SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — The US and South Korea on Monday kicked off their largest ever joint air exercise, an operation North Korea has labelled an “all-out provocation”, days after Pyongyang fired its most powerful intercontinental ballistic missile. The five-day Vigilant Ace drill — involving 230 aircraft, including F-22 Raptor stealth jet fighters, and tens of thousands of troops — began Monday morning, Seoul’s air force said. Pyongyang over the weekend blasted the drill, […]
Other News
Arab League chief warns Trump Jerusalem move could fuel violence
CAIRO, Egypt (AFP) — The Arab League chief said on Sunday a decision by US President Donald Trump to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital would boost fanaticism and violence, and not serve the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Trump’s son-in-law and Middle East peace envoy Jared Kushner told the Saban Forum on Sunday the president is close to a decision on whether to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. “It is unfortunate that some are insisting on carrying out this […]
‘Star Wars’ sisters hail girl-powered galaxy
by Frankie TAGGART Agence France Presse LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Carrie Fisher’s death caused a huge disturbance in the Force, but the women of “The Last Jedi” vowed Sunday to honor her legacy in the latest girl-powered “Star Wars” chapter. The cast came together in a secret location in Los Angeles with director Rian Johnson to build buzz for the latest chapter in the blockbuster space saga, which hits theaters on December 15. […]
US pharmacy chain CVS announces $69 billion purchase of insurer Aetna
SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — US drugstore chain CVS Health announced Sunday it would buy medical insurer Aetna for about $69 billion in a move that would create a new giant in the healthcare sector. “The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2018,” CVS said in a statement, adding: “It is subject to approval by CVS Health and Aetna shareholders, regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.” © Agence France-Presse
Facebook opens new London hub, creating 800 jobs
LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Social media titan Facebook will open a new office in London on Monday that is set to be its biggest engineering hub outside America, the company has announced. The investment in the office, near Oxford Street in the heart of the city’s West End district, will also lead to the creation of 800 jobs, more than half of which will be in engineering. The company, which opened its first office […]
Golf: Woods fires final-round 68 as Fowler wins Hero World Challenge
MIAMI, United States (AFP) — Tiger Woods capped his return to competition with a fine four-under par 68 on Sunday as red-hot Rickie Fowler won the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas. Former world number one Woods, who once wondered if nagging back trouble would spell the end of his career, had an eagle and six birdies to finish 72 holes on eight-under par 280. That never put him within striking distance of Fowler, who […]
Thirteen dead in S. Korea fishing boat crash
SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — Thirteen people were killed and two were missing after a fishing boat collided with a tanker off South Korea’s west coast and capsized early Sunday, the country’s coastguard said. The Seonchang-1 fishing boat was carrying 20 passengers on a fishing tour as well as two sailors when it crashed with the 336-tonne fuel tanker at around 6 am (2100 GMT) at sea near the port city of Incheon. Thirteen people […]
NBA: James fires Cavs to 11th straight victory, Celtics win
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — The Cleveland Cavaliers stretched their NBA winning streak to 11 games Saturday as LeBron James poured it on in the fourth quarter to keep the depleted but desperate Memphis Grizzlies at bay. James, who leads the league in fourth quarter points, scored 15 of his 34 points in the final period as the Cavs held on for a 116-111 victory in Cleveland. He scored Cleveland’s last 13 points — […]
Boxing: Cotto bows out of boxing with loss to Ali
NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Puerto Rico’s Miguel Cotto goes out a warrior, but not a winner, after dropping a unanimous 12-round decision Saturday to Sadam Ali in a world title fight he vowed would be his last. Before adoring fans at Madison Square Garden, the 37-year-old Cotto just didn’t have enough against his 29-year-old opponent. Ali seized the World Boxing Organization light middleweight world title the Puerto Rican won in August with an […]
4 policemen wounded in NPA attack in Misamis Oriental
(Eagle News) — Four policemen were wounded in what authorities said was a New People’s Army attack in a police station in Misamis Oriental early Sunday. A police report said 60 armed men held the assault in Minuangan that saw SPO1 Ramonito Zambas, Senior Insp. Dante Hallazgo, P03 Alberto Bernadas and PO1 Joshua Satur sustain injuries from shrapnel sent flying by an exploded grenade from an M203 launcher. The police were, however, able to fend off […]
6.0-magnitude quake causes light damage, power outages in Ecuador
QUITO, Ecuador (AFP) — A 6.0-magnitude earthquake shook coastal Ecuador Sunday, opening cracks in walls and cutting electricity in the province of Manabi, authorities said. There were no immediate reports of casualties. The quake occurred at 6:19 am local time (1139 GMT) some 16 kilometers (10 miles) from the coastal town of San Vicente, Ecuador’s Geophysical Institute reported on Twitter. “For the moment we have no victims to lament, nor significant material damage,” President Lenin […]
Emir of boycott-hit Qatar to attend Gulf summit: minister
DOHA, Qatar (AFP) — Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani will attend a crucial summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council this coming week, Doha’s foreign minister said on Sunday. Speaking at a forum, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said Qatar’s leader had accepted the invitation to attend, amid the region’s worst political crisis in years. “I will attend the ministerial council tomorrow and the emir will attend the summit,” said the minister. He added […]





