International

US pulls out of international accord over Jerusalem embassy case

  WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States said Wednesday it was quitting an international accord related to the top UN court after the Palestinians challenged the US move of its Israel embassy to Jerusalem. It was the latest attack on the international justice system by the administration of President Donald Trump, who last month at the United Nations virulently rejected the authority of the International Criminal Court. Trump’s national security adviser, John Bolton, […]

India-led solar alliance will outshine OPEC: PM Modi

NEW DELHI, India (AFP) — An India-led coalition to harness solar energy will eventually replace the OPEC oil cartel, India’s premier predicted Tuesday, as he opened the International Solar Alliance’s first assembly with UN chief Antonio Guterres. “The role of the oil wells today will be that of the Sun’s rays tomorrow,” Narendra Modi said at the meeting in New Delhi. “In the coming years, when the world discusses initiatives for the welfare of humanity […]

S.Korean minister proposes US-N.Korea tradeoff

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — An end to the Korean War in return for the verified dismantling of its major North Korean nuclear facility: South Korea’s foreign minister on Wednesday proposed this tradeoff to unblock stalled negotiations between the United States and North Korea. North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump held a groundbreaking summit in Singapore in June, where they reached a vague agreement to denuclearize the Korean peninsula, but […]

Chile archbishop remains silent over abuse cover-up claims

by Miguel SANCHEZ Agence France Presse RANCAGUA, Chile (AFP) — Santiago Archbishop Ricardo Ezzati on Wednesday went before a prosecutor investigating a sex abuse scandal that has roiled the Catholic Church in Chile but declined to answer questions about accusations he was involved in a cover-up. The Catholic Church is under increasing scrutiny because of the escalating worldwide sex abuse crisis, which has seen scandals emerge in North and South America, Europe and Australia that […]

October snow blankets Calgary

CALGARY (Eagle News) — It’s only October and Calgarians woke up to heavy snow. According to Environment Canada, “General snowfall amounts of 10 to 25 cm are expected with a temperature of -3C however amounts of up to 45 cm are possible in the Mountains and under the more intense snowbands.” The snow became a problem for many buses early this morning, leaving them stuck on the road and stranding commuters. Some bus routes were […]

Boston Massachusetts earns spot on list of top US cities to visit

BOSTON (Eagle News) — The city of Boston in Massachusetts is listed among the top 15 cities to visit in the US by Travel and Leisure Magazine. Boston’s culture, landmarks, sights and cuisine, are definitely some reasons why this historic city made it on the list. One of the places that are a must-visit is the Boston Freedom Trail. The trail leads you to some of the famous historic places in the city which include the […]

Ferry washed ashore on tsunami-wrecked coast

WANI, Sulawesi Island, Indonesia (AFP) — A passenger ferry was washed ashore into buildings in Wani, Indonesia’s Central Sulawesi, after an earthquake and tsunami hit the area. Residents are complaining from the lack of help from the government. https://youtu.be/NMD63PRchMM

Time running out for survivors as Indonesia toll tops 1,400

  by Harry Pearl / with Patrick Lee in Sigi and Kiki Siregar in Jakarta Agence France Presse WANI, Indonesia (AFP) — The death toll in Indonesia’s twin quake-tsunami disaster passed 1,400 Wednesday, with time running out to rescue survivors and the UN warning of “vast” unmet needs. National disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said the number of dead had risen to 1,407 across four areas around the ravaged seaside city of Palu, and […]

Indonesia’s Mount Soputan erupts on tsunami-hit island

  JAKARTA, Indonesia (AFP) — Indonesia’s Mount Soputan volcano on the quake-and tsunami-hit island of Sulawesi erupted Wednesday, spewing volcanic ash 4,000 metres into the air. The state disaster agency warned people to stay at least four kilometres (two and a half miles) away but said there was no need to evacuate for the time being. Images showed an eruption visible for miles around, with a cloud of ash climbing in a large vertical column […]

Aung San Suu Kyi becomes first person stripped of honorary Canadian citizenship

OTTAWA, Canada (AFP) — Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi became the first person to be stripped of honorary Canadian citizenship on Tuesday over her refusal to call out atrocities by her nation’s military against the Rohingya Muslim minority. The move was made official after Canada’s Senate voted to revoke the symbolic honor. The lower house had already approved a motion to the same effect last week. The House of Commons granted the privilege to […]

Iran wants France talks to clear ‘misunderstanding’ over alleged bomb plot

by Amir HAVASI Agence France Presse TEHRAN, Iran (AFP) — Tehran called on Tuesday for talks with Paris to resolve a “misunderstanding” after Paris accused Iran’s intelligence ministry of involvement in an alleged bomb plot targeting an exiled opposition group near the French capital. Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi told AFP in an interview that Tehran rejected the French complaint “completely and forcefully”, but said the door was open to talks. “If there is […]

Pompeo to meet Kim Jong Un in fresh visit

by Shaun TANDON Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will pay a fresh visit to North Korea on Sunday and meet leader Kim Jong Un as the administration’s hopes rise of a denuclearization deal, the State Department said. The rare advance announcement of a meeting with the young strongman came hours after North Korea raised the stakes in negotiations, saying it would not give up its nuclear […]