International

Cuban leader defends Maduro on first foreign visit

by Alex Vasquez © Agence France-Presse CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP) — Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel rallied to the defense of embattled ally Nicolas Maduro on his first foreign visit Wednesday, calling on Latin American nations to support his Venezuelan counterpart’s cause. The Cuban, who succeeded Raul Castro on April 19, was received with open arms by Maduro’s government — Cuba’s closest political and economic ally — on his arrival at Caracas’ Maiquetia airport. “Very happy to be […]

‘You’re all going to die’: Parkland shooter’s phone videos released

  WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Nikolas Cruz, the now infamous shooter behind February’s Parkland school massacre, filmed his disturbing plans to attack his former school in footage released by Florida prosecutors Wednesday. “It’s going to be a big event. When you see me on the news, you’ll know who I am,” Cruz said, filming with his cellphone. “My name is Nik, and I’m going to be the next school shooter of 2018,” said the 19-year-old, […]

Pompeo, Kim’s right-hand man, begin talks to prep nuclear summit

  by Francesco Fontemaggi with Carole Landry © Agence France-Presse NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Kim Jong Un’s right-hand man began talks with President Donald Trump’s top diplomat on Wednesday amid a scramble to organize next month’s historic nuclear summit between the North Korean and US leaders. Kim Yong Chol, a veteran Pyongyang power player and a member of the young autocrat’s inner circle, flew in on an Air China flight from Beijing, becoming the […]

Over 50 Taliban leaders killed in US operation

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US forces killed over 50 Taliban leaders in a series of strikes against those behind a recent attack in the Helmand provincial capital of Farah, US military and NATO commander General John Nicholson said Wednesday. After pushing out fighters in Farah, Afghan and US forces continued to pursue them, Nicholson told reporters at the Pentagon via video link. Under surveillance by the Marines, the Taliban fighters returned to their Helmand stronghold, […]

No, don’t roast marshmallows at the Hawaii volcano: USGS

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Someone actually asked the US Geological Survey if it is OK to roast marshmallows over volcanic lava. And the USGS actually took the time to answer. The query came on Twitter and with a caveat — “assuming you had a long enough stick.” “Erm… we’re going to have to say no, that’s not safe. (Please don’t try!),” the USGS said. Volcanic vents, the fissures in the ground from which […]

White House moves to finalize China trade sanctions

by Douglas Gillison Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Donald Trump said Tuesday he is moving to finalize trade sanctions against China even as a US delegation is set to travel to Beijing for talks to resolve the dispute. The White House said the planned sanctions announced in March, largely focused on China’s theft of American intellectual property, we’re still in the works and details would be announced in the coming month. […]

Top North Korean to meet Pompeo ahead of US summit

by Andrew Beatty with Carole Landry in New York Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — A senior North Korean official was bound for New York for high-level talks with US officials on Tuesday as preparations for a historic nuclear summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un gathered pace. General Kim Yong Chol, vice chairman of the central committee of the Workers’ Party and right-hand man to Kim, will meet US Secretary of […]

Gunman with Islamist links kills three in Belgian city

by Marine LAOUCHEZ with Matthieu DEMEESTERE in Brussels Agence France Presse LIEGE, Belgium (AFP) — A gunman on a police watchlist for contacts with Islamist extremists launched a brazen suspected terror attack in Belgium on Tuesday, shooting dead two female police officers with their own weapons before killing a bystander. The bloodshed in the gritty eastern industrial city of Liege began around 10:30 am (0830 GMT) when the attacker armed with a knife repeatedly stabbed […]

Tears, panic as gunfire erupts near Belgian school

by Marine LAOUCHEZ Agence France Presse LIEGE, Belgium (AFP) — It was late morning and the children were playing football in the schoolyard when they heard the bang-bang of gunshots in the street. Outside, though they could not see it, Belgium’s latest deadly attack was under way in the medieval city of Liege. A man in black had chased two policewomen along a boulevard, stabbed them, taken their guns — which they were now using […]

US to keep confronting Beijing in S. China Sea: Mattis

ABOARD A US MILITARY AIRCRAFT, Undefined (AFP) — Defense Secretary Jim Mattis vowed Tuesday that the US would keep confronting China over its territorial claims in the South China Sea, where Beijing has established a significant military presence on contested islands. Mattis’s remarks came after Beijing voiced “strong dissatisfaction” Sunday after two US warships sailed by an island in the disputed Paracel Island chain. “You’ll notice there’s only one country that seems to take active […]

Hawaii island community builds own relief and info hub near lava-stricken area

By Alfred Acenas and Maile Tadeo EBC Hawaii Bureau PAHOA, HI (Eagle News) — A 10-minute drive from the lava-stricken Leilani Estates on Hawaii’s Big Island, Puuhonua O Puna was established less than a week after Kīlauea’s eruptions began on May 3. Intended as a temporary relief and information hub, the center was set up by residents from nearby communities like Pahoa and Keaau, with little or no government assistance. According to founding volunteer Ikaika […]