Hong Kong, China | AFP | Hong Kong law enforcement on Thursday announced a task force to track down and help trafficked residents ensnared by so-called “boiler room” scams in Southeast Asia that have become a growing scourge. In recent months, victims have reported being lured to countries such as Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand and Laos on false promises of romance or high-paying jobs, and then held against their will and forced to work, sometimes for […]
International
N Korea rejects Seoul’s aid-for-denuclearisation offer
Seoul, South Korea | AFP | The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Friday rejected Seoul’s offer of economic assistance in return for denuclearisation steps, calling it the “height of absurdity”. The statement follows South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol this week putting forward an “audacious” aid plan that would include food, energy and infrastructure help in return for the North abandoning its nuclear weapons programme. Analysts previously said the chances of Pyongyang […]
Indonesia leader says Putin and Xi to attend G20 summit: report
Jakarta, Indonesia | AFP | Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping will attend the upcoming Group of 20 summit, the leader of host nation Indonesia said in an interview published Friday. The pair’s attendance would set the stage for showdown talks with US President Joe Biden at a time when Washington is at odds with both of the rival powers, particularly over crises in Ukraine and Taiwan. It has been unclear […]
Apple warns of flaw that lets hackers into iPhones, Macs
San Francisco, United States | AFP | Apple is warning of a flaw that is allowing hackers to seize control of iPhones, iPads and Mac computers, and is urging users to install emergency software updates. Patches were released Thursday and Wednesday by the tech titan to fix what it described as a vulnerability hackers already knew about and may be taking advantage of. “Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been […]
New Zealand flood recovery estimated to take ‘years’
Nelson, New Zealand | AFP | by Ryland JAMES A New Zealand city devastated by flooding will take years to recover, the mayor said on Friday, as hundreds more homes were evacuated. The Pacific nation has been lashed by wild weather with the Nelson-Tasman district on the South Island bearing the brunt after 75 centimetres (29 inches) of rain reportedly fell over three days. Several streets in the city of Nelson were flooded after the […]
Finland says Russian fighter jets ‘suspected’ of violating airspace
HELSINKI, Finland (AFP) — Two Russian fighter jets are believed to have violated Finnish airspace on Thursday, Finland’s defence ministry said, as the Nordic country seeks NATO membership following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. “Two Russian MIG-31 fighters are suspected of having violated Finnish airspace in the Gulf of Finland off Porvoo,” the ministry said in a statement. The Finnish Air Force sent up “an operational flight mission” to identify the aircraft, it said, adding […]
Hundreds evacuated as ‘frightening’ floods hit New Zealand
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AFP) — Hundreds of families on New Zealand’s South Island were forced to leave their homes on Thursday after dramatic flooding prompted a state of emergency in three regions. A tropically fuelled storm has dumped more than 30 centimetres (11 inches) of rain on parts of the South Island, causing rivers to burst their banks. The extreme weather has also felled trees, blocking major roads. A state of emergency was declared Wednesday […]
16 killed, dozens missing in northwest China floods
BEIJING, China (AFP) — Sixteen people have been killed and dozens are missing in flash flooding in northwest China after a sudden downpour triggered mudslides and caused a river to change course, state media reported Thursday. The floods occurred in a mountainous region of Datong county in Qinghai province, affecting more than 6,200 people from six villages, state broadcaster CCTV said. “As of noon on the 18th, 16 people have been killed and 36 […]
Five million in southwest China face power cuts in heatwave
BEIJING, China (AFP) — More than five million people in southwest China were facing rolling power cuts Wednesday as a heatwave creates an electricity supply crunch that has forced factories to stop work. Temperatures across Sichuan province have surpassed 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) in recent days, causing demand for air conditioning to spike. The region also relies heavily on dams to generate its electricity but the heat has caused reservoirs to dry up, […]
Turkey vows to back Palestinians despite restoring Israel ties
Ankara, Turkey | AFP | Turkey said on Wednesday that its decision to restore diplomatic relations with Israel after a decade of tensions did not mean that it would abandon its support for Palestinians. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu’s comments came moments after Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid announced the resumption of full diplomatic relations that included the reappointment of ambassadors. Cavusoglu said the decision will allow mostly Muslim, but officially secular Turkey to lobby for […]
Israel to restore full diplomatic ties with Turkey: PM Lapid
Jerusalem | AFP | Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid said Wednesday his government will restore full diplomatic ties with Turkey, following years of strained relations between the Mediterranean nations. “It was decided to once again upgrade the level of the relations between the two countries to that of full diplomatic ties and to return ambassadors and consuls general from the two countries,” said a statement from Lapid’s office. The prime minister hailed the diplomatic breakthrough […]
UK inflation hits new 40-year high as food prices rocket
by Ben PERRY Agence France Presse LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — British inflation surged to a new 40-year high in July on soaring food prices, official data showed Wednesday, adding to a cost-of-living crisis as the country faces the prospect of recession. The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) accelerated to 10.1 percent last month from 9.4 percent in June — itself a four-decade high — the Office for National Statistics said. The Bank of England […]
