KINMEN, Taiwan, May 19, 2024 (AFP) – Taipei’s coast guard ramped up patrols over the weekend around its outlying islands that have seen increased presence of Chinese vessels, the agency said Sunday, the eve of Lai Ching-te’s inauguration as Taiwan’s new president. China claims democratic Taiwan as part of its territory, maintaining a near-daily military presence with frequent appearances of fighter jets, drones and naval ships around the island. It has also in recent months […]
International
Vietnam nominates public security minister to be new president
BANGKOK, Thailand, May 18, 2024 (AFP) – Vietnam’s Communist Party has nominated public security minister To Lam to be the country’s new president, state media said Saturday, after his predecessor resigned as part of a sweeping anti-graft purge. Thousands of people — including top officials and senior business leaders — have been caught up in the Southeast Asian country’s “blazing furnace” crackdown on graft, led by Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. The party’s […]
Philippines replaces its military commander for disputed waters
MANILA, May 18, 2024 (AFP) – The Philippine military said Saturday it has replaced a key commander overseeing forces in the South China Sea, including Filipino troops garrisoned on a disputed reef. Rear Admiral Alfonso Torres Jr will replace Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos as chief of the Western Command on Palawan island, which is the closest Philippine landmass to the hotly contested Spratly Islands. The military said in a statement the move was part of […]
New Caledonia ‘under siege’ as French troops bid to restore order
By Mathurin DEREL NOUMEA, May 18, 2024 (AFP) – French Pacific territory New Caledonia was “under siege” Saturday, the mayor of its capital Noumea said, with another person killed in rioting that has left six dead over six days. Anger is still high over a contested voting reform, with Noumea mayor Sonia Lagarde telling news channel BFMTV “we’re far from getting back to calm” even after the arrival of hundreds of military and police reinforcements. […]
Parts of northern Europe clean up after floods
By Iris Maria Maurer, with Sam Reeves in Frankfurt KLEINBLITTERSDORF, May 18, 2024 (AFP) – German emergency workers on Saturday started a major clean-up after heavy rains triggered massive flooding, while parts of Belgium, the Netherlands and France were also affected. The southwestern German state of Saarland was the worst-hit region after a long downpour on Friday flooded buildings, left streets deep underwater and sparked evacuations, with boats carrying stranded residents to safety. Officials said […]
Eagle News International – May 18, 2024 – Living in extraordinary times!
https://youtu.be/FPXHsTXFfKA
Death toll from Texas storm rises to 7
HOUSTON, May 18, 2024 (AFP) – The death toll from severe weather that lashed the Texas city of Houston has risen to seven, authorities said Friday. The three additional deaths came after Houston, the fourth-largest US city, was hit Thursday by heavy rain and winds up to 100 miles (160 kilometers) per hour, leaving downtown streets covered in glass from blown-out windows. Downed trees and power lines littered residential areas and the National Weather Service […]
‘Danger behind the beauty’: more solar storms could be heading our way
By Daniel Lawler PARIS, May 18, 2024 (AFP) – Tourists normally have to pay big money and brave cold climates for a chance to see an aurora, but last weekend many people around the world simply had to look up to see these colourful displays dance across the sky. Usually banished to the poles of Earth, the auroras strayed as far as Mexico, southern Europe and South Africa on the evening of May 10, delighting […]
President Marcos says Philippines will ‘vigorously defend what is ours’
MANILA, May 18, 2024 (AFP) – The Philippines will “vigorously defend what is ours”, President Ferdinand Marcos said on Saturday, as Manila’s maritime row with Beijing over the South China Sea escalates. Marcos told a Philippine Military Academy graduation ceremony that the Southeast Asian country faced “a blatant disregard of internationally accepted principles”. His remarks follow a series of incidents involving Philippine and Chinese vessels near disputed reefs in the South China Sea that have […]
Scheffler shaken, shocked and quivering after arrest and jail
By Jim SLATER LOUISVILLE, United States, May 17, 2024 (AFP) – Top-ranked golfer Scottie Scheffler, known for his stoic shotmaking under pressure, was shaken to his core on Friday after being arrested before his second round of the PGA Championship. The two-time Masters champion was handcuffed and taken into custody after trying to get around an accident and enter Valhalla Golf Club while the entrance was blocked by police after an accident in which a […]
First crewed flight of Boeing Starliner postponed again
WASHINGTON, May 17, 2024 (AFP) – The first crewed launch of Boeing’s Starliner to the International Space Station has been delayed again due to a technical issue, NASA said Friday. The launch in Florida was scheduled for Tuesday but NASA said it is now planned for May 25 to allow teams to further assess a helium leak linked to the service module, which sits on top of the rocket. Earlier this month, a Starliner launch […]
Zelensky warns Russia could step up offensive: AFP interview
By Emmanuel PEUCHOT, Ania TSOUKANOVA =(Picture+Video)= KYIV, Ukraine, May 18, 2024 (AFP) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in an interview with AFP on Friday warned Russia could intensify its offensive and said Kyiv would only accept a “fair peace” despite the West’s calls for a quick solution. Zelensky also repeated pleas for allies to send more air defence and fighter jets and said the “biggest advantage” for Russia was a ban on Ukraine using Western-donated […]





