International

Trump unveils $16-billion aid for farmers hurt by China trade war

by Heather SCOTT WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Donald Trump on Thursday unveiled a new $16 billion aid package to help farmers caught in the crossfire his trade war with China. “The farmers have been attacked by China,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “We’re going to help out our farmers and we’re giving them that level playing field that is so important.” Trump again claimed that China is paying the 25 percent […]

Trump, Pelosi trade barbs as impeachment talk stirs anger

by Michael Mathes / Sebastian Smith WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Democratic congressional leader Nancy Pelosi on Thursday said Donald Trump is angry that her party is not rushing to impeach him, as the relationship reached new lows with the rivals trading crude personal barbs. It was the second straight day of a very public war of words between Trump and the speaker of the House of Representatives, who earlier questioned the president’s mental fitness […]

Tornadoes kill three in central US, region braces for more storms

by Nova SAFO WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Rescuers searched door-to-door for survivors Thursday in the central US state of Missouri following a deadly storm that swept through the region, triggering dozens of tornadoes and damaging floods. Three people were killed in the small town of Golden City, Missouri, officials said, while residents in the state capital Jefferson City were taking stock of damage caused by what the National Weather Service called a “large and […]

US charges Julian Assange with violating Espionage Act

by Paul HANDLEY WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The Justice Department on Thursday charged WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange with violating the US Espionage Act by publishing military and diplomatic files in 2010, rejecting his claim that he is a journalist. The department unveiled 17 new charges against Assange, accusing him of directing and abetting intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning in stealing secret US files, and also recklessly exposing confidential sources in the Middle East and China […]

Northern Alberta wildfire forces thousands from homes

By Thomas I. Likness EBC Edmonton Bureau (Eagle News) — About five-thousand residents of a northern Alberta town have been ordered out of their homes as flames from an out-of-control wildfire threaten the community. Evacuation centers have been set up in several communities to give temporary shelter to those who fled with little more than the clothes on their back. Many others are staying with relatives. Premier Jason Kenney told a news conference Tuesday that […]

Can you tell me how to get to Sesame Street?

By Emil Valerio EBC New York Bureau NEW YORK (Eagle News) — Many people are familiar with the question posed in the theme song “Sunny Days” which asks viewers how to get to Sesame Street. The popular television show “Sesame Street” is a pioneer in using TV as means of teaching generations of young children important life lessons such as the alphabet, how to count, and good values. As children grew older though, they learned […]

More than just a pretty picture: “Picture Character” documentary gives insight into world of emojis

By Joanne Soriano EBC New York Bureau NEW YORK (Eagle News) — How often do you receive or send emojis when communicating with family and friends? The emoji, a Japanese term for “picture character,” has grown in popularity across generations and cultures as an expression of language in today’s digital world of smartphones, computers and social media. The documentary “Picture Character” takes viewers across time and distances to explore when the emoji was first created […]

Eiffel Tower climber ‘admitted to psychiatric unit’

PARIS, France (AFP) — A man, believed to be Russian, who sparked a mass evacuation of the Eiffel Tower by scaling the iconic Paris landmark has been admitted to a psychiatric unit, legal sources said Tuesday. The man caused chaos Monday and the closure of the monument to tourists by spending six hours clinging to the outer metal framework of the Eiffel Tower. His identity has not been disclosed. He was questioned by police on […]

Violent clashes rage south of Libya’s Tripoli

by Imed Lamloum TRIPOLI, Libya (AFP) — Violent clashes raged Tuesday south of Tripoli, marking an uptick in fighting as the UN envoy for Libya warned of a “long and bloody war”. Heavy artillery fire could be heard from the city center as the most intense fighting took place since May 6, when the holy Muslim month of Ramadan started. More than six weeks since commander Khalifa Haftar launched an assault on the capital, fighters […]

Trump meets Pacific islands leaders to boost US ties

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Donald Trump met Tuesday at the White House with the leaders of the tiny, but strategic states of Micronesia and other Pacific island nations to underline the leading US role in the region. The brief but symbolic meeting demonstrated US support at a time when Washington is pushing back against expanding Chinese influence in the Pacific. Trump hosted the presidents of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia and the […]

Iran warns of ‘painful consequences’ if US escalates tensions

TEHRAN, Iran (AFP) — Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has warned the United States of “painful consequences for everybody” if there is an escalation in tensions with the Islamic republic. Zarif also accused the US of “playing a very, very dangerous game” in an interview with CNN aired on Tuesday. “There will be painful consequences for everybody (if) there is an escalation against Iran, that’s for sure,” he said. Tensions have risen between Washington […]

Stop it! Japan anti-groper app becomes smash hit

by Shingo ITO TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — A Tokyo police smartphone app to scare off molesters has become a smash hit in Japan, where women have long run the gauntlet of groping on packed rush-hour trains. Victims of groping can activate the Digi Police app, which either blasts out a voice shouting “stop it” at top volume, or produces a full-screen SOS message — which victims can show other passengers — reading: “There is a […]