International

Flood watches in California as more storms forecast

by Huw GRIFFITH  Agence France-Presse LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Flood watches were in place over a swathe of California on Thursday after a powerful storm dumped several inches (centimeters) of rain, with forecasters warning of yet another incoming front. Central and northern parts of the state were walloped overnight Wednesday as a bomb cyclone, fueled by a moisture-laden atmospheric river, unleashed torrents of rain on already-soaked ground. The rainfall resulted in localized flooding, […]

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South Korea’s lunar orbiter sends photos of Earth, Moon

  Seoul, South Korea (AFP) South Korea’s first-ever lunar orbiter Danuri has sent black-and-white photos of the Moon’s surface and Earth, the national space centre said Tuesday. Danuri — a portmanteau of the Korean words for “Moon” and “enjoy” — was launched on a SpaceX rocket from the United States in August 2022 and entered lunar orbit last month. Its images — taken between December 24 and January 1 — show the lunar surface and Earth, […]

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State of emergency declared in storm-battered California

Los Angeles, United States (AFP) Excessive rain, heavy snow and landslides are expected to wallop California through Thursday as a series of winter storms rip across the western US coast, prompting the Golden State’s governor to declare a state of emergency. The incoming system is set to deliver yet more rain to already-saturated California, where the National Weather Service (NWS) is warning of coastal flash flooding and mudslides in wildfire-scarred terrain. The most populous US […]

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Thailand says no Covid test needed for travellers from China

Bangkok, Thailand (AFP) Thai authorities said Thursday that travellers from China could enter the kingdom without pre-departure coronavirus tests, hoping their return would be a shot in the arm for the country’s tourism sector recovery. China has experienced a surge in infections and its hospitals and crematoriums have been inundated after Beijing last month wound back tight restrictions. The United States, Canada, Japan and France are among the countries that have imposed new rules requiring […]

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China insists Covid data ‘transparent’ after WHO criticism

  Beijing, China (AFP) by Jing Xuan TENG China on Thursday insisted it had been transparent with the international community about its Covid data, as it hit back against World Health Organization criticism that its tally of virus deaths was understating the true scale of its outbreak. There is mounting international concern over China’s steep rise in Covid infections since Beijing abruptly lifted years of hardline restrictions last month, with hospitals and crematoriums quickly overwhelmed. […]

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WHO: XBB.1.5 is “the most transmissible subvariant that has been detected yet”

  Outside of China, many experts have their attention on the US and Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5, which has been detected in 29 countries so far. Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO’s Covid-19 technical lead, said it was “the most transmissible subvariant that has been detected yet.” However there is no indication as yet that XBB.1.5 — which has been spreading rapidly in the northeastern United States — causes more severe disease than other types of Covid. […]

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Criticism mounts in Russia as Ukrainian strike toll rises

KYIV, Ukraine (AFP) — Russia said Wednesday the toll climbed in its worst single reported loss from a Ukrainian strike, which an increasingly criticized Moscow blamed on troops using mobile phones. The Ukrainian military’s strategic communications unit has said nearly 400 Russian soldiers were killed in the town of Makiivka in eastern Ukraine, and even Russian commentators have said the death toll may be far higher than the 89 Russia has reported. As Moscow grappled […]

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Japan tuna price soars past $270,000 at New Year auction

TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — The top-selling tuna at Tokyo’s traditional New Year auction sold for more than $270,000 on Thursday, nearly double last year’s price, breaking a pandemic trend of slumping demand. Michelin-starred sushi restaurant Onodera Group and Japanese wholesaler Yamayuki forked out 36.04 million yen ($273,000) for the 212-kilo bluefin tuna in the auction at Tokyo’s Toyosu fish market. The figure was still only a fraction of the 2019 record price but marks a […]

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Bomb cyclone smashes into California

by Huw GRIFFITH Agence France-Presse LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — A bomb cyclone smashed into California on Wednesday, bringing powerful winds and torrential rain that was expected to cause flooding in areas already saturated by consecutive storms. Authorities issued ominous warnings of threats to life and property for a vast stretch of the most populous US state, focused around San Francisco and Sacramento. Forecasters said gusts of up to 70 miles (110 kilometers) an […]

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Obey or leave: NGOs torn over Taliban ban on women staff

by Estelle Emonet and Jay Deshmukh Agence France-Presse KABUL, Afghanistan (AFP) — Aid groups say they have been “pushed against a wall” by the Taliban prohibiting Afghan women from working for NGOs, a ban that has left a dangerous gap in life-saving support. Afghanistan’s NGOs have been instrumental in trying to address one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with half the country’s population hungry and three million children at risk of malnutrition. “It is […]

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Macron and France brace for stormy January

by Adam PLOWRIGHT Agence France-Presse PARIS, France (AFP) — Addressing the nation on New Year’s Eve, French President Emmanuel Macron put the country on alert for another period of political turbulence. The 45-year-old, speaking from the Elysee palace, acknowledged the “anxieties” of many people amid rocketing food prices, worries about the war in Ukraine and lingering concern about Covid-19. But he vowed to press ahead with plans to push back the retirement age, starting later […]

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Amazon to cut more than 18,000 jobs, CEO says

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) – Amazon announced Wednesday it will cut more than 18,000 jobs from its workforce, citing “the uncertain economy” and the fact that the online retail giant had “hired rapidly” during the pandemic. “Between the reductions we made in November and the ones we’re sharing today, we plan to eliminate just over 18,000 roles,” said CEO Andy Jassy in a statement to his staff. The company had announced 10,000 layoffs in November. Jassey […]

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