ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AFP) — Three people were killed and six wounded as a suspected drone attack blew up petrol tanks near a major oil storage facility in Abu Dhabi, state media said on Monday. The explosions “resulted in the death of a Pakistani national and two Indian nationals, and six others sustained mild to moderate injuries,” according to state news agency WAM. © Agence France-Presse
International
China’s Xi warns global confrontation ‘invites catastrophic consequences’
BEIJING, China (AFP) — Chinese President Xi Jinping warned on Monday that confrontation between major powers could have “catastrophic consequences” in a speech to world leaders at an all-virtual Davos forum. For the second year in a row the face-to-face gathering of political and corporate power players in the Swiss Alps has had to go online thanks to a coronavirus pandemic that shows no sign of abating. Xi opened proceedings with a speech much like the […]
Tonga cut off by volcanic blast, fears grow for coastal towns
by David WILLIAMS / Andrew BEATTY SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — The Pacific Island nation of Tonga was virtually cut off from the rest of the world Monday, after a massive volcanic blast that crippled communications and stalled emergency relief efforts. It is two days since the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano exploded, cloaking Tonga in a film of ash, triggering a Pacific-wide tsunami and releasing shock waves that wrapped around the entire Earth. But with phone […]
Tonga cut off by volcanic blast
SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) – Tonga was virtually cut off from the rest of the world Monday after a massive volcanic blast that crippled communications with the Pacific island nation, and experts warned internet connection may not be fully restored for weeks. It is two days since the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Haa’pai volcano exploded, cloaking Tonga in ash, triggering a Pacific-wide tsunami and releasing shock waves that wrapped around the entire Earth. But still neighbouring countries and […]
Ecuador declares red alert in most of country over Omicron
QUITO, Ecuador (AFP) — Ecuador on Sunday declared a red alert in most of the country following a ten-fold increase in Covid-19 cases. The red alert applies to 193 of the South American country’s 221 cantons, including major population hubs such as Quito and Guayaquil. Schools have also been shut until January 21. Daily cases rose from an average of 4,000 in the week around Christmas to more than 42,000 in the second week of […]
Millions hunker down as storm hits eastern US
Millions of Americans hunkered down as a major winter storm hit the eastern United States with heavy snow and ice knocking power out for an estimated 145,000 customers as of Sunday evening. The National Weather Service (NWS) said the storm was bringing a miserable combination of heavy snows, freezing rain and high winds, impacting the southeast and coastal mid-Atlantic before moving up to New England and southern Canada. Some areas along the Appalachian mountain range […]
US, Japan leaders to talk Covid, security in virtual meet
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will meet virtually Friday to discuss bilateral ties as well as security in the Pacific region, the White House said. On the agenda will be fighting Covid-19 and climate change and exploring new technologies, according to a statement Sunday from the White House. “The meeting will highlight the strength of the US-Japan Alliance, which is the cornerstone of peace, security, […]
North Macedonia gets new prime minister
SKOPJE, Republic of North Macedonia (AFP) — The North Macedonia’s parliament late Sunday elected Social Democrat technocrat Dimitar Kovacevski as prime minister after more than two months of political turmoil in the country. Kovacevski, a former deputy finance minister, succeeds Zoran Zaev who stepped down last month following his party’s heavy defeat in municipal elections. The new coalition cabinet, led by Kovacevski’s Social Democrats (SDSM), was backed by 62 MPs of those present in the […]
North Korea ‘fired unidentified projectile’: South Korean army
SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — North Korea has fired an “unidentified projectile”, South Korea’s military said Monday, in what would be the nuclear-armed country’s fourth weapons test this month. Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said: “North Korea fired an unidentified projectile into the East Sea,” referring to the Sea of Japan. The Japanese coastguard also confirmed the launch. “North Korea appears to have launched a possible ballistic missile,” a Coast Guard spokesman told AFP without […]
World’s 10 richest men doubled wealth during Covid: report
PARIS, France (AFP) — The world’s 10 wealthiest men doubled their fortunes during the first two years of the coronavirus pandemic as poverty and inequality soared, a report said on Monday. Oxfam said the men’s wealth jumped from $700 billion to $1.5 trillion, at an average rate of $1.3 billion per day, in a briefing published before a virtual mini-summit of world leaders being held under the auspices of the World Economic Forum. A […]
Former Haiti senator arrested in Jamaica over president’s murder
MIAMI, United States (AFP) — A former Haitian lawmaker who is a suspect in the assassination of the country’s president has been arrested in Jamaica, Jamaican authorities said Saturday. Ex-senator Jean Joel Joseph, wanted in the July 7, 2021, killing of president Jovenel Moise, was arrested Friday evening, the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) said in a statement. The JCF “can confirm that a Haitian national; Jean Joel Joseph and three other members (of) his family […]
‘Disappointed’ Djokovic says he will leave Australia
Novak Djokovic said Sunday he was “extremely disappointed” by Australia’s decision to deport him but he would comply and leave the country. Hours earlier, three judges at the Federal Court had unanimously dismissed the unvaccinated Serbian superstar’s last-gasp attempt to overturn the government’s cancellation of his visa. “I respect the Court’s ruling and I will cooperate with the relevant authorities in relation to my departure from the country,” the 34-year-old world number one said in […]
