by Katy Lee Agence France-Presse PARIS, France (AFP) — Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri arrived in France on Saturday from Saudi Arabia, where his shock resignation announcement two weeks ago sparked accusations that he was being held there against his will. Hariri is in Paris at the invitation of France’s President Emmanuel Macron, who is attempting to help broker a solution to a political crisis that has raised fears over Lebanon’s fragile democracy. Lebanese President […]
Other News
Overnight drizzle improves Delhi’s air quality
NEW DELHI, India (Reuters) — Delhi residents woke up to a bright morning and improved visibility on Saturday (November 18) after an overnight drizzle marginally improved the smog levels in the city. However, the levels of poisonous air borne particles, known as PM 2.5, remained “very unhealthy”. According to a U.S. embassy measure, the level of PM 2.5 stood at 256 at 11 am (0530GMT) – five times the upper limit of “good” quality air […]
Heavy rainfall causes flash flooding in Melbourne
MELBOURNE, Australia (Reuters) — Heavy rainfall on Saturday (November 18) has caused flash flooding in parts of Melbourne, according to local media. The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) issued a severe weather warning for the Melbourne area while recording 20mm of rainfall in under 10 minutes at Melbourne Airport around 1700 local time (0600GMT). Vision supplied by the Nine Network showed a vehicle trapped in floodwater under a bridge with emergency vehicles in attendance. The BOM […]
NBA: James shines as Cavs win, Spurs rally stuns Thunder
by Rob Woollard Agence France-Presse LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — LeBron James produced a 39-point masterclass as the Cleveland Cavaliers rallied to overhaul the Los Angeles Clippers in an overtime thriller on Friday. James added 14 rebounds and six assists to his 39 point tally while Kevin Love grabbed 25 points to power the Cavs to a 118-113 overtime victory at the Quicken Loans Arena. The win helped cement Cleveland’s climb in the Eastern […]
Katy Perry triumphs in case over convent home
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Pop superstar Katy Perry on Friday was awarded nearly $1.5 million as she prevailed anew in her drawn-out bid to move into a former convent in Los Angeles. The singer of “Roar” and “I Kissed a Girl” has more Twitter followers than anyone else in the world at 106 million but had struggled to win the hearts of two elderly nuns who used to live in the convent. The […]
Man jailed for death of Philippine congressman in 2007 bombing
MANILA, Philippines (AFP) — The former driver of a Filipino politician was jailed for life Friday over the assassination of a rival congressman in a bombing a decade ago, officials said. Ikram Indama was found guilty of the November 13, 2007 murders of House of Representatives member Wahab Akbar and three other people in a motorcycle bomb attack, which wounded seven more including two other legislators. Indama had worked as a driver for Gerry […]
UN climate envoys agree on way forward, despite Trump
by Mariette le Roux and Marlowe Hood Agence France Presse BONN, Germany (AFP) — Negotiations to bolster the climate-saving Paris Agreement, crafted over two decades, closed in Bonn Saturday, deflated but not derailed by Donald Trump’s rejection of the treaty and defense of fossil fuels. The US President’s decision to yank the United States from the hard-fought global pact cast a long shadow over the talks, which ran deep into overtime. Negotiations were marked by […]
Chinese, North Korean envoys talk up ties despite nuclear tensions
SHANGHAI, China (AFP) — A senior Chinese envoy has met an aide to North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un in Pyongyang, the two sides said Saturday, stressing longstanding ties despite deep divisions over the North’s nuclear activities. Song Tao is visiting on behalf of President Xi Jinping, ostensibly to brief the North’s officials on the recent Chinese Communist Party congress and other “issues of mutual interest”. The two communist neighbours, once said by Mao Zedong to […]
Marvel’s Runaways leap from comic book to television
LOS ANGELES, California (Reuters) — When Brian K. Vaughan was approached by Marvel Comics to write a comic book to bring in new readers, he hit on the idea of “Runaways” about a diverse group of teenage family friends whose bond grows stronger when they make a gruesome discovery. Launched in 2003, the comic book soon became a fan favorite and now streaming service Hulu has turned the series into a television show, under the […]
Volkswagen heats up electric cars race with $40 billion spend
(Reuters) — 40-billion-dollars is roughly the size of Jordan’s GDP. And that’s also the amount of cash Volkswagen is going to splash in the next 5 years to gain ground in the electric and driverless car race. “We are seeing the first successes of this strategy. Volkswagen is in robust health. This is, above all, the result of great teamwork.” Volkswagen Chairman, Hans Dieter Poetsch, said. Competition in the sector is strong and VW has […]
Renewed US-Russia rift threatens slim Syria peace hope
by Francesco Fontemaggi/ and Dave Clark © Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The latest US and Russian bid to find enough common ground on which to build some hope for Syria is in trouble, just days ahead of talks that could make or break the peace process. A United Nations mediator has called on Bashar al-Assad’s regime and a beleaguered opposition coalition to send envoys to Geneva on November 28 to resolve the seven-year-old civil […]
“Tino” develops into tropical storm; is now outside PAR
(Eagle News) — “Tino” has developed into a tropical storm, but is now outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said in its 10 a.m. advisory that moderate to heavy rainfall would be felt within the 300-kilometer diameter of the tropical storm. As of 9 a.m., the center of “Tino” was located 70 kilometers east northeast of Pag-asa island in Palawan. “Tino” is packing maximum sustained winds of […]





