International

Yemen faces new surge in cholera cases: UN

UNITED NATIONS, United States (AFP) – Yemen faces a possible third wave of a cholera epidemic, the UN warned Thursday, following a jump in the number of suspected cases over recent weeks. Spokesman Stephane Dujarric said current rains were increasing the risk of infection in the war-torn country, which has seen 1.1 million suspected cases since last April. “The number of suspected cholera cases has been increasing over the last two months in Yemen,” he […]

Toronto mall evacuated after gunshots

OTTAWA, Canada (AFP) — A fight between two groups of young men that culminated in shots being fired on Thursday prompted the evacuation of a mall in Toronto, a month after a mass shooting in the nation’s largest city left two dead. Police Superintendent Rob Johnson said the shooting took place on the east side of the gigantic Yorkdale Shopping Centre that is popular with locals. It began, he said, as an altercation between “two […]

Pacific leaders urged to demand end to Australia’s refugee camps

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AFP) — Amnesty International joined 80 other NGOs on Thursday in urging Pacific leaders demand the closure of an Australian-funded immigration detention camp on Nauru when they meet in the tiny island nation next week. The 18-nation Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) will hold its annual summit in Nauru from September 3-6, with delegates meeting just a few kilometres from the camp dubbed “Australia’s Guantanamo”. It houses asylum-seekers who have tried to reach […]

China slams Trump’s ‘irresponsible and absurd logic’ on North Korea

  by Elizabeth Law Agence France Presse BEIJING, China (AFP) — China on Thursday derided the “irresponsible and absurd logic” of the United States after President Donald Trump accused Beijing of making Washington’s relationship with North Korea more difficult. Trump doubled down on his suggestion that China was not helping to rein in its Cold War-era ally — a charge he first levelled when he cancelled a trip to North Korea by Secretary of State […]

Rescuers struggle to reach stranded in Myanmar dam flooding

by Ye Aung Thu and Phyo Hein Kyaw Agence France-Presse BAGO, Myanmar (AFP) — Rescuers in boats negotiated muddy waters on Thursday to reach thousands stranded in central Myanmar after a dam overflowed, sending a torrent of water across farmland and villages. No casualties have yet been reported but state media said more than 63,000 people in Bago region were affected after the Swar Chaung dam overflowed early Wednesday morning. The dam’s spillway, a structure […]

S. Korea’s Moon replaces defense chief in cabinet reshuffle

SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Thursday replaced his defense chief and four other ministers in a cabinet reshuffle after falling approval ratings in recent weeks. Moon has driven a rapid diplomatic rapprochement with nuclear-armed North Korea, but defense minister Song Young-moo came under fire for mishandling a controversy over a defense intelligence unit. In March, documents emerged detailing military plans to impose martial law against protesters demanding the ouster […]

Trump warns of violence around midterms

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US President Donald Trump raised the spectre of violence around upcoming midterms Wednesday, saying he did not want to see “unnecessary” unrest days after he reportedly warned evangelical leaders of violent change if Republicans lose control of Congress. When asked by a reporter why he had on Monday suggested there would be violence around the November elections, Trump simply said “because that’s the way.” “If you look at what happens […]

Suicide car bomber kills 11 in western Iraq

RAMADI, Iraq (AFP) –A suicide bomber blew up a vehicle in the town of Al-Qaim in western Iraq on Wednesday, killing at least 11 people, five of them security personnel, police said. The 9 am (0600 GMT) bombing at a checkpoint on the outskirts of Al-Qaim also wounded 16 people — 11 civilians and five security personnel, police Captain Mahmud Jassem told AFP. The town, on the Syrian border some 340 kilometres (215 miles) from […]

Hong Kong Red Cross gives citation, award to INC for recent blood donation drive

  (Eagle News) – The Hong Kong Red Cross has given recognition to the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) for its recent blood donation drive in Hong Kong that helped its campaign to save lives. The Hong Kong chapter of the Red Cross cited the “high participation” and the “contribution to social responsibility” of the INC members and awarded the “Give Blood Alliance” Gold, Silver, Bronze award to the Church. The INC was also […]

Tsunami warning for three Pacific islands after quake

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) —  Small tsunami waves lapped New Caledonia, Fiji and Vanuatu Wednesday after a strong earthquake in the Pacific Ocean, but the threat passed without any damage reported. After the 7.1 magnitude quake struck off the eastern coast of New Caledonia, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said “waves reaching 0.3 to 1 metre above the tide level” were possible. But only minor sea level fluctuations were recorded and the warning was soon called off. Despite […]

Small tsunami waves after New Caledonia quake

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — A 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck off the eastern coast of New Caledonia on Wednesday and generated small tsunami waves, seismologists said, but there were no immediate reports of damage. The tremor hit at a depth of 27 kilometers (16 miles) in the southern Pacific Ocean, some 231 kilometers from the nearest town Tadine in the lightly populated Loyalty Islands, the US Geological Survey said. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said “small […]

Trudeau stands firm on US demands as NAFTA talks set to resume

    by Heather Scott Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — As Washington and Ottawa resumed trade talks Tuesday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he would only sign a new trade pact that was good for his country. Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland was upbeat in Washington after meeting US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, saying that “detailed” discussions to salvage the North American Free Trade Agreement as a three-nation deal would begin the following […]