Other News

Magnitude 6.9 quake latest to rattle southern Philippines

By Ara Eugenio and Cecil Morella MANILA, Dec 3, 2023 (AFP) – A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck off the coast of the southern Philippines early Monday, the United States Geological Survey said, the latest in a slew of strong quakes all concentrated in the same area. Monday’s quake hit just before 4:00 am local time, (2000 GMT Sunday), at a depth of 30 kilometres (18 miles), some 72 kilometres northeast of Hinatuan municipality on Mindanao […]

Another strong quake hits Surigao del Sur

(Eagle News)–Another strong earthquake struck Surigao del Sur early Monday, December 4. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the 6.8-magnitude quake hit at 3:49 a.m., just a day after a 7.4-magnitude tremor struck the province. The epicenter of Monday’s earthquake was 67 kilometers northeast of Cagwait. The depth of focus was one kilometer. The following intensities and instrumental intensities were reported: Intensities: Intensity V – Cagwait, Surigao del Sur Intensity IV – Tarragona, […]

Philippines, France to pursue key defence pact

MANILA, Dec 3, 2023 (AFP) – Defence ministers for the Philippines and France vowed Saturday to pursue an agreement that would allow them to deploy troops to each other’s territories, the latest such deal sought by the archipelagic nation located in the strategic South China Sea. Speaking following a meeting in Manila, Philippine Defence Secretary Gilbert Teodoro and his French counterpart Sebastien Lecornu said they agreed to seek authorisation from their respective presidents and relevant […]

Flights resume at Munich after snow, trains still disrupted

MUNICH, Germany, Dec 3, 2023 (AFP) – Flights resumed at Munich airport on Sunday, a day after they were suspended due to snowfall, but disruption to rail traffic in parts of southern Germany was set to continue. Germany’s second largest airport said on its website that flights resumed at 6:00 am (0500 GMT) but added that some “disruption to air traffic” would continue and advised passengers to check with their carriers well in advance before […]

N. Korea spy satellite operator to report findings to military: KCNA

SEOUL, Dec 3, 2023 (AFP) – The office operating North Korea’s newly launched spy satellite will run as a military intelligence organisation, state media said Sunday. Pyongyang successfully put a military spy satellite into orbit last month and has since claimed it was providing images of major US and South Korean military sites. It has not yet disclosed any of the satellite imagery it claims to possess but warned on Saturday that any attack on […]

Philippines says more than 135 Chinese boats ‘swarming’ reef off its coast

By Allison JACKSON MANILA, Dec 3, 2023 (AFP) – The Philippines said Sunday more than 135 Chinese vessels were “swarming” a reef off its coast, describing the boats’ growing presence as “alarming”. The Chinese boats were “dispersed and scattered” within the boomerang-shaped Whitsun Reef, which the Philippines calls Julian Felipe Reef, around 320 kilometres (200 miles) west of Palawan Island, the coast guard said. Whitsun Reef is more than 1,000 kilometres from the nearest major […]

Hikers evacuated as Indonesia volcano spews ash tower

PADANG, Indonesia, Dec 3, 2023 (AFP) – A volcano in western Indonesia erupted Sunday, belching a column of ash around three kilometres into the sky and forcing the evacuation of dozens of hikers, officials said. Mount Marapi on the island of Sumatra, with a peak of 2,891 metres, is on the third-highest alert level of Indonesia’s four-step system and authorities imposed an exclusion zone around its crater. There were no immediate reports of damage or […]

Magnitude 6.6 aftershock causes panic in southern Philippines

By Ara Eugenio and Cecil Morella MANILA, Dec 3, 2023 (AFP) – A magnitude 6.6 earthquake hit the southern Philippines on Sunday, the US Geological Survey said, a day after an even more powerful quake in the same region killed two people and triggered a tsunami alert. The latest earthquake — one of several strong aftershocks felt in the region since late Saturday — hit at around 6:36 pm (1036 GMT) at a depth of […]

Six exoplanets discovered in synchronised dance around star

By Juliette Collen PARIS (AFP) – Six exoplanets have been spotted in a perfectly synchronised dance around a nearby star, offering clues about the formation of our own Solar System, astronomers said on Wednesday. The six planets orbit the bright star HD 110067 around 100 light years away from Earth. The star is visible from the Northern Hemisphere as part of the Coma Berenices constellation. The planets are so close to their star that all […]

US, UK, Australia defense chiefs tout deep space radar, AI in joint deal

By Josh EDELSON MOUNTAIN VIEW, United States, Dec 2, 2023 (AFP) – The defense chiefs of the United States, Australia and Britain met in California on Friday, touting high-tech co-operation on deep space radar, AI and quantum computing systems aimed at bolstering their armed forces in the face of growing global threats, including from China. The three men huddled in Silicon Valley — the heart of the US tech sector — to build on the […]

George lifts Clippers over Warriors, Giannis triple-double fuels Bucks

LOS ANGELES, Dec 3, 2023 (AFP) – Paul George drilled the game-winning three-pointer as the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers rallied from a 22-point third-quarter deficit to stun the Golden State Warriors 113-112 on Saturday. George finished with a game-high 25 points. Eleven of those came in the fourth quarter, when he finally put the Clippers in the lead, for the first time in the game, with 9.9 seconds remaining, connecting from beyond the arc over […]

US Commerce chief warns against China ‘threat’

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec 2, 2023 (AFP) – US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo on Saturday urged lawmakers, Silicon Valley and US allies to stop China from getting semiconductors and cutting-edge technologies key to national security. Speaking at an annual national defense forum in Simi Valley, California, Raimondo called Beijing “the biggest threat we’ve ever had” and stressed “China is not our friend.” The world’s top two economies are locked in a fierce commercial and geopolitical rivalry, […]