International

Vatican assembly set to vote on whether to recommend allowing married men to join priesthood

by Catherine MARCIANO Agence France Presse VATICAN CITY (AFP) — Catholic bishops gathered at a special Vatican assembly will vote Saturday on whether to recommend to Catholic Church’s Pope Francis to open the priesthood to married men or create female deacons, issues that are taboo for traditionalists. The ballot comes at the close of a three-week “synod” on the Pan-Amazonian region which highlighted the challenges facing the region, from the destruction of the rainforest to […]

Rescuers hunt for missing as landslides, floods kill 10 in Japan

    TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Rescuers worked by hand to clear debris from a landslide triggered by heavy rains in central Japan on Saturday, as the toll from the storms rose to 10 dead with a further three people reportedly missing. Aerial footage showed emergency workers removing wreckage from two houses that were swept away in Chiba, southeast of Tokyo, just two weeks after a deadly typhoon barrelled through the area. Nine people were […]

Over a million protesters demand Chile president’s resignation

  by Giovanna FLEITAS / Paula Bustamante Agence France Presse SANTIAGO, Chile (AFP) — More than one million people took to the streets in Chile Friday for the largest protests in a week of deadly demonstrations demanding economic reforms and the resignation of President Sebastian Pinera. The leader told the thronging masses that he had “heard the message” in a post on Twitter, characterizing the protests in a positive light and as a means towards […]

Firefighters battle fierce wildfires across California

  by Jocelyne ZABLIT Agence France Presse LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Firefighters on Friday battled several wildfires raging across California that destroyed homes and forced evacuations, as more than 18 million people were under a red flag warning in the southern part of the state. Tens of thousands of residents near Santa Clarita, north of Los Angeles, fled their homes as the so-called Tick Fire scorched 4,300 acres (1,740 hectares) and was only […]

Botswana’s President Masisi wins hotly contested election

  GABORONE, Botswana (AFP) — Incumbent president Mokgweetsi Masisi on Friday won a five-year term in Botswana’s elections which saw his ruling party secure more than 51 percent of parliamentary votes, the chief justice said. “Dr. Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi is elected President of the Republic of Botswana,” chief justice Terrence Rannowane announced. The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), which has ruled since independence from Britain in 1966, was declared the winner after attaining the minimum […]

At least 16 dead in anti-Abiy protests in Ethiopia: Amnesty

  ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AFP) — At least 16 people have been killed in violence in Ethiopia this week that began with protests against Prime Minister and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Abiy Ahmed, an Amnesty International researcher said Friday. “Up to now we have confirmed 16 people dead, but the number must be more than that because new reports are emerging which we have not confirmed,” Fisseha Tekle told AFP. He said the violence had […]

Japan trade minister resigns over donation scandal

  TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Japan’s new trade minister has submitted his resignation after being accused of violating election law by offering voters money and gifts, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Friday. Isshu Sugawara had been in the hot seat after a magazine reported he was suspected of paying 20,000 yen ($185) to a bereaved family in his constituency. He was also reported to have given gifts to other voters, including pricey melons and […]

Japan police hunt stolen diamond worth $1.8 million

TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Japanese police were on the hunt Friday for a stolen diamond worth more than $1.8 million after the pricey piece was discovered missing from a jewelry trade show outside Tokyo. “The diamond stolen on Thursday was valued at 200 million yen. We believe it was stolen from a display case,” a police spokesman told AFP. The 50-carat loose diamond was on display at a three-day show in Yokohama city where companies […]

Tens of thousands evacuated as wildfires rage in California

by Jocelyne ZABLIT LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Some 50,000 people were ordered to flee their homes north of Los Angeles on Thursday as a fast-moving wildfire driven by high winds erupted and raged out of control. The so-called Tick Fire near Santa Clarita, about 40 miles (65 kilometers) north of Los Angeles, broke out in the early afternoon and quickly consumed 5,000 acres (2,023 hectares), fire officials said. The blaze burned several homes and […]

Quartararo crash overshadows first Australia practice

PHILIP ISLAND, Australia (AFP) — French rookie Fabio Quartararo suffered a big scare Friday in the first practice session for the Australian Grand Prix, stretchered from the scene after coming off his Petronas Yamaha in wet and slippery conditions. The 20-year-old sensation, who finished second in Japan last weekend, was thrown over his handlebars on turn 6. His bike appeared to then hit him and he was shown clutching his lower left leg before being […]

Bolivia’s Morales claims victory in disputed election

by José Arturo Cárdenas LA PAZ, Bolivia (AFP) — Bolivian President Evo Morales declared victory Thursday in elections whose disputed results have triggered riots, a general strike and opposition charges that he is trying to steal a fourth term in office. Hours later, the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) on its website declared Morales the winner with 99.8 percent of the ballots counted from Sunday’s vote. Morales had 47.1 percent, the tribunal said, against 36.5 percent […]

US senators call for security probe of TikTok

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Two senior US senators called for the government to study national security risks possibly posed by Chinese-owned video app TikTok, saying it could leave American users vulnerable to Beijing’s spying. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and Republican Senator Tom Cotton asked the Directorate of National Intelligence to “conduct an assessment of the national security risks” posed by TikTok. “With over 110 million downloads in the US alone, TikTok is a […]