by Philippe RATER UNITED NATIONS, United States (AFP) — Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif warned Monday that the United States is “playing with fire,” echoing remarks by President Donald Trump as the two sides are locked in a standoff over Tehran’s nuclear program. The United States quit an international deal aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear program last year, hitting Tehran with crippling sanctions. Tensions have since soared, with the US calling off air strikes […]
Asia
Fourteen killed in building collapse as monsoon batters South Asia
NEW DELHI, India (AFP) — Fourteen people were killed when a building collapsed in northern India following heavy monsoon rains which have left more than 130 dead across South Asia, officials said Monday. Floods and landslides caused by the annual deluge have wreaked deadly havoc from the Himalayan foothills to low-lying camps housing Rohingya refugees, with officials warning tolls could rise as they scramble to reach affected communities. In Bangladesh, at least 29 people died […]
At least 50 dead in Nepal’s monsoon
KATHMANDU, Nepal (AFP) — Floods and landslides caused by torrential monsoon rains have killed at least 50 people across Nepal while dozens more are missing, officials said Sunday. Northeast India has also been hit by floods with 11 deaths recorded as rivers burst their banks. Heavy rains since Thursday have hit several districts in Nepal, especially in the country’s eastern region and the southern plains, affecting thousands. Nepal police spokesman Bishwaraj Pokharel said 33 people […]
Watch: (Eagle News video) Hong Kong clashes that turned violent inside a mall as protests vs extradition bill continue
In this video taken by the Eagle News team headed by EBC correspondent Kit Wong in Hong Kong, clashes between riot police and protesters turned violent inside the New Town Plaza Mall in Sha Tin late Sunday evening, July 14, 2019. The protest rallies against the controversial extradition bill did not abate even as the Hong Kong parliament suspended the bill. Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam said on July 9 that “the […]
Deadly monsoon destroys 5,000 shelters in Bangladesh Rohingya camps
by Sam JAHAN BALUKHALI, Bangladesh (AFP) — At least 10 people have died and thousands of shanty homes have been destroyed by monsoon rains in overcrowded Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh’s southeast, officials said Sunday. Bangladesh’s meteorological department said the Cox’s Bazar district — home to nearly one million Rohingya Muslims who have fled a military crackdown in Myanmar — has seen at least 58.5 centimeters (nearly two feet) of rain since July 2. An […]
Mall clashes at latest Hong Kong anti-extradition march
by Elaine YU Agence France Presse HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Riot police and protesters fought running battles in a Hong Kong shopping mall Sunday night as unrest caused by a widely loathed plan to allow extraditions to mainland China showed no sign of abating. Police used pepper spray and batons against small groups of protesters, who responded by hurling bottles and other projectiles, in a night of fresh violence in the international hub. […]
Major 7.3 quake hits remote Malukus in eastern Indonesia
LABUHA, Indonesia (AFP) — A major 7.3-magnitude earthquake hit the remote Maluku islands in eastern Indonesia Sunday, sending panicked residents running into the streets, but no tsunami warning was issued. The shallow quake struck about 165 kilometres (100 miles) south-southwest of the town of Ternate in North Maluku province at 6:28 pm (0928 GMT), according to the US Geological Survey. “The earthquake was quite strong, sending residents to flee outside. They are panicking and […]
Dutch tourist killed in Malaysia cave floods, guide missing
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AFP) — Flash floods killed a Dutch tourist in a popular cave located in the rugged Mulu National Park on Malaysia’s Borneo island, an official said Saturday, as a search continues for a missing guide. Local fire and rescue chief Law Poh Kiong identified the dead man as 66-year-old Peter Hans Hovenkamp from Utrecht in the central Netherlands. “He died due to drowning following flash floods in the caves. His body […]
Japan firm says $32 mn missing in cryptocurrency hack
TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — A Tokyo-based cryptocurrency exchange said Friday it had halted all services after losing cryptocurrency worth more than $32 million in the latest apparent hack involving virtual money. Remixpoint said its subsidiary BITPoint Japan discovered overnight that about 3.5 billion yen ($32.3 million) in various digital currencies had gone missing from its management. The apparent hack was discovered after an error appeared in the firm’s outgoing funds transfer system on Thursday […]
Pakistan train collision kills nine, injures 66
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — At least nine people were killed and more than 60 injured when two trains collided in central Pakistan early Thursday, officials said. The incident took place in Rahim yar Khan district in Punjab province when a passenger train coming from the eastern city of Lahore rammed into a goods train that had stopped at a crossing, a senior government official said. “At least nine dead bodies have been retrieved,” local […]
China demands US cancel arms sale to Taiwan
BEIJING, China (AFP) — China demanded Tuesday that the United States “immediately cancel” a potential sale of $2.2 billion in arms to self-ruled Taiwan, including battle tanks and anti-aircraft missiles, adding fuel to tensions between the two powers. The US later shrugged off China’s complaints, responding that the equipment would contribute to “peace and stability” in Asia. The sale would be the first transfer of big-ticket US military gear to the democratically-governed island in decades, […]
Kremlin condemns ‘absurdity’ as Britain bars RT, Sputnik from conference
MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — The Kremlin on Tuesday said it regretted that Russia’s RT and Sputnik news organisations were barred from taking part in a global conference on media freedom in London, calling the decision absurd. Britain on Monday said it refused to accredit the Russian state media outlets “because of their active role in spreading disinformation.” Some 60 ministers and 1,000 journalists and members of civil society are expected to attend the meeting […]





