LYON, France (AFP) — Police in Sudan have rescued nearly 100 people, 85 of them minors, after breaking up a human trafficking network in the northeast African country last month, Interpol said Monday. Two men and twelve women were arrested and around $20,000 of suspected ransom money was seized in the operation at several locations in Khartoum as well as at gold mines east of the city, the international policing agency said. The victims, some […]
International
Sweden seeks new government as nationalist influence grows
by Gaël Branchereau and Camille Bas-Wohlert Agence France Presse STOCKHOLM, Sweden (AFP) — Sweden is headed for a period of uncertainty after legislative elections saw the far-right make gains, raising three questions: Who won? Who will govern? And with whom? The prime minister is usually the leader of the party with the most votes, but Sweden’s fragmented political landscape after Sunday’s election makes it impossible to guess who will form the next government. As expected, […]
China calls on US, N. Korea to implement Singapore deal
BEIJING, China (AFP) — China’s top legislator voiced hope that North Korea and the United States will implement their nuclear summit agreement as he met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Chinese state media said Monday. Li Zhanshu, sent by President Xi Jinping to attend North Korea’s 70th anniversary parade on Sunday, said China was committed to the goal of denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, the Xinhua news agency said. “We have high regards […]
Quake hits remote New Zealand islands, no tsunami warning
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AFP) — A strong 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck New Zealand’s remote Kermadec Islands on Wednesday but authorities said there was no tsunami threat. The quake struck at 4.19pm (0419GMT) at a depth of 111 kilometres (69 miles), with its epicentre 770 kilometres northeast of Auckland, the US Geological Survey said. “Based on all available data, there is no tsunami threat from this earthquake,” the Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said. The uninhabited […]
Japan toll 44 after strong quake, no more missing
TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — The death toll from a powerful earthquake that triggered massive landslides in northern Japan rose to 44 on Monday with tens of thousands of police and troops still on the ground to support survivors. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said no one was left on a missing list, which suggested the figure could be the final death toll. Around 40,000 police, fire fighters, troops and maritime safety officials were providing assistance, […]
Abe launches bid for party leader vaunting economy, constitution
TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Japan’s Shinzo Abe Monday defended his economic record and pledged a controversial reform of the country’s post-war constitution, as he launched his campaign for another term as head of his ruling LDP party. Abe is seen comfortably winning the September 20 vote against his sole challenger — former defense minister Shigeru Ishiba, which would put him on track to become Japan’s longest-serving premier. A victory would effectively keep the hawkish Abe […]
Trump salutes Kim for N.Korean parade without nuclear missiles
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US President Donald Trump saluted North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Sunday for holding a massive military parade “without the customary display of nuclear missiles” to celebrate his country’s 70th anniversary. “This is a big and very positive statement from North Korea. Thank you To Chairman Kim. We will both prove everyone wrong!” he tweeted. “There is nothing like good dialogue from two people that like each other! Much […]
7 wounded including 2 British tourists in Paris knife attack
by Gregory DANEL / Romain FONSEGRIVES Agence France-Presse PARIS, France (AFP) – Seven people including two British tourists were wounded Sunday in Paris after they were attacked by a man armed with a knife and an iron bar, according to police and other sources. A source close to the inquiry said the suspect, believed to be an Afghan national, has been arrested. “Nothing at this stage shows signs of a terrorist nature in these assaults,” […]
North Korea holds 70th anniversary parade, without ICBMs
PYONGYANG, North Korea (AFP) – Thousands of North Korean troops followed by artillery and tanks paraded through Pyongyang Sunday as the nuclear-armed country celebrated its 70th birthday, but it refrained from displaying the intercontinental ballistic missiles that have seen it hit with sanctions. Instead leader Kim Jong Un showed off his friendship with China, raising the hand of President Xi Jinping’s envoy as they saluted the crowd together afterwards. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea […]
UPDATED: Japan PM visits quake-hit Hokkaido as toll rises to 42
TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited the quake-hit northern region of Hokkaido Sunday as officials confirmed more deaths, bringing the toll to 42. Abe toured the city and commercial hub of Sapporo, where Thursday’s 6.6-magnitude jolt has left houses tilted and roads cracked. He also visited hard-hit Atsuma, a small rural town which has seen most of the deaths caused by the quake. A cluster of dwellings in the town […]
US teen charged as adult over murder of octogenarian
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — A 14-year-old suspected of having raped and killed a woman in her eighties in the US city of Baltimore was charged as an adult with murder, authorities said Friday. Tyrone Harvin, who turned 14 last month, is accused of attacking 83-year-old Dorothy Mae Neal at her home and leaving her for dead. She died in hospital on August 30. “We can tell you without even checking our records this is […]
US recalls envoys from Latin American countries for cutting Taiwan ties
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States on Friday recalled its envoys to three Latin American countries that recently switched diplomatic ties from Taiwan to China, saying it would hold consultations with the diplomats. The move comes after Washington accused Beijing last month of destabilizing cross-Strait relations and engaging in a campaign of “political interference” by poaching Taiwan’s allies in the western hemisphere. “The Department of State has called back the US Ambassador […]
