International

2 dead, several injured in pro-Park rally

SEOUL, South Korea (Reuters) — Two President Park Geun-hye supporters were reported to have died as injured were removed by emergency services from a protest on Friday (March 10) opposing the Constitutional Court’s decision to uphold her impeachment. After the verdict hundreds of Park’s supporters outside the court tried to break through police barricades and two of them died, police said. One elderly man was taken to hospital with a head injury and the circumstances […]

Australia sees second year of Barrier Reef bleaching

by Glenda KWEK Agence France Presse SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is experiencing an unprecedented second straight year of mass coral bleaching, scientists said Friday, warning many species would struggle to fully recover. The 2,300-kilometre (1,400-mile) reef suffered its most severe bleaching on record last year due to warming sea temperatures during March and April. Bleaching is once again occurring, the government’s Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority said after an aerial […]

S. Koreans jubilant, or stunned by president’s sacking

SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — The rival crowds outside South Korea’s constitutional court Friday for the verdict on impeached president Park Geun-Hye epitomised the opposing passions and generational splits over the country’s sweeping political scandal. Around 3,000 anti-Park demonstrators, mostly in their 20s to 40s, erupted with joy as the verdict was read out in a live television broadcast. “We won, we won,” they chanted, waving banners. “This is a victory of democracy,” 27-year-old student […]

Guatemala mourns 35 girls killed in shelter fire

by Henry MORALES Agence France Presse GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala (AFP) — Guatemala recoiled in anger and shock Thursday at the deaths of 35 teenage girls in a fire at a government-run shelter where staff have been accused of sexual abuse and other mistreatment. The toll had climbed steadily from 19 killed in the Wednesday blaze itself, as 16 more girls succumbed in hospital overnight and Thursday to their horrific burns. Nineteen survivors remained hospitalized, most […]

Disaster training drill held in Tokyo before March 11 Fukushima anniversary

TOKYO, Japan (Reuters) –About 100 people took part in a disaster training drill in downtown Tokyo on Friday (March 10), a day before the sixth anniversary of the March 11 earthquake and subsequent nuclear crisis. Participants were able to experience walking through a plastic tent filled with yellow smoke, get hands-on training using automated external defibrillators (AEDs), and receive free emergency rations. “I participate every year. I was surprised at the number of available automated […]

S. Korea’s top court upholds President Park’s impeachment

SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — South Korean President Park Geun-Hye was fired by the country’s top court on Friday, as it upheld her impeachment by parliament over a wide-ranging corruption scandal. The unanimous decision brought months of political turmoil to a climax and triggers a new presidential election, to be held within 60 days. Park’s actions had “seriously impaired the spirit of… democracy and the rule of law,” said constitutional court chief justice Lee Jung-Mi. […]

Two killed in shooting at Basel cafe, one badly injured: Swiss police

GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — Two men shot dead two people and seriously injured a third on Thursday at a cafe in Basel, north-west Switzerland, police said as they hunt for the suspects. “Two men came into Cafe 56” around 8.15 pm local time (1915 GMT) “and fired several rounds of shots,” police said in a statement, without providing information on a possible motive. “Two customers were killed. Another is in a critical condition.” The assailants […]

Amal Clooney urges Iraq to allow probe of IS crimes

UNITED NATION, United States (AFP) — Human rights lawyer Amal Clooney on Thursday urged Iraq to agree to a UN investigation of atrocities committed by the Islamic State group and bring those responsible for crimes to justice. Clooney, who represents Yazidi women who escaped from IS enslavement, was addressing UN member-states for the second time in six months to appeal for action to prosecute IS militants. “Why is it that nothing has been done?” Clooney […]

US deploys more troops in Syria, turning up heat on IS

by Laurent BARTHELEMY Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States turned up the heat on the Islamic State group Thursday, sending an additional 400 US troops into Syria to support an offensive to retake Raqa, the jihadists’ de facto capital. The administration also announced a high level meeting on March 22 of the 68 countries in the US-led coalition to discuss plans to accelerate IS’s defeat. The announcements in Washington come […]

Axe attackers injure five at German station: police

DUSSELDORF, Germany (AFP) — Attackers wielding axes injured five people at the main train station in the west German city of Duesseldorf late Thursday, local police told AFP. Two suspects were arrested, said police, who warned that others may have fled the scene. No details were given of those arrested or their possible motives. “People travelling were injured by the assailants’ axes,” the police said, adding that it was unclear exactly how many attackers were […]

US lawmakers debate Obamacare replacement for more than 24 hours

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) – A US congressional panel surpassed 24 straight hours of debate Thursday on Republican plans to kill Obamacare, highlighting deep divisions over the proposed health reforms. Lawmakers from Republican President Donald Trump’s party hold a majority in both chambers of Congress, but many of those same lawmakers oppose the proposed legislation. After 18 marathon hours of debate the House Ways and Means Committee early Thursday became the first panel to approve […]

IS or Taliban? Hospital raid leaves Kabul stupefied

by Usman SHARIFI Agence France-Presse KABUL, Afghanistan  -The Islamic State group claimed a spectacular assault on Afghanistan’s largest military hospital that bore the hallmarks of the Taliban, prompting officials to voice misgivings as IS’s nascent presence in the country dwindles. IS claimed via its propaganda agency Amaq that its fighters dressed as doctors stormed the Sardar Daud Khan hospital in Kabul on Wednesday, reportedly killing around 50 people — hours after the Taliban denied responsibility. […]