in Australia
AFP, Sydeny
An Israeli student has been killed in a late-night attack in Australia while she was speaking on the phone with her sister, police said Thursday.
Police appealed to the public for help tracking down the killer of 21-year-old Aiia Maasarwe, whose body was found early Wednesday near the campus of the Melbourne university where she was studying.
