International

Trump signs executive orders for ‘revival’ of US energy

  CROSBY, United States (AFP) — In the US oil heartland on Wednesday, US President Donald Trump announced the signing of two executive orders to accelerate the construction of oil and gas pipelines, dismaying environmentalists. The latest measures are in line with others his administration has taken to ease regulation of the energy sector, a major employer and source of growth in Texas, where he made the announcement to trade union operating engineers. “Too often, […]

May:Britain could still leave EU before May 22

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AFP) — Prime Minister Theresa May said Thursday that Britain might still manage to execute an orderly departure from the European Union by May 22, despite winning a six-month reprieve from EU leaders. “What this extension enables us to do is to go through the process we’ve set up,” May said. “If we’re able to do that before May 22, then we won’t have to hold European Parliamentary Elections.” © Agence France-Presse

N. Korea urges ‘telling blow’ to forces imposing sanctions: KCNA

SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has struck a defiant note over his failed summit with US President Donald Trump in Hanoi and insisted Pyongyang would overcome the effect of sanctions, state media reported Thursday. The remarks were Kim’s first official comment on the North’s position since talks on denuclearisation with Washington broke down in Vietnam in February, in part over Pyongyang’s demands for immediate sanctions relief. Trump is set […]

EU gives Britain six-month delay to Brexit date

by Dave CLARK and Christian SPILLMANN BRUSSELS, Belgium (AFP) — European leaders agreed with Britain on Thursday to delay Brexit by up to six months, saving the continent from what could have been a chaotic no-deal departure at the end of the week. The deal struck during late night talks in Brussels means that if London remains in the EU after May 22, British voters will have to take part in European elections. Prime Minister […]

Modi favorite as India’s incredible election begins

by Simon STURDEE NEW DELHI, India (AFP) — India’s gargantuan election, the biggest in history, kicks off on Thursday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking a second term from the South Asian behemoth’s 900 million voters. Opinion polls put Modi, 68, as the favourite but he faces a tough challenge from not one but two scions of India’s storied Nehru-Gandhi dynasty attempting to capitalize on his poor record on jobs and rural poverty. Because of […]

Iran orders over 60,000 to evacuate flood-hit oil city

by Amir HAVASI AHVAZ, Iran (AFP) — Authorities ordered tens of thousands of residents of the southwestern Iranian city of Ahvaz to evacuate immediately on Wednesday as floodwaters entered the capital of oil-rich Khuzestan province, state television reported. The province’s governor, Gholamreza Shariati, said he ordered the evacuation of five districts as a “precautionary and preventive move to avert any danger”, Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported. Residents in two of the districts were reluctant to […]

Wreckage of missing Japan fighter jet found, pilot missing

TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Wreckage from a Japanese F-35A stealth fighter jet has been found a day after it disappeared off the radar over the Pacific, the country’s defense minister said Wednesday. There was no word yet on the fate of the one pilot on board the jet, Defence Minister Takeshi Iwaya said. “We have collected part of its tail” in search operations at sea with planes and vessels, Iwaya told reporters. “We believe it crashed,” […]

Netanyahu on clearer path to victory in Israeli election: media

JERUSALEM, Undefined (AFP) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was on a clearer path to victory on Wednesday in Israel’s general election after updated exit polls showed him gaining ground on his main rival. Two updated exit polls by Israeli television channels put his rightwing Likud ahead of rival Benny Gantz’s Blue and White by one seat. One of the polls further improved his chances of forming a coalition government based on smaller rightwing parties allied […]

UN postpones Libya talks as violence rages

by Imed Lamloum TRIPOLI, Libya (AFP) — The United Nations on Tuesday postponed a Libyan national conference aimed at drawing up an election roadmap because of fighting raging near the capital, in another setback to peace efforts. The move came as the North African country’s warring parties faced mounting international pressure to halt the violence that has caused thousands to flee and left several dozen people dead. “We cannot ask people to take part in […]

Torrential rain in Rio de Janeiro leaves 10 dead

by Allison JACKSON RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AFP) — Torrential rain left at least 10 people dead in Rio de Janeiro, officials said Tuesday, as emergency workers rescued people trapped by the downpour and clean-up efforts gathered pace. The unusually heavy rain began Monday evening and continued into Tuesday, triggering widespread flash flooding that turned some streets into raging rivers, toppled trees and swept away cars as the state emergency agency declared a crisis. The […]

Japan F-35 fighter disappears over Pacific

TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — A Japanese F-35A stealth fighter jet with one pilot on board disappeared off the radar while on a training mission over the Pacific late Tuesday, the defense ministry said. The fighter jet went missing around 7:30 pm (1030 GMT) as it was flying some 135 kilometers (84 miles) east of Misawa, northeastern Japan, a ministry spokeswoman said. The plane lost contact about 30 minutes after taking off from Misawa Air Base […]

Netanyahu, main challenger neck and neck after Israeli election: exit polls

by Jonah Mandel and Mike Smith JERUSALEM, Undefined (AFP) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his main challenger Benny Gantz were neck and neck after Israeli elections on Tuesday, exit polls showed, but the premier seemed better placed to form a coalition. Both men claimed victory after the exit surveys were released by Israel’s three main television stations following the closure of polling places at 1900 GMT. Exit polls have proven to be unreliable in […]