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DOHA, Qatar (AFP) — State-owned Qatar Petroleum and French energy giant Total will formally launch a 25-year joint venture to develop the Al Shaheen oil field this week, the companies said Monday. The North Oil Company, to be launched on Tuesday, will be made up of a 70 percent stake from QP and a 30 percent stake from Total, which is taking over operations from Maersk Oil, according to a statement released by Qatar Petroleum. […]
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Donald Trump hailed Iraq’s “victory” over the Islamic State group in Mosul Monday, claiming the northern city’s liberation showed the war against the jihadis was being won. “The victory in Mosul” signals Islamic State’s “days in Iraq and Syria are numbered,” Trump said in a statement praising Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi. “Today Iraqi security forces supported by the United States and the global coalition, liberated the city of Mosul […]
by Tony Gamal-Gabriel with W.G. Dunlop in Baghdad Agence France-Presse MOSUL, Iraq – Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared victory over “brutality and terrorism” in Mosul on Monday, announcing his forces had ended the Islamic State group’s rule over the country’s second city. Standing with members of the security forces, Abadi hailed the retaking of Mosul — where Islamic State dealt Iraqi troops a devastating defeat three years ago — as a key moment in […]
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Wildfires roared Sunday across much of California, forcing thousands to evacuate homes as the most populous US state sweltered in record heat and flames menaced thousands of structures. Some 8,000 people were sent fleeing as thousands of firefighters were battling 14 large wildfires throughout the state, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, known as Cal Fire. The Alamo fire had scorched 23,867 acres (96.58 square […]
VIENNA, Austria (AFP) – Austria said Monday it had barred Turkish Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci from entering the country to attend a rally marking the anniversary of last year’s failed coup attempt in Turkey. “He has been barred because his visit was not planned as part of a bilateral exchange, but was about his public appearance at an event marking the coup attempt,” foreign ministry spokesman Thomas Schnoell told AFP. Zeybekci’s attendance would have represented […]
by Damian WROCLAVSKY Agence France-Presse BRASILIA, Brazil (AFP) – For many politicians, a jail sentence means the end of your career, but not for lawmaker Celso Jacob. He still comes each day to Brazil’s National Congress — straight from prison. Each morning he gets up at 5:00 am in the Papuda jail near Brasilia and waits for a car to take him to work. In the evening he returns and changes from his suit […]
PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (AFP) – Despite being marred by violence, vote-buying, and flaws in the electoral roll, results from Papua New Guinea’s sprawling election should reflect the will of the people, observers said Monday. Counting is underway after two weeks of voting in the vast and remote country ended Saturday, and the Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) which monitored the polling gave a generally positive assessment. “Our group is of the view that despite […]
(CCTV) — The persistent torrential rain triggered a building collapse in Jomda county, Qamdo Prefecture in southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region on Saturday. All residents lived in the building had been evacuated before the collapse and no casualties have been reported so far. The collapse happened in the wake of the sharply increased water level of Ziqu river in the county. The water washed away the foundation of the building and eventually caused it to collapse […]
by Stuart WILLIAMS Agence France-Presse ISTANBUL, Turkey (AFP) – Turkey marks one year on July 15 since a coup attempt aiming to topple President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that failed within hours but etched far-reaching consequences into its society and politics. The country is in the throes of the biggest purge in its history against alleged coup supporters while Erdogan has seen his grip on power tightened rather than weakened. But Turkey is also facing […]
SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) – Vatican finance chief Cardinal George Pell arrived back in Australia on Monday ahead of a court appearance later this month over historical sex abuse charges. The 76-year-old, a top advisor to Pope Francis, touched down in Sydney and was met by security before being whisked away in a waiting car. He has been ordered to face a Melbourne court on July 26 for a preliminary hearing on multiple sexual assault charges […]
by Sophie MIGNON Agence France-Presse BREDA, Netherlands (AFP) – Voices echo around the magnificent, luminous dome of Breda prison, breaking the silence of the 130-year-old building, now empty of inmates like dozens of others in The Netherlands. Falling crime rates over the last decade, as well as changing ideas about punishing criminals have robbed this penitentiary of its original purpose, and its gates clanged shut in 2014. Built in 1886, it was possible […]
by Marion THIBAUT / Phyo Hein KYAW Agence France-Presse MYAWADDY. Myanmar (AFP) – With only meager belongings stuffed into backpacks and duffel bags, tens of thousands of Myanmar migrants have streamed home across the Thai border over the past two weeks. But it is not a joyous homecoming for the truckloads of men and women, who fled Thailand in fear of a new law that hardens penalties on the millions of undocumented migrant […]
