International

Swiss parliament fumes over Credit Suisse collapse

by Nathalie OLOF-ORS Agence France-Presse BERN, Switzerland (AFP) — The Swiss parliament voiced its fury on Tuesday at the collapse of Credit Suisse and how the rules intended to prevent such a major bank from getting itself into trouble completely failed. At an extraordinary session of parliament called to debate the implosion of the bank and its takeover by larger rival UBS, Swiss President Alain Berset defended orchestrating the merger, saying a bankruptcy would have […]

Russian volcano spews ash across Kamchatka peninsula

Russia’s Shiveluch volcano erupted on Tuesday, spewing ash across a vast swathe of the far eastern Kamchatka peninsula, potentially posing a risk to flights and paralysing several villages. Dramatic videos published by officials showed a huge wall of ash rising above a snowy forest. Volcanologists issued a red code warning for flights and Russia’s aviation authority Rosaviatsiya urged crews to “constantly monitor changes in meterological information”. The Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT), which monitors […]

China, Honduras draft economic agreements

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AFP) — A Chinese delegation met with officials in Honduras Tuesday to thrash out bilateral economic agreements to build on official diplomatic ties established last month, the foreign ministry said. Honduras cut ties with Taiwan to switch its diplomatic allegiance to China. China considers the self-ruled, democratic island a part of its territory to be retaken one day, and does not allow countries to recognize both Beijing and Taipei. A senior Chinese delegation […]

US cases of sexually transmitted infections surpassed 2.5 million in 2021: CDC

Eagle News) — In the U.S., an alarming new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals that cases of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) increased between 2020 to 2021. “The U.S. STI epidemic shows no signs of slowing,” said Leandro Mena, MD, MPH, Director of CDC’s Division of STD Prevention. “The reasons for the ongoing increases are multifaceted – and so are the solutions.” According to the health agency, cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, […]

England’s health service set for ‘catastrophic’ doctors’ strike

LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — The public health service in England was on Tuesday braced for “the most disruptive industrial action” in its history as junior doctors walk out over pay and working conditions. The National Health Service (NHS) has been hit by waves of strikes in recent months as soaring inflation eats into wages and pandemic backlogs coupled with staff shortages increase workloads. But the four-day walkout by junior doctors threatens to be the […]

South Korea says ‘significant’ number of leaked US docs are fake

SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — South Korea on Tuesday said a “significant portion” of leaked US intelligence documents indicating concerns in Seoul about arms supplies to Ukraine were fake. The documents are part of a broader leak the Pentagon has described as a “very serious” national security risk. It has also created a diplomatic headache for Washington as they appear to show US spying on close allies including South Korea and Israel. Some files reportedly […]

Taiwan says 8 Chinese warships in waters around island

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AFP) — Eight Chinese warships were still operating in waters around the island on Tuesday, Taiwan’s defense ministry said, a day after Beijing declared an end to its massive war games. China launched three days of military exercises around self-ruled Taiwan on Saturday that saw it simulate targeted strikes and practice a blockade of the island. The show of force was a response to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen’s meeting with US House Speaker […]

US starts week of courting Asian partners after Taiwan flare-up

by Shaun TANDON Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will discuss growing military ties with the Philippines on Tuesday before heading to Vietnam and Japan days after a new flare-up of tensions with China over Taiwan. The Philippines, Vietnam and Japan all have longstanding territorial disputes with China that have grown more intense in recent years as Beijing flexes its muscle. Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will […]

North Korea leader calls for more ‘practical, offensive’ war deterrence

SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for expanding the country’s war deterrence capabilities in a “more practical and offensive” way, state media said Tuesday, to counter what it called “frantic” aggression by the United States and South Korea. Pyongyang has opened the year with a flurry of weapons tests, including what state media has claimed are nuclear-capable underwater drones and the launch of two intercontinental ballistic missiles. On Monday, […]

W.House ‘confident’ in US-French ties despite Macron’s China remarks

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The White House said Monday it remains “confident” in the US-French relationship after President Emmanuel Macron distanced himself from US policy on Taiwan and warned Europeans not to be American “followers.” Macron’s remarks to journalists from French business daily Les Echos and news site Politico came after he was hosted for a state visit by China’s Xi Jinping. White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the Biden administration […]

Israel’s Netanyahu vows to restore security as violence surges

by Alexandra VARDI Agence France-Presse TEL AVIV, Israel (AFP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to restore security “on all fronts” after surging violence that included rocket fire from Lebanon and Syria and two more deaths on Monday. Netanyahu also reinstated the defense minister whose firing he announced last month. Heavy clashes, shootings, rocket strikes and a car-ramming attack have marred a period when the Muslim holy month of Ramadan coincides with the Jewish […]

Biden ends US Covid emergency status

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Joe Biden on Monday officially ended the Covid national health emergency that for more than three years underpinned extraordinary efforts to provide care for a country where more than a million people died from the disease. The White House said Biden signed a law passed earlier by Congress “which terminates the national emergency related to the Covid-19 pandemic.” This closes lavish funding streams for Covid tests, free vaccines and […]