HOUSTON, March 22, 2024 (AFP) – A “large group of migrants” crossing into the United States from Mexico broke through razor wire Thursday and rushed the border wall, the border patrol said, the latest episode in a simmering national immigration crisis. Illegal immigration is a hugely contentious topic in the United States, and an issue already figuring prominently in the campaign for the November presidential election. Republicans blame President Joe Biden for the recent record […]
International
Ex-lawmaker accused of killing Philippine governor arrested in East Timor
MANILA, March 22, 2024 (AFP) – A Filipino former congressman accused of organising the killing of a provincial governor has been arrested at a golf driving range in East Timor, the Philippine Department of Justice said. Arnolfo Teves was the alleged mastermind of the March 2023 attack, which killed Roel Degamo, then-governor of the central province of Negros Oriental, and nine others. Police in East Timor detained Teves at a golf driving range in the […]
Fighting at Gaza’s Al-Shifa hospital: what we know
Israel’s army was on Thursday four days into a raid at Gaza’s largest hospital, where the military says Hamas was operating from among patients and displaced civilians. Here is what we know about the fighting at and around Al-Shifa medical centre that the Israeli army says has killed more than 140 Palestinian militants. – The raid – The Israeli army announced at 0100 GMT on Monday that it had launched an operation on the Gaza City hospital […]
US unveils draft UN resolution seeking immediate Gaza ceasefire
JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, March 21, 2024 (AFP) – The United States has circulated a draft UN Security Council resolution calling for an “immediate ceasefire linked to the release of hostages” in the Gaza Strip, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said. The diplomat made his announcement whilst on a tour of the Middle East that will include a stop in Israel. Key Israel backer the United States has vetoed previous UN Security Council votes on the […]
Vietnam parliament approves president’s resignation amid graft purge
HANOI, March 21, 2024 (AFP) – Vietnam’s parliament approved on Thursday the resignation of President Vo Van Thuong, the latest high-profile leader to fall as the communist country is roiled by a sweeping graft purge and political feuding. The ruling Communist Party announced Wednesday that Thuong had quit after barely a year in the job, saying he was guilty of unspecified “violations and shortcomings”. The 53-year-old’s departure, following days of rumours he was on his […]
New Era University’s China Studies Center marks first anniversary with commitment to bilateral relations
Today marks the first anniversary of the China Studies Center of the School of International Relations at New Era University (NEU). Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian was the guest of honor on this occasion. The Chinese envoy hopes for more success for the school in the coming years. Ambassador Huang also mentioned that it is inevitable for neighboring countries like China and the Philippines to have misunderstandings and disputes. But what’s important, he […]
Tokyo rattled by magnitude 5.3 earthquake, no tsunami warning
TOKYO, March 21, 2024 (AFP) – Buildings shook in Tokyo and emergency phone alarms went off when a magnitude 5.3 earthquake struck near the capital on Friday morning, with no tsunami warning issued. The Japan Meteorological Agency said the quake in southern Ibaraki, east of Tokyo, had a depth of 50 kilometres (30 miles). No damage or injuries were immediately reported, but bullet trains suspended operations between Tokyo and Koriyama in northeastern Japan’s Fukushima region […]
Indonesia’s Prabowo Subianto wins presidency with 1st-round majority
By Dessy Sagita and Marchio Gorbiano JAKARTA, March 20, 2024 (AFP) – Indonesia’s Prabowo Subianto has been elected president of the world’s third-biggest democracy, the elections commission said Wednesday, beating two rivals who have vowed to file legal complaints about the vote. The fiery defence minister and his vice presidential running mate Gibran Rakabuming Raka — eldest son of outgoing leader Joko Widodo — already declared victory last month after unofficial counts showed them winning […]
Irish PM Leo Varadkar announces shock resignation
By Peter MURPHY DUBLIN, March 20, 2024 (AFP) – Leo Varadkar on Wednesday announced that he was stepping down as Ireland’s prime minister and leader of the Fine Gael party in the governing coalition, citing “personal and political” reasons. Pundits called the surprise move, just 10 weeks before Ireland holds European Parliament and local elections, a “political earthquake”. A general election also has to be held within a year. Deputy Prime Minister Micheal Martin, leader […]
Global fertility rate to keep plummeting, major study warns
The population of almost every country will be shrinking by the end of the century, a major study said Wednesday, warning that baby booms in developing nations and busts in rich ones will drive massive social change. The fertility rate in half of all nations is already too low to maintain their population size, an international team of hundreds of researchers reported in The Lancet. Using a huge amount of global data on births, deaths […]
Vietnamese president resigns amid major graft purge
HANOI, March 20, 2024 (AFP) – Vietnam’s President Vo Van Thuong has resigned after just one year in the job, state media announced Wednesday, as the communist country mounts a sweeping anti-graft purge. The Vietnam News Agency (VNA) said Thuong was guilty of “violations and shortcomings” and his resignation was accepted by the party’s central committee. The 53-year-old’s dramatic fall comes as Vietnam undergoes major political upheaval, with his predecessor also forced out in an […]
‘Yoga burglar’ seen stretching before alleged Australian bakery break-in
MELBOURNE, March 20, 2024 (AFP) – A woman caught on security camera doing a full yoga routine before allegedly breaking into a bakery and stealing an almond croissant, a pair of shoes and some cleaning products has been charged, Australian police said Wednesday. An unnamed woman — dressed in a black leather jacket, ripped black jeans and black shoes — was captured on CCTV stretching for at least two minutes in a Melbourne bakery’s carpark […]





