International

New US travel ban “psychological terrorism”: Venezuela

CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP) — Venezuela accused the United States on Monday of “psychological terrorism” designed to bring down the government after it was included in a list of eight countries targeted by a travel ban. In a speech at the United Nations General Assembly, Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza described US President Donald Trump as acting like “the world’s emperor.” Amid an escalating war of words, Arreaza said Venezuela would seek dialogue with Washington to “stop […]

Mexico teaches quake volunteers not to make things worse

by Jennifer Gonzalez  Covarrubias Agence France Presse MEXICO CITY, Mexico (AFP) — As thousands of volunteers gather to dig out victims of Mexico’s devastating earthquake, rescuers have started organizing crash courses to stop well-meaning but inept helpers from making the situation worse. Professional rescuers warned of chaos in the dangerous rubble piles, saying blundering volunteers could cause further collapse in unstable structures. “You don’t save lives with your heart, you save them with organization,” said […]

North Korea says Trump has declared war

by Carole Landry Agence France Presse NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — North Korea’s foreign minister on Monday accused United States President Donald Trump of declaring war against his country and said Pyongyang was ready to defend itself by shooting down US bombers. The White House dismissed the claim as “absurd.” Speaking to reporters outside his New York hotel, Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho responded to Trump, who had warned on Twitter at the weekend that […]

6.0-magnitude quake hits off Papua New Guinea

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — A 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck off Papua New Guinea on Tuesday, according to the United States Geological Survey, but no Pacific-wide tsunami warning was issued. The tremor hit at a depth of five kilometers (three miles) near the sparsely-populated East New Britain region, some 210 kilometers southeast of the town of Kokopo, the USGS said. The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center did not issue a tsunami warning. Earthquakes are common near Papua […]

Jaguars victorious in London over Ravens

By Patrick Harrington EBC Florida Bureau LONDON (Eagle News) – The Jacksonville Jaguars picked up a decisive win, dispatching the Baltimore Ravens 44-7 in London’s Wembley Stadium on Sunday. Jacksonville moved to 2-1 for the first time since 2010 and won their third consecutive game overseas. The Jaguars’ performance was a strong contrast to their previous game where they lost 37-16 at home against the Tennessee Titans. Both the Jaguars’ offense and defense played consistently […]

Palestinian PM to visit Gaza for reconciliation efforts

by Shatha Yaish Agence France-Presse JERUSALEM, Israel (AFP) – Palestinian prime minister Rami Hamdallah will travel to Gaza on October 2 as part of a fresh push to end a decade-long split between Fatah and Hamas, which runs the enclave, his government said Monday. The visit follows concessions by Islamist group Hamas after discussions with Egypt, which has urged it to take steps towards reconciliation with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas’s Fatah, based in the occupied West Bank. Fatah […]

Japan’s Abe triggers snap election amid N. Korea crisis

By Richard Carter Agence France Presse Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday called a snap election, seeking a fresh term at the helm of the world’s third-largest economy as tensions with nearby North Korea reach fever-pitch. Abe hopes to capitalize on a weak and fractured opposition to sweep back into power, as polls show him regaining ground after a series of scandals. “I will dissolve the House of Representatives on the 28th” of September, […]

Nearly 50,000 flee amid fears of Bali volcanic eruption

KARANGASEM, India (AFP) — Nearly 50,000 people have evacuated their homes amid fears of an imminent volcanic eruption on the Indonesian resort island of Bali, disaster officials said Monday. Mount Agung, about 75 kilometers (47 miles) from the tourist hub of Kuta, has been rumbling since August, threatening to erupt for the first time in more than 50 years. Indonesia’s disaster mitigation agency said Monday 48,540 people had fled, although the number was expected to rise […]

New Zealand PM says poll deadlock may last three weeks

by Neil Sands Agence France-Presse WELLINGTON, New Zealand | (AFP) – New Zealand Prime Minister Bill English said Monday he expects two or three weeks of “tense” negotiations with maverick MP Winston Peters to break the country’s general election deadlock. Peters emerged as kingmaker in Saturday’s election after English’s conservative National Party and the Labour opposition led by Jacinda Ardern both failed to win an outright majority. English was expected to struggle amid the “Jacinda-mania” hype surrounding the charismatic […]

Japan’s Abe poised to call snap election amid N.Korea crisis

by Richard Carter Agence France-Presse TOKYO, Japan (AFP) – Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was widely expected to call a snap election Monday, hoping to capitalize on rising support as tensions with nearby North Korea reach fever pitch. Voters in the world’s third-largest economy could go to the polls as soon as October 22, more than a year earlier than expected, as Abe seeks to take advantage of a political opposition in disarray. According to a weekend poll […]

Record-breaking heat grips southeastern Canada

TORONTO, Canada (CCTV) — A large part of southeastern Canada is in the throes of overheat as the mercury climbed to a forecast high of 32 degrees Celsius over the weekend. Capital Ottawa, the largest city Toronto and a great lot of southern Ontario, as well as Montreal in Quebec are on the list subjected to the weather disturbance. Humidity levels reached close to 40 degrees Celsius. In the country’s most populous city of Toronto, […]

Car bomber hits NATO convoy in Afghanistan; wounds five civilians

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (Reuters) —  Five civilians were wounded when a car bomber attacked a Danish convoy belonging to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization-led international mission in the Afghan capital, Kabul, on Sunday, security officials said. Captain William Salvin, a spokesman for NATO’s Resolute Support mission, confirmed an attack had occurred and said a team was on the scene to recover the vehicle. Locals living in the area said the windows in their homes were broken […]