International

French priest jailed for sexual abuse

COLMAR, France (AFP) — A French priest was Friday sentenced to five years, two without parole, for sexually assaulting four young female parishioners, one of whom was just nine when the offences started, and embezzling 100,000 euros ($115,000) to pay one of his victims. The trial was held behind closed doors at Colmar Criminal Court, in northeast France, which publicly announced the sentence late Friday. The 60-year-old cleric, who will have to spend at least […]

Knicks fans react to Porzingis trade to Mavs

By Tennie Sumague EBC New York Bureau NEW YORK, NY (Eagle News) – It is news more colder than Thursday’s frigid New York weather. A trade that no one saw coming and moreso, shocking to many beloved New York Knicks fans as the ‘unicorn’ will no longer create magic at the world’s famous arena in a blue and orange uniform. The Knicks organization made a surprising move by dealing All-Star Forward Kristaps Porzingis, Tim Hardaway […]

January was Australia’s hottest month ever: govt

  SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Australia suffered its hottest month ever in January, when widespread heatwaves exacerbated an already devastating drought, fuelled bushfires and contributed to mass fish deaths, officials reported Friday. The government’s Bureau of Meteorology said the mean temperature across the vast continent in January exceeded 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) for the first time in recorded history. “We saw heatwave conditions affect large parts of the country through most of the […]

In photos: Raging floodwaters hit Townsville, Queensland in Australia

  (Eagle News) — For more than a week, Townsville in Queensland, Australia has been experiencing strong winds accompanied by heavy rainfall. On Friday, February 1, Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology said heaviest falls were occurring over Townsville, with up to 200 millimeters of water predicted that day. These photos here showed how the raging floodwaters hit the town. The Queensland Bureau of Meteorology had earlier raised warnings of flash floods within the area. The city […]

Bangkok governor appeals for help reducing toxic smog

BANGKOK, Thailand (AFP) — Bangkok’s governor on Thursday appealed for help to battle the toxic smog shrouding the capital as the deployment of drones left Bangkok residents unimpressed. The city has been blanketed in a murky haze for weeks, inciting criticism from the public over the government’s response, which has veered from playing down the problem to abruptly shutting schools. Authorities have seeded clouds to provoke rain, sprayed overpasses with water to catch micro-pollutants, and […]

US bishops release names of 300 Texas clergy accused of abuse

by Nova Safo / with Javier Tovar in Los Angeles Agence France Presse CHICAGO, United States (AFP) — Catholic officials in the US state of Texas on Thursday released the names of approximately 300 clergy who have been accused of sexual abuse dating back 70 years. The revelations — which came on the same day that a law firm said that more than 80 priests sexually abused minors in a California diocese over a period […]

Hong Kong seizes record eight tonnes of pangolin scales

HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Hong Kong customs officers unveiled a record seizure of pangolin scales on Friday, the latest huge haul to underscore the city’s central role in the lucrative and booming illegal wildlife trade. Officials said they conducted a joint investigation with mainland customs officers on 16 January, seizing 8,300 kilos of pangolin scales and 2,100 kilos of ivory tusks hidden inside a container at a customs facility. “This is a record high […]

Plane skids off runway, closing parts of Tokyo’s Narita

TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — A Japan Airlines plane from New Delhi skidded off a snow-bound runway at Narita Airport on Friday, officials told AFP, briefly closing part of Tokyo’s main hub. Spokespeople from the airport and the carrier said the 201 passengers and crew had all been escorted off the Boeing 787 jet with no serious injuries. The accident forced the airport to close one of its two runways for an hour from 7 am […]

China says US trade talks made ‘important progress’

BEIJING, China (AFP) — The US and Chinese negotiators made “important progress” in their trade talks in Washington, China’s official Xinhua news agency said on Friday. The two sides held “candid, specific and fruitful” discussions, the agency said, citing a statement from the Chinese delegation. © Agence France-Presse

US urges Venezuela’s Maduro to accept amnesty

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States on Thursday urged Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro to accept an amnesty offer from opposition leader Juan Guaido, whom Washington has recognized as president. “I wish Nicolas Maduro and his top advisors a long, quiet retirement, living on a nice beach somewhere far from Venezuela,” national security advisor John Bolton tweeted. “They should take advantage of President Guaido’s amnesty and move on. The sooner the better,” he said. Guaido […]