International

Police shoot protester, man set on fire in day of Hong Kong fury

  by Jerome Taylor and Su Xinqi Agence France Presse HONG KONG, China (AFP) — A police officer shot a masked protester in an incident shown live on Facebook and a man was set on fire Monday during one of the most violent days of clashes in Hong Kong since pro-democracy unrest erupted more than five months ago. Protesters, who had already begun a city-wide day of action aimed at paralyzing the international financial hub, […]

80 Jewish graves desecrated in Denmark

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AFP) — Vandals have desecrated more than 80 graves at a Jewish cemetery in the western Danish town of Randers, police said Sunday. “More than 80 gravestones were daubed with green graffiti and some were overturned” at the Ostre Kirkegard cemetery, according toa police statement. “There are no symbols or words written on the gravestones but paint has been daubed on them,” the local Ritzau news agency quoted police spokesman Bo Christensen as […]

Bolivia’s President Morales resigns after losing backing of security forces

  by Francisco JARA Agence France Presse LA PAZ, Bolivia (AFP) — Bolivian President Evo Morales has resigned, caving in following three weeks of sometimes-violent protests over his disputed re-election after the army and police withdrew their backing, sparking wild celebrations in La Paz. “I resign my post as president,” the leftist Morales said Sunday in a televised address, capping a day of fast-moving events in which many ministers and senior officials quit as support […]

Sydney region faces ‘catastrophic’ bushfire threat

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — A state of emergency was declared on Monday and residents in the Sydney area were warned of “catastrophic” fire danger as Australia girded for a fresh wave of deadly bushfires that have ravaged the drought-stricken east of the country. For the first time, Australia’s largest city and the surrounding area faced the highest level of fire warning — with authorities cautioning that “lives and homes will be at risk”. “There is […]

Bolivia’s Morales: There is a warrant for his arrest

LA PAZ, Bolivia (AFP) — Evo Morales, who resigned as Bolivia’s president Sunday after losing the support of the army and police, has said there is now a warrant for his arrest. “I declare to the world and the people of Bolivia that a police official said publicly that he has instructions to execute an order of illegal apprehension against my person,” Morales tweeted. But police commander Vladimir Yuri Calderon told local Unitel television that […]

Mexico offers asylum to Bolivia’s Morales: foreign minister

MEXICO CITY, Mexico (AFP) — Mexico on Sunday said it was offering asylum to Bolivia’s President Evo Morales after 20 government officials and lawmakers had sought refuge at its embassy in La Paz. “Mexico, in accordance with its tradition of asylum and non-intervention, has received 20 personalities from the Bolivian executive and legislature in the official residence in La Paz, so we would also offer asylum to Evo Morales,” Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said on […]

20 dead as Cyclone Bulbul smashes into India, Bangladesh coasts

by Sam Jahan with Sailendra Sil in Kolkata KHULNA, Bangladesh (AFP) — Twenty people died and more than two million others spent a night huddled in storm shelters as Cyclone Bulbul smashed into the coasts of India and Bangladesh with fierce gales and torrential rains, officials said Sunday. The cyclone packed winds of up to 120 kilometers (75 miles) per hour when it hit late Saturday, forcing the closure of ports and airports in both […]

Venezuela’s Maduro condemns ‘coup d’Etat’ against Bolivia’s Morales

CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP) –Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro on Sunday condemned a “coup d’Etat” in Bolivia following the resignation of President Evo Morales after weeks of protests. “We categorically condemn the coup d’Etat against our brother president,” the socialist Maduro said on Twitter, calling for a mobilization of political and social movements “to demand the preservation of the life of the Bolivian native peoples, victims of racism.” © Agence France-Presse

Saudi Aramco outlines risks and strengths ahead of IPO

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AFP) — Energy giant Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest company, has lifted the lid on its secretive operations in a prospectus ahead of a highly anticipated listing on the Riyadh stock exchange. As a legal requirement for its initial public offering, expected to be the world’s biggest, Aramco has published major risks and strengths that could impact the company’s operations. Here are the factors that the energy Goliath said investors must take […]

Bolivia’s Morales resigns after losing backing of security forces

by Francisco JARA LA PAZ, Bolivia (AFP) — Bolivian President Evo Morales resigned Sunday, caving in following three weeks of sometimes-violent protests over his disputed re-election after the army and police withdrew their backing. “I resign my post as president,” the leftist Morales said in a televised address, capping a day of fast-moving events in which several ministers and senior officials quit as support for Latin America’s longest-serving president crumbled. The streets of La Paz […]

French bishops approve payouts for sex abuse victims by priests

  by Karine Perret Agence France Presse LOURDES, France (AFP) — French bishops on Saturday approved a program of payouts to victims of sex abuse by priests — but survivors have already objected that the Catholic Church has not gone far enough in admitting responsibility. Voting at the bi-annual Conference of French Bishops (CEF) in the southern city of Lourdes, a large majority of the 120 bishops approved the payments to those who had suffered […]

Australia bushfires leave three dead, at least 150 homes lost

  by Daniel DE CARTERET Agence France Presse BOBIN, Australia (AFP) — Catastrophic bushfires in eastern Australia have killed at least three people and forced thousands from their homes, with the death toll expected to rise as firefighters struggle towards hard-to-reach communities. In the normally picturesque coastal town of Forster — one among dozens hit along the eastern seaboard — vast plumes of smoke shot out from multiple blazes as water bombers swooped in overhead. […]