International

Venezuela’s Guaido calls for protests Wednesday, Saturday

CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP) — Venezuela’s self-proclaimed interim president Juan Guaido called for a new round of protests Wednesday and Saturday against elected leader Nicolas Maduro and for free elections. In a video posted on Twitter, the head of the opposition-controlled National Assembly called for a “peaceful” strike Wednesday to paralyze the country followed by a “big national and international rally” Saturday. © Agence France-Presse

At least 15 dead in mudslide at hotel in Peru: mayor

LIMA, Peru (AFP) –A landslide crashed into a hotel during a wedding celebration in southeastern Peru, killing at least 15 people, authorities said Sunday. “The mudslide broke through the walls of the hotel, crashing through,” the mayor of the city of Abancay, where the hotel is located, told RPP radio. The mayor, Evaristo Ramos, said about 100 guests had been invited to the wedding party Saturday and “there are 15 dead and 34 injured.” Firefighters, […]

Kamala Harris launches White House bid in America ‘under attack’

OAKLAND, United States (AFP) — Lamenting that the American Dream and its democracy are under attack in Donald Trump’s the United States, California Senator Kamala Harris formally declared Sunday her candidacy to become the country’s first black female president in 2020. Harris, who was California’s attorney general from 2011 to 2017, made her announcement to supporters outside city hall in Oakland, San Francisco’s grittier neighbor where she was born. Barack Obama introduced himself to Californian […]

Brazil’s Bolsonaro admitted to hospital for surgery

SAO PAULO, Brazil (AFP) — Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro was in hospital in Sao Paulo on Sunday for surgery to remove a colostomy bag put in after he was attacked by a man with a knife during his election campaign. His spokesman, General Otavio Santana do Rego Barros, said Saturday that Bolsonaro would be operated on Monday, after which he would be on strict bed rest for two days. Vice President Hamilton Mourao will assume […]

Nine injured in Dutch gas blast building collapse

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AFP) — A suspected gas explosion in The Hague has injured at least nine people, trapping one under the rubble of a partially collapsed house, Dutch emergency services said Sunday. The blast ripped off part of the front of a residential building in the densely populated Laakkwartier suburb. Neighbours said they heard a loud bang around 4.30 pm (1530 GMT). Dozens of emergency vehicles rushed to the scene, and a trauma helicopter […]

10,000 ‘red scarf’ protesters march against ‘yellow vest’ violence

by Marc PRÉEL and Katy LEE Agence France Presse PARIS, France (AFP) — More than 10,000 people wearing red scarves marched through Paris on Sunday in protest at “yellow vest” violence during the anti-government demos that have drawn tens of thousands of people to the streets over the past 11 weeks. Since mid-November President Emmanuel Macron has offered concessions and debates seeking to quell the weekly rallies that often end in violent clashes with police […]

Brazil mine disaster death toll jumps to 58: official

BRUMADINHO, Brazil (AFP) — The number of people killed by the collapse of a dam at a Brazilian mining complex rose to 58, with those still missing rising to 305, civil defense officials said Sunday. After search operations, “the number has increased to 305 people missing and 58 dead,” Minas Gerais state civil defense spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Flavio Godinho told reporters. He said rescuers had found a bus filled with human bodies. © Agence France-Presse

Maduro rejects call for elections amid mounting pressure

by Maria Isabel SANCHEZ Agence France Presse CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP) — Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro on Sunday rejected a European ultimatum that he call elections as opposition rival Juan Guaido stepped up appeals to the military to turn against the leftist government. The United States, meanwhile, warned there would be a “significant response” if US diplomats, Guaido, or the opposition-controlled National Assembly were targeted with violence and intimidation. The shot across the bows came after […]

Brazil puts $3 billion freeze on Vale assets after dam disaster

SAO PAULO, Brazil (AFP) — Brazilian judicial authorities have frozen $3 billion in assets of the Vale mining company after a dam collapse at one of its sites left at least 37 dead and more than 250 missing. The public prosecutor’s office of the state of Minas Gerais announced late Saturday that it had frozen a total of 11 billion reales — about $3 billion — in Vale assets. The dam break Friday at the […]

US calls to ‘stand with freedom’ in Venezuela as EU gives ultimatum

by Laura BONILLA CAL / Philippe RATER Agence France Presse UNITED NATIONS, United States (AFP) — The United States pressed all nations Saturday to “stand with the forces of freedom” in Venezuela, encouraged by a tougher European line as Russia stood in the minority in backing embattled leader Nicolas Maduro. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made a forceful case at a special session of the United Nations Security Council, where he described Maduro as […]

Record breaking floods hit north Australia

  CAIRNS, Australia (AFP) — Communities were cut off, farmers stranded and cows washed offshore as heavy rain pelted northeast Australia Sunday, with one major river breaking 118-year-old floodwater records. The Bureau of Meteorology said Queensland’s Daintree River rose to 12.60 meters — a level not seen in over a century — and local authorities warned that some residents in remote areas could be cut off for days. The heritage listed Daintree Rainforest received more […]

Iglesia Ni Cristo members give relief goods to Safe Harbor Homeless Shelter in Red Deer, Canada

  (Eagle News) — Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) members recently helped the Safe Harbor Homeless Shelter in Red Deer, Canada by donating relief goods. INC members who volunteered to help during the event expressed their happiness in helping other people, and fulfilling God’s teachings to do good whenever you possibly can to those who need it. The Church Of Christ has been doing such events, like INCGiving, and INC Aid for Humanity, to […]