International

Outrage after koala found screwed to a pole in Australia

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — A dead koala has been found screwed to a pole in Australia in a “sickening” act that sparked outrage Thursday on social media. Koala Rescue Queensland (KRQ) responded to a report of one of the furry animals climbing a picnic shelter at Brooloo Park Lookout near Gympie, 175 kilometers (around 100 miles) north of Brisbane, on Wednesday. But on closer inspection, it was found to be dead and screwed in place. […]

Hurricane-hit Puerto Rico launches new drive for US statehood

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico on Wednesday launched a new drive to become the 51st US state, with the island’s governor demanding an end to “second-class” treatment of its citizens. Puerto Rico’s more than three million residents are US citizens, with no obstacles to living and working on the mainland. Yet the US commonwealth in the Caribbean has just a non-voting delegation in the US Congress in Washington, and Puerto Rico residents […]

Trump says US could ‘conceivably’ return to Paris climate deal

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the United States could “conceivably” return to the Paris climate accord, although he stopped short of signalling any move in that direction. “Frankly, it’s an agreement that I have no problem with, but I had a problem with the agreement that they signed, because, as usual, they made a bad deal,” Trump told a news conference. “So we can conceivably go back in,” […]

200 arrested, dozens hurt in Tunisia unrest

by Caroline Nelly Perrot and Kaouther Larbi Agence France-Presse TUNIS, Tunisia (AFP) — More than 200 people have been arrested and dozens of police hurt during clashes in Tunisia, the interior ministry said Wednesday, as anger over austerity measures spilt over into unrest. The North African country has been hailed for its relatively smooth democratic transition since a 2011 revolt that sparked the Arab Spring uprisings, but seven years after the revolution tensions over economic […]

Ahead of pope’s Chile visit, priests accused of child sex abuse

by Giovanna Fleitas Agence France-Presse SANTIAGO, Chile (AFP) — Almost 80 Roman Catholic clergies have been accused of sexually abusing children in Chile since 2000, a US-based monitoring group said Wednesday ahead of a visit to the country next week by Pope Francis. Francis, the first Latin American pontiff, has spoken out against such abuse, which has rocked the church for years but has faced calls to improve accountability and transparency. BishopAccountability.org compiled its database […]

Armed robbers seize jewels worth ‘4 million euros’ from Paris Ritz

PARIS, France (AFP) — A gang of five armed robbers launched a spectacular raid on the world famous Ritz hotel in Paris Wednesday, making off with an estimated four million euros worth of jewels, investigators said. Three of the gang were detained at the scene but two remained at large as of Thursday evening, a police source said. A judicial source put the value of the jewels seized at “more than four million euros” ($4.75 […]

McCartney, Pink Floyd join campaign to save UK music venues

LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason and folk singer Billy Bragg were among artists and politicians campaigning outside Britain’s parliament on Wednesday to save the country’s live music venues. Around 35 percent of Britain’s live music venues have shut over the last decade, buffeted by gentrification, high rents and the changing music industry. “You need that bottom rung of the ladder for any band or artist that wants to work live,” […]

Turkey urges Russia, Iran to stop Syria offensive on Idlib

ISTANBUL, Turkey (AFP) – Turkey on Wednesday called on Russia and Iran, the two chief allies of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria, to halt an air offensive on the rebel-held Idlib province near the Turkish border. Ankara has been working closely with Russia and Iran to end the Syrian conflict over the last months but has stepped up pressure on Moscow and Tehran as the bombardments on Idlib intensified. “Iran and Russia should fulfil their responsibility. […]

Japan’s new crypto-currency crooners sing the bitcoin beats

TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Move over AKB48: Japan has a new all-girl “idol” band — the Virtual Currency Girls — on a mission to educate the public about bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Each of the eight girls in the band, known in Japanese as “Kasotsuka Shojo,” plays a character representing a virtual currency such as bitcoin, ethereum or ripple. Promotional material shows the performers wearing character masks, frilly mini-skirts and “maid” aprons complete with knee-high […]

Magnitude 7.6 earthquake strikes off Honduras coast: USGS

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — A powerful and shallow 7.6-magnitude earthquake hit the waters off the coast of Honduras late Tuesday, triggering tsunami threats and advisories for nearby Caribbean shores, though there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries. The quake struck at 0251 GMT and its epicenter was located some 27 miles (44 kilometers) east of Great Swan Island, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). It was provisionally considered to be shallow. Honduran […]

S. Korea’s Moon: Denuclearization is path to peace

SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — Denuclearization of the Korean peninsula is “the path to peace and our goal,” South Korean President Moon Jae-In said Wednesday, a day after the North agreed to send its athletes to the Winter Olympics in his country. “We need to continue efforts to hold a peace Olympics,” Moon told a press conference. “We need to peacefully resolve North Korea’s nuclear issue.” Delegates from North and South Korea held their first official […]