by Kyoko HASEGAWA / Richard CARTER Agence France-Presse TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Japanese prosecutors re-arrested former Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn over fresh allegations Friday, apparently dashing his hopes of being home for this coming holiday in the latest twist to a roller-coaster saga. The case of the once-revered 64-year-old tycoon has gripped Japan and the business world since he was arrested as he stepped off his private jet at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport on November 19. […]
International
Thirteen dead after fire in Czech mine
PRAGUE, Czech Republic (AFP) — Thirteen miners died and 10 were injured after a fire caused by burning methane erupted in a mine in the east of the Czech Republic, a spokesman said Friday. “In total we have 13 dead miners, 11 Polish and two Czech,” Ivo Celechovsky, spokesman for the OKD mining company, told AFP. The accident occurred at the CSM mine in the city of Karvina, about 300 kilometres (200 miles) east of […]
Windstorm causes severe damage in Vancouver, Canada
VANCOUVER, Canada (Eagle News) — After being hit by torrential rain, the greater Vancouver area is now facing problems caused by a severe windstorm that left more than 300,000 homes without power. According to BCHydro, 132,000 homes lost power in the Lower Mainland, and 110,000 homes on Vancouver Island. According to Environment Canada, the area was hit with gusts of wind of more than 100km/h. Because of this, many traffic lights have stopped working, causing […]
Sydney cars pummeled by hail the size of tennis balls
SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Australia’s largest city was picking up the pieces Friday after a series of lightning and hailstorms pummeled cars with ice blocks the size of tennis balls. The authorities issued a severe storm warning, but that was not enough to prevent damage that is already running into the tens of millions of dollars. “As of 6:30 am we are at 15,000 claims and AUS$80 million (US$57 million) in damages,” the Insurance Council […]
Recommendation of Federal Commission to arm teachers with guns spurs reactions across the US
UNITED STATES (Eagle News) — The Federal Commission on School Safety recently released its report to the President of the United States with recommended solutions to advance safety in U.S. schools. The commision was established by President Donald Trump following the February 14, 2018, school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. The panel, led by Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education Betsy DeVos, was tasked to produce policy recommendations with […]
US bishops face pressure amid new sex assault revelations
by Nova Safo Agence France Presse CHICAGO, United States (AFP) — US bishops preparing for a meeting to address the sexual abuse scandal roiling the Catholic church suddenly find themselves in a high-stakes credibility test following a damning report accusing them of underplaying the crisis. Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan on Wednesday issued an explosive report accusing the states Catholic dioceses of not releasing the names of at least 500 clergy accused of sexually abusing […]
Japan prosecutors re-arrest Carlos Ghosn on new allegations
by Kyoko HASEGAWA Agence France Presse TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Prosecutors re-arrested former Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn over fresh allegations on Friday, apparently dashing his hopes of early release in the latest twist to a rollercoaster saga. The case of the once-revered 64-year-old tycoon has gripped Japan since he was arrested completely out of the blue as he stepped off his private jet at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport on November 19. And in another unexpected development, […]
China accuses US of ‘fabricating facts’ with hacking charges
BEIJING, China (AFP) — Beijing on Friday accused Washington of ‘fabricating facts’ after the US Justice Department indicted two hackers tied to Chinese security services who allegedly targeted companies and agencies in a dozen countries. We urge the US to “stop smearing the Chinese side on cyber security issues,” China’s foreign ministry said in statement, adding that it had lodged an official protest. China said the US should drop the prosecution of the Chinese hackers […]
Saudi seeks to boost intelligence oversight after critic’s murder
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AFP) — Saudi Arabia on Thursday said it was creating government bodies to boost oversight of its intelligence operations, in the wake of international outrage over critic Jamal Khashoggi’s murder. The kingdom has said Khashoggi was killed inside its Istanbul consulate on October 2 in a “rogue operation” led by the then deputy intelligence chief Ahmad al-Assiri and royal court advisor Saud al-Qahtani, both of whom have been sacked. King Salman subsequently […]
Army joins drone hunt after London airport shutdown
by William EDWARDS with Joe JACKSON in London Agence France Pressse GATWICK AIRPORT, United Kingdom (AFP) — Britain called in the army on Thursday to help police hunt a drone pilot who grounded all flights from Gatwick airport, leaving thousands stranded on one of the busiest days of the year. The airport closed its only runway late Wednesday following “reports of two drones flying in and around the airfield” and further sightings on Thursday, according […]
S. Korea cab drivers protest Uber-like ride share app
SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — Tens of thousands of taxi drivers in South Korea went on a nationwide strike Thursday, snarling up traffic in Seoul, in the latest protest at a planned Uber-like ride-sharing service. An estimated 50,000 taxi drivers, wearing headbands, chanting slogans and waving banners, rallied outside the parliament, calling for the car-pooling app to be banned, AFP photographers at the scene said. Drivers say the service being introduced by KakaoTalk — the […]
‘It is right for me to step down’: Mattis quits
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis resigned Thursday, a day after President Donald Trump shocked the US establishment by pulling out of Syria. In a letter to Trump, Mattis suggested his world view, which favors traditional alliances and standing up to “malign actors,” stands at odds with the president’s. “Because you have the right to have a Secretary of Defense whose views are better aligned with yours on these and other […]





