International

Tear gas, rubber bullets fired at Hong Kong protesters for 2nd day

by Jerome TAYLOR / Yan ZHAO HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Riot police in Hong Kong launched volleys of tear gas and rubber bullets on Sunday during hours of running battles with pro-democracy protesters close to Beijing’s office in the city, marking the second consecutive day officers have fired on demonstrators. As the unauthorized protest occurred, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office — China’s top policy unit for the two cities — said in […]

Girl’s murder sparks outcry and protests in Romania

  BUCHAREST, Romania (AFP) — Several thousand protesters rallied in Bucharest on Saturday after Romania’s police chief was fired over the murder of a 15-year-old girl who had made three emergency calls to report her own kidnapping and given clues to her whereabouts. Critics allege that officials failed to take the alert seriously and finally reacted too late to help save the teen, identified as Alexandra. Amid chants of “incompetence” and angry calls for the […]

China landslide death toll rises to 36 with 15 still missing

  BEIJING, China (AFP) — The death toll in a landslide which buried a village in southwest China rose to 36, state broadcaster CCTV said Sunday, with 15 still missing days after the disaster struck. The state-run People’s Daily said rescue work is ongoing at the site in Shuicheng county, Guizhou province, where a thick torrent of mud buried 22 houses in the landslide on Tuesday. CCTV broadcast footage of rescue workers trying to reach […]

On its 105th year, Iglesia Ni Cristo in 152 countries, continuing to help communities worldwide

  The Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) is now in 152 countries and territories, and continues to help various communities worldwide, as it celebrates its 105th anniversary on Saturday, July 27, 2019. INC minister Bro. Edwil Zabala from the Church’s Public Information Office explained how the Church and its members worldwide are fulfilling the biblical doctrine to love their fellowmen. This is through various socio-civic and spiritual upliftment activities such as in “Aid to […]

China landslide death toll rises to 24

  BEIJING, China (AFP) — The death toll in a landslide that buried a village in southwest China rose to 24 on Friday, with 27 people still missing three days after the disaster, state media said. Four more bodies were found on Friday after five, including two children and a mother with a baby, were unearthed the day before in Shuicheng county, Guizhou province, according to official news outlets. Eleven people have been found alive […]

Bangladesh flood death toll surpasses 100

  DHAKA, Bangladesh (AFP) — The death toll from monsoon storms in Bangladesh rose above 100 Friday with flood levels still rising in many parts of the country, officials said. About 20 people have died in 48 hours, taking the toll to 104, making it one of the worst monsoons in years, officials said. Most victims have drowned but some have been killed by landslides, snake bites and lightning strikes. Five girls aged between six […]

North Korea: New missile a ‘solemn warning’ to South

SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has said two missiles fired under his supervision were newly designed tactical weapons that sent a “solemn warning” to the South over plans to hold military drills with the United States. Thursday’s missile tests were the first since Kim and US President Donald Trump agreed to resume nuclear talks during an impromptu meeting last month in the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea. […]

Japan police raid arson attack suspect’s residence

TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Japanese police on Friday raided the home of the main suspect in a deadly arson attack that killed 34 people at an anime firm in Kyoto, media reports said. The suspect, identified publicly by police in a rare move as Shinji Aoba, reportedly remains in hospital in serious condition with burns from the blaze he is alleged to have started. The horrifying inferno on July 18 killed 34 people, most of […]

China landslide death toll rises to 20

BEIJING, China (AFP) — The death toll in a landslide that buried a village in southwest China rose to 20 on Friday, with 25 people still missing three days after the disaster, state media said. Rescuers found the bodies of two children, a mother with her baby, and another woman on Thursday in Shuicheng county, Guizhou province, according to state broadcaster CCTV, citing an investigation. Eleven people have been found alive since the side of […]

US wants talks with North Korea, not ‘provocations’

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States on Thursday said it wanted to continue talking with North Korea but called for a halt to “provocations” after a fresh missile test by Pyongyang. Earlier in the day, North Korea fired two short-range missiles into the sea, its first test since an impromptu meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un last month that produced an agreement to resume a working-level […]

Hong Kong police ban ‘anti-triad’ protest

by Jerome TAYLOR / Yan ZHAO HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Hong Kong police on Thursday banned a planned protest against suspected triad gangs who beat up pro-democracy demonstrators, ratcheting up tensions ahead of what is expected to be another weekend of anti-government rallies. Protest organizers have vowed to go ahead with their march despite the police denying their request. Public anger has been raging since last Sunday when a gang of men in white […]

US to resume federal executions after 16-year break

by Paul HANDLEY WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The US government will resume its use of capital punishment after a 16-year hiatus and has set execution dates for five convicted murderers, Attorney General Bill Barr announced on Thursday. Acting on President Donald Trump’s call for tougher penalties on violent crimes, Barr directed the Federal Bureau of Prisons to adopt a new lethal injection protocol to clear the way to carry out death sentences. “The Justice […]