International

Two Republican women could sink Trump’s US Supreme Court pick

  by Michael Mathes Agence France-Presse   WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The fate of Donald Trump’s US Supreme Court nominee increasingly appears to lie in the hands of two Republican senators, pro-choice moderates with a penchant for rebellion — and who have bucked the president before. But despite extraordinary pressure already heaped on Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski by liberal groups, and Democrats who warn that confirmation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh could spell disaster for […]

Czech government wins confidence vote backed by Communists

  by Jan Flemr Agence France-Presse   PRAGUE, Czech Republic (AFP) — The minority government of billionaire Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis won a parliamentary confidence vote Thursday, becoming the first administration since the 1989 collapse of communism to rely on backing from the Communist Party. It took Babis nine months to form a government after he won last October’s election, with potential partners initially shunning him over allegations of EU subsidy fraud among other concerns. He […]

Thai boys were passed “sleeping” through cave, says rescue diver

  CHIANG RAI, Thailand (AFP) — The boys rescued from a Thai cave were passed “sleeping” on stretchers through the treacherous pathways, a former Thai Navy SEAL who was the last diver to leave the Tham Luang complex told AFP Wednesday. The details of the complex operation are among the first to emerge from a rescue effort to save 12 boys and their football coach that has been shrouded in secrecy since it began on […]

Sri Lanka to hang drug criminals, plans to replicate Philippines ‘success’ in its drug war

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AFP) — Sri Lanka announced Wednesday it would start hanging drug dealers, ending a near-half century moratorium on capital punishment as officials promised to “replicate the success” of the Philippines drug war. President Maithripala Sirisena had told the cabinet he “was ready to sign the death warrants” of repeat drug offenders, government spokesman Rajitha Senaratne said Wednesday. “From now on, we will hang drug offenders without commuting their death sentences,” he said. […]

Taiwan community recognizes Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) with certificates of gratitude for public service

  ZHUBEI, TAIWAN  – Young and old alike were gifted with visits of love from volunteers of the INC Giving Project (I-N-C Giving) over the last few weeks in Taiwan. The Project is an extension of the global commitment to community partnership by the international religious organization Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC or Church Of Christ). In June, senior citizens and staff at the Tian Zhu Zhiao Ren Ci Home Care Center in Zhubei, Taiwan, were […]

China says tit-for-tat tariffs will ‘destroy’ US-China trade

BEIJING, China (AFP) – China on Wednesday said tit-for-tat tariffs will “destroy” trade between the world’s top two economies, after Washington fired the next shot in a ballooning trade war, readying fresh levies on $200 billion in Chinese goods. “The outburst of large-scale mutual levying of tariffs between China and the United States will inevitably destroy Sino-US trade,” assistant minister of commerce Li Chenggang told a forum in Beijing. US policy “actually interferes with the […]

Ecuador court upholds $9.5 billion damages ruling against Chevron

QUITO, Ecuador (AFP)–Ecuador’s highest court upheld in a ruling released Tuesday a $9.5 billion damages award against oil giant Chevron over decades of pollution that harmed indigenous people. But the decision by the Constitutional Court is largely symbolic because Chevron now owns no assets in Ecuador, meaning the country will have to keep pressing its case in foreign courts. In a ruling dated June 27 and released Tuesday, the court said “there is no violation […]

Yemeni asylum-seekers spark backlash in South Korea

JEJU, South Korea (AFP) – A few hundred asylum-seekers from Yemen have sparked an unprecedented wave of xenophobia in ethnically homogenous South Korea, echoing the anti-immigrant sentiment that has swept Europe and helped propel Donald Trump to the White House. More than a million migrants arrived in Germany after its borders were opened in 2015 to asylum-seekers — many fleeing war — which deeply divided the country and its neighbours. And the United States, by […]

Former Trump adviser Mike Flynn denies joining Qatar lobby firm

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP)–President Donald Trump’s former national security adviser Michael Flynn denied Tuesday that he had joined a Washington firm that lobbies for Qatar. His lawyer said the announcement by Stonington Global was a misunderstanding. The lawyer, Robert Kelner, said Flynn — who pleaded guilty as part of a probe into possible collusion between Russia and Trump’s 2016 election campaign — “has not joined Stonington and did not personally issue any public statement.” “He […]

Thais rejoice at success of dramatic cave rescue

  CHIANG RAI, Thailand (AFP) — Thailand celebrated the successful mission to free 12 boys and their football coach from a cave Wednesday, with the nation heaping praise on the rescue team as the triumphant tagline “Hooyah” pinballed across social media. The nerve-shredding three-day mission ended on Tuesday with the final group of four boys and the coach emerging from the cave which had held them captive for 18 days. The rescue received blanket coverage […]

Chaos breaks in Haiti as residents react to fuel increase

  https://youtu.be/kqKVnVh3IFE By Jay Rosquites EBC Florida Correspondent PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti (Eagle News) — Civil unrest has hampered the country of Haiti, due to the ongoing protests of gas prices being raised. The government raised fuel prices from 224 to 309 htg/per gallon last Friday. The price increase has sparked outrage by residents of Haiti. Protestors not only invaded the streets and caused disorder, but also have set buildings on fire, wreaking havoc for […]

Taiwan spared as Typhoon Maria weakens

  TAIPEI, Taiwan (AFP) — Schools and offices were closed in parts of Taiwan Wednesday as Typhoon Maria skirted the island bringing torrential rain and powerful winds. Officials had warned of floods and landslides, evacuating thousands of people, but the storm weakened as it approached Taiwan and moved past it to the north. Downpours of up to 100 millimetres (four inches) hit some areas overnight, according to the weather bureau, and strong winds were still […]