International

US Army veteran allegedly of Filipino descent arrested for plotting LA mass attack

  LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — A US Army veteran who was allegedly plotting a large-scale terror attack near Los Angeles as revenge for the recent mass shootings in New Zealand has been arrested, authorities said Monday. Mark Steven Domingo, 26, who had combat experience in Afghanistan and recently converted to Islam, faces federal terror-related charges for plotting mass casualties via a home-made bomb at a white nationalist rally in Long Beach this past […]

JUST IN: At least two dead in US university campus shooting: staff

  CHARLOTTE, United States (AFP) — At least two people were killed and several wounded Tuesday in a shooting at the University of North Carolina’s Charlotte campus, staff and local media reported. “Shots reported near Kennedy. Run, Hide, Fight. Secure yourself immediately,” the university’s office of emergency management tweeted. The Charlotte Observer said two people were dead and two others had life-threatening injuries. The local Fox television affiliate identified the dead as boys aged 17 […]

Japan’s new emperor Naruhito to ascend Chrysanthemum Throne

  by Richard CARTER Agence France Presse TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Japan’s new emperor Naruhito will on Wednesday formally take over the Chrysanthemum Throne following his father’s historic abdication from the world’s oldest monarchy that swept in a new imperial era. The 59-year-old will be presented with the sacred imperial treasures of a sword and a jewel, as well as the seals of state, at a solemn ceremony in the Room of Pine in the […]

Netanyahu sworn into Israel’s new parliament after election victory

  JERUSALEM (AFP) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was sworn into Israel’s new parliament on Tuesday following his victory in April 9 elections and will seek to form a governing coalition in the days ahead. Netanyahu was among the 120 members of the Knesset, or parliament, sworn in during an official ceremony. Netanyahu’s Likud won 35 seats in the election, the same as his main opponents from the centrist Blue and White alliance, led by […]

How the world is reacting to Venezuela ‘coup bid’

Venezuela was plunged into heightened chaos on Tuesday after self-proclaimed leader Juan Guaido said he had the support of troops to oust President Nicolas Maduro, while the government denounced what it called an attempted coup. Following are some initial reactions from world governments: – ‘Democracy cannot be defeated’ – The White House urged Venezuela’s armed forces to stand by the country’s “legitimate institutions.” President Donald Trump’s administration has been waging a mounting pressure campaign to […]

US says it ‘fully supports’ Venezuelan people’s ‘quest for freedom’

The United States on Tuesday threw its full weight behind Venezuela’s self-proclaimed acting president Juan Guaido, as the opposition leader said troops had joined his campaign to oust President Nicolas Maduro. “Today interim President Juan Guaido announced start of Operacion Libertad,” or “Operation Freedom,” tweeted Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, as Maduro’s government vowed to put down what it called an attempted coup. “The U.S. Government fully supports the Venezuelan people in their quest for […]

Venezuela says ‘attempted coup’ under way

by Alexander MARTINEZ Agence France Presse Venezuelan opposition leader and self-proclaimed acting president Juan Guaido said on Tuesday that troops had joined his campaign to oust President Nicolas Maduro as the government vowed to put down what it called an attempted coup. Hundreds of people, many waving Venezuelan flags, flocked onto a highway near a Caracas military base, and police responded with tear-gas as some of the demonstrators broke away to throw rocks at security […]

UK police probe hundreds of premature hospital deaths

  LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — British police opened an investigation on Tuesday into a hospital where hundreds of patients are believed to have died prematurely after being given powerful painkillers. Police are examining the care provided to patients who died at Gosport War Memorial Hospital in southern England between 1987 and 2001, police said in a statement. A review last year found that more than 450 people had their lives shortened at the hospital […]

Sahitya Sangam Literature Festival celebrates India’s diversity

by Emily Manuel Contributor, Eagle News (Eagle News) — The Embassy of India, together with Bharati, the Expatriate Indian Women’s Association in the Philippines, hosted the Sahitya Sangam Literature Festival at the Forbes Park Pavilion in Makati City last April 26, 2019. The festival celebrates India’s linguistic diversity and featured 11 of the 22 main languages in India through prose, poetry, song and dance. One of the works featured was that of Rabrindranath Tagore, a […]

China sentences another Canadian to death for drug trafficking

BEIJING, China (AFP) — A Chinese court sentenced a second Canadian man to death for drug trafficking on Tuesday amid diplomatic tensions between Ottawa and Beijing. The court in southern Guangdong province said the Canadian, Fan Wei, and 10 others — including an American and four Mexicans — had been part of an international narcotics syndicate working out of Taishan city between July and November 2012. The group produced and sold 6.34 kilos (14 pounds) […]

End of an era: Japan’s Emperor Akihito formally steps down, offers “deepest heartfelt gratitude to people of Japan”

  by Harumi OZAWA / Hiroshi HIYAMA Agence France Presse TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Emperor Akihito of Japan formally stepped down Tuesday, the first abdication for 200 years in the world’s oldest monarchy, as his son Naruhito prepared to take the Chrysanthemum Throne and usher in a new imperial era. In the “Room of Pine” in Tokyo’s Imperial Palace, the popular 85-year-old performed the abdication ritual in the presence of the imperial regalia — an ancient […]

Japan’s emperor performs main abdication ceremony

  TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Outgoing Japanese emperor Akihito on Tuesday performed the main ritual to hand over the Chrysanthemum Throne to his son Naruhito — Japan’s first abdication in more than two centuries. Akihito technically remains emperor until the stroke of midnight when the country ushers in the new imperial era of Reiwa, or “beautiful harmony”, that will last as long as Naruhito reigns. In a brief speech, the 85-year-old said he had spent […]