International

No more survivors on New Zealand island after volcano eruption

  by Neil SANDS / with Holly Robertson in Sydney Agence France Presse WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AFP) — New Zealand police have said no more survivors were expected to be rescued from an island volcano that erupted suddenly on Monday, suggesting as many as two dozen people could have died. Police said some 50 people were visiting White Island when it exploded in the early afternoon — hurling ash and rock high into the air. […]

One critically injured as popular New Zealand volcano erupts

by Neil SANDS WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AFP) — At least one person was left in a critical condition when New Zealand’s White Island volcano erupted suddenly on Monday, leaving authorities scrambling to treat the injured and find those unaccounted for. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the volcanic island — also known as Whakaari — off New Zealand’s north coast had erupted while groups of tourists were visiting. “It is very much an evolving situation and […]

Miss South Africa is Miss Universe 2019

(Eagle News)–Miss South Africa is the new Miss Universe. Zozibini Tunzi received the crown from Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray from the Philippines in ceremonies in Atlanta. Tunzi was declared the winner after this answer: “The most important thing we should be teaching young girls today is leadership. It’s something that has been lacking in young girls and women for a very long time not because we don’t want to but because of what society […]

Hong Kongers mark half a year of protest with mammoth rally

by Jerome TAYLOR / Yan ZHAO HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Democracy protesters took part in the largest mass rally through Hong Kong’s streets in months on Sunday in a forceful display of support for the movement, with a leading activist warning the city’s pro-Beijing leaders they had a “last chance” to end the political crisis. Organizers estimated some 800,000 people snaked for hours through the financial hub’s main island as the protests marked six […]

Smoke haze settles over Australian capital as bushfires burn

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Smoke haze from bushfires raging in Australia spread to the capital Sunday, as firefighters raced to contain more than 140 blazes ahead of a heatwave forecast early this week. Australia is experiencing a horrific start to its fire season, which scientists say began earlier and is more extreme this year due to a prolonged drought and the effects of climate change. Residents of Canberra in the country’s southeast woke up to […]

Indian Ocean island Mayotte lifts cyclone red alert

MAMOUDZOU, France (AFP) — Officials on the small Indian Ocean island of Mayotte said Sunday they had lifted the red alert in place for Cyclone Belna, after it brushed past the French territory. Officials had told islanders to keep off the roads and stay indoors earlier as they declared a red alert in the expectation that the cyclone would hit the island. Island officials have not yet said how much damage the storm caused on […]

Trump warns Kim has ‘everything’ to lose through hostility

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Donald Trump warned Sunday that North Korea’s Kim Jong Un had “everything” to lose through hostility towards the United States, after Pyongyang said it had carried out a major new weapons test. “Kim Jong Un is too smart and has far too much to lose, everything actually, if he acts in a hostile way,” Trump tweeted in response to the unspecified test at the Sohae space launch center. The […]

Indian Prime Minister expresses condolences to families of victims of deadly fire in Delhi

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed on Sunday condolences to the families of victims of the deadly fire that hit a factory in Delhi. The fire erupted in the factory in the Anaj Mandi area of Delhi in the morning. According to the Hindustan Times newspaper, the death toll has risen to 43 people, while over 50 people were hospitalized. “The fire in Delhi’s Anaj Mandi on Rani Jhansi Road is extremely […]

At least 43 killed in Delhi factory fire

  NEW Delhi, India (AFP) — At least 43 people have died in a factory fire in India’s capital New Delhi, with the toll expected to rise, police told AFP. The blaze broke out in the early hours in the city’s old quarter, whose narrow and congested lanes are lined with many small manufacturing and storage units. “We… have since rescued at least 50 people,” Sunil Choudhary, New Delhi’s deputy chief fire officer, told AFP. […]

US has to keep up with Russia in terms of developing hypersonic weapons – Pentagon Chief

  The US Department of Defense is investing in the development of hypersonic weapons to keep up with Russia, which is leading in this sphere, according to a Sputnik report quoting US Defense Secretary Mark Esper. “We took a pause on this technology some years ago, when we had a clear lead, and what we’re doing now is playing catch-up. So the [Defense] Department is investing every dollar we can, every dollar that we can, […]

White House rejects participation in ‘baseless’ impeachment probe

  by Paul HANDLEY Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The White House blasted the impeachment inquiry into Donald Trump as “completely baseless” Friday, signalling it would not seek to defend the president in Democratic-led hearings to draw up formal charges against him. But Republicans demanded that Joe Biden’s son Hunter, the lawmaker leading the impeachment probe Adam Schiff, and the whistleblower at the origin of the inquiry all testify next week before […]

Australia braces for heatwave as more than 100 fires burn

  SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Out of control bushfires forced residents in eastern Australia to flee their homes on Saturday, as other parts of the country braced for a heatwave due next week. Bushfires are common in the country but scientists say this year’s season has come earlier and with more intensity due to a prolonged drought and climatic conditions fuelled by global warming. Scorching temperatures have tipped above 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) close […]