BAGHDAD, Iraq (AFP) — Six rockets were fired at the Iraqi capital’s airport at dawn on Friday, causing damage but no casualties, two security sources said. The rockets landed on Baghdad airport’s runways or parking areas, one of the sources said. “One civilian plane has been hit and damaged,” the source said. © Agence France-Presse
Other News
Gunman arrested in Japan after taking doctor hostage, shooting nurse: reports
TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — A Japanese man has been arrested for the attempted murder of a doctor he took hostage overnight, reports said Friday. The suspect also shot a nurse, who is severely injured, as he confined the doctor, who is feared dead after the attack, according to public broadcaster NHK. NHK said the 44-year-old doctor was in cardiorespiratory arrest — an expression often used in Japan before a death is confirmed — when he […]
North Korea confirms missile tests as Kim inspects ‘important’ munitions factory
by Cat BARTON / Kang Jin-kyu SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — North Korea test-fired two different weapons systems this week, state media said Friday, while highlighting Kim Jong Un’s inspection of an “important” munitions factory. Pyongyang has conducted six weapons tests in January, including firing hypersonic missiles, doubling down on Kim’s call to build “military muscle” with one of the most intense single-month barrages on record while ignoring US offers of talks. The official Korean […]
24 NCR sites to participate in Feb. 4-5 vaccination of kids aged 5-11, says Galvez
Specially formulated Pfizer jabs for 5-11 age group to arrive on Feb. 2 (Eagle News) — The Philippine government set February 4 and 5 as the vaccination days that would target children aged five to 11 in Metro Manila, according to vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. During the vaccination rollout for the five to 11 year-old kids, at least 24 hospital and non-hospital based facilities would be participating. Specially formulated Pfizer vaccines for […]
Hong Kong outbreak exposes flaws in 21-day quarantine policy
by Holmes CHAN HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Hong Kong’s U-turn on its mandatory three-week quarantine for arrivals follows growing scrutiny of the strict policy after a coronavirus outbreak was traced to a woman infected during her hotel stay. Like mainland China, Hong Kong is one of the few places left in the world still pursuing a zero-Covid strategy that has largely kept the virus at bay but left the finance hub internationally isolated. On […]
76ers rout short-handed Lakers, Warriors beat Timberwolves
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — The Philadelphia 76ers, fueled by 26 points from Joel Embiid, cruised to a 105-87 victory Thursday over a Los Angeles Lakers team missing superstar LeBron James. Embiid’s impressive streak of four straight games with at least 35 points and 10 rebounds ended. But even his relatively quiet night — which also featured nine rebounds, seven assists and two blocked shots — was plenty for a Sixers team that drained […]
Judge cancels major US oil and gas exploration sale
WASHINGTON, D.C., United States (AFP) – A judge on Thursday canceled the sale of oil and gas exploration leases of some 80 million acres in the Gulf of Mexico, after environmental groups sued the Biden administration citing major concerns. Federal District Court Judge Rudolph Contreras declared existing contracts invalid, saying the Department of the Interior did not adequately consider the leases’ impact on climate change when issuing them. According to the ruling, officials had used […]
Senator Joel Villanueva tests positive for COVID-19
(Eagle News) — Senator Joel Villanueva has tested positive for COVID-19. According to Villanueva, this was based on RT-PCR test results he received on Thursday night. He said he experienced fever and headache last Wednesday. “Inabisuhan ko na po ang lahat ng aking nakasalamuha noong mga nagdaang araw tungkol sa aking kalagayan, at kasalukuyan po tayong naka-isolate,” the senator said. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, other senators have also tested positive for the […]
Palawan, Camiguin, Davao Occidental, Dinagat Islands, Tawi-Tawi, Sulu under Alert Level 3 starting Jan. 28
Alert Level 3 in these areas effectve until Feb. 15, 2022 (Eagle News) – Six more provinces were placed under Covid Alert Level 3 that would take effect today, Friday, January 28. These are Palawan, Camiguin, Davao Occidental, Dinagat Islands, Tawi-Tawi and Sulu, according to Malacanang. Acting presidential spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) has approved the escalation of alert level status of these provinces noting the rise […]
WHO hit by racism claims against Western Pacific head
by Robin MILLARD Agence France Presse GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — The World Health Organization vowed to take action Thursday following a slew of allegations from staff past and present against its Western Pacific regional director, including racist, abusive and authoritarian behaviour. Japanese doctor Takeshi Kasai, who denied the allegations, is accused presiding over a “toxic atmosphere” at the WHO regional office in Manila, with a culture of “systemic bullying and public ridiculing”. The staff, […]
Australia pumps cash into Great Barrier Reef protection
SYDNEY, Austalia (AFP) – Australia unveiled a billion-dollar package to protect the climate-ravaged Great Barrier Reef on Friday, hoping to prevent the vast network of corals from being removed from UNESCO’s World Heritage list. Conservative prime minister Scott Morrison announced the Aus$1 billion (US$700 million) nine-year plan, months after narrowly avoiding the reef being placed on UNESCO’s “in danger” list. “We are backing the health of the reef and the economic future of tourism operators, […]
Sweden approves plan to bury nuclear waste
STOCKHOLM, Sweden (AFP) – Sweden’s government on Thursday announced it was approving a plan to provide a final storage place for radioactive spent nuclear fuel by burying it in metal containers deep in bedrock. The site of the final storage will be a facility in Forsmark, which is also the home of one of Sweden’s three nucelar power plants, about 130 kilometres ( 81 miles) north of Stockholm. “We are doing this to take responsibility, […]
