EDEN, Australia (AFP) — Reserve troops were deployed to fire-ravaged regions across three Australian states on Monday after a torrid weekend that turned swathes of land into smouldering, blackened hellscapes. The bushfires have now destroyed an area the size of Ireland, according to official figures, and authorities warned the months-long crisis is not over as another heatwave looms. Firefighters joined by fresh teams from the US and Canada were taking advantage of rainy and cooler conditions to tackle out-of-control blazes ahead of soaring temperatures forecast later […]
Other News
Tropical Cyclone Blake forms over northern Australia
SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — A tropical cyclone formed off the northwestern coast of Australia Monday, threatening the town of Broome with destructive 125 kilometers (80 miles) per hour winds, meteorologists said. Tropical Cyclone Blake became category one storm with sustained winds of 75 kilometers (47 miles) per hour and was expected to strengthen to a category two early Tuesday when it skirts the town of 14,000 people. The Bureau of Meteorology warned residents to “prepare […]
Pompeo sees ‘real likelihood’ Iran will try to hit US troops
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Sunday that Iran will probably try to attack American troops after a US strike killed a top Iranian commander. “We think there is a real likelihood Iran will make a mistake and make a decision to go after some of our forces, military forces in Iraq or soldiers in northeast Syria,” he told Fox News in remarks aired Sunday. His comments came as […]
Cambodia building collapse death toll hits 36 as rescue called off
KEP, Cambodia (AFP) — The search for victims in the rubble of a collapsed building in southern Cambodia drew to a close Sunday with the final death toll at 36 — the latest tragedy in a string of deadly construction accidents. Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Sen, said 23 people had been pulled alive from the rubble of the seven-storey hotel, which crumpled to the ground in seaside Kep on Friday afternoon. On Sunday rescuers also […]
China rules out SARS in mystery viral pneumonia outbreak
BEIJING, China (AFP) — China on Sunday said a mysterious viral pneumonia outbreak that has affected 59 people was not the flu-like virus SARS that killed hundreds more than a decade ago. The infection was first reported last week in Wuhan, a central Chinese city with a population of over 11 million — leading to online speculation about a resurgence of the highly contagious SARS virus. “We have excluded several hypotheses, in particular, the fact […]
Iran will forego ‘limit’ on centrifuges as tensions with US soar
by Amir Havasi TEHRAN, Iran (AFP) — Iran on Sunday announced its fifth reduction in its nuclear commitments, saying it will forego the “limit on the number of centrifuges”, as tensions with the United States soar after the killing of a top Iranian commander in a US strike. Iran’s 2015 nuclear agreement with the United Nations Security Council’s five permanent members — Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States — plus Germany has been […]
AFP tasked to evacuate Filipinos in Iran, Iraq should “open hostilities” break out — DND
(Eagle News)-President Rodrigo Duterte has tasked the Armed Forces of the Philippines to evacuate Filipinos in Iran and Iraq should hostilities break out amid rising tensions with the United States. This is according to the Department of National Defense itself, which issued a statement after President Duterte summoned high-ranking military and intelligence officials to determine the course of action, if needed, following the killing of top Iran military official Qassam Soleimani reportedly by the US […]
Six Germans killed as car ploughs into pedestrians in Italy
ROME, Italy (AFP) — Six Germans were killed when a car ploughed into them after they left a nightclub in the Italian Alps on Sunday, emergency services said, adding that 11 others were injured. Media reports said the driver may have been drunk. The accident happened at around 1:15 am (0015 GMT) in the village of Lutago near the Austrian border in the South Tyrol region, which is popular with skiers. The group of […]
Nearly Aus$25 mn raised as Australia reels from bushfire fury
EDEN, Australia (AFP) — A global appeal to help Australian firefighters tackling catastrophic bushfires raised almost Aus$25 million on Sunday, as swathes of the country suffered extensive damage and the death toll from the long-running crisis hit 24. East coast seaside towns were plunged into darkness, ash rained down on rural communities and major cities were again cloaked in choking smoke, even as stunned Australians tried to regroup amid a wave of cooler air […]
EU invites Iranian foreign minister to Brussels
BRUSSELS, Belgium (AFP) — Iran’s foreign minister has been invited to Brussels, the European Union said Sunday, urging a “de-escalation of tensions” in the Gulf after US air strikes that killed a top Iranian general. The EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell made the offer to Mohammad Javad Zarif during a telephone call this weekend, a press release said. “Borrell invited the Iranian Foreign Minister to Brussels to continue their engagement on these matters,” […]
Dozens held after shopping protest at Hong Kong border town
HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Protesters hurled petrol bombs Sunday at a Hong Kong police station and at least 60 people were arrested following a march against so-called parallel trading near the Chinese border. The Democratic Party said about 10,000 people marched peacefully in Sheung Shui district, but violence erupted after police ordered protesters to disperse. Earlier, several petrol bombs were thrown at the Sheung Shui police station, about 1.5 kilometres (a mile) from […]
Rains expected in parts of country today
(Eagle News)–Rains are expected in parts of the country today. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Bicol Region, Romblon, Marinduque, Oriental Mindoro, Northern Samar, Aklan and Capiz will have cloudy skies with scattered rains and isolated thunderstorms due to the tail-end of a cold front affecting Southern Luzon and Eastern Visayas. Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Aurora and Quezon will have cloudy skies with scattered light rains […]
