Other News

Tillerson takes charge of restive State Department

by Dave Clark and Nicolas Revise Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Former ExxonMobil chief executive Rex Tillerson was sworn in Wednesday to take charge of a US State Department simmering with opposition to President Donald Trump’s refugee ban. After the 64-year-old oilman’s nomination was confirmed by the Senate, he headed to the White House, where Trump formally named the political newcomer Washington’s next top diplomat. “This is a man that is respected […]

Trump picks conservative Gorsuch to shift Supreme Court balance

  by Andrew Beatty WASHINTON, United States (AFP) — Donald Trump has nominated Judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court, seizing an unusual early opportunity to put conservatives back in the majority on America’s top court. In a primetime address late Tuesday that was part jurisprudence, part reality show, Trump tapped the 49-year-old appeals court judge from Denver, Colorado. If confirmed by the Senate, he will fill the seat made vacant by the death of […]

Beyonce takes over internet with twins news

by Shaun TANDON Agence France Presse NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Beyonce is pregnant — and this time, she’s expecting twins with her husband, rap mogul Jay Z. The pop superstar — who already has a five-year-old daughter, Blue Ivy, with Jay Z — announced the news to her more than 92 million followers on Instagram on Wednesday. Clad in panties and a bra under a flowing veil, Beyonce posted a picture of herself […]

Global Foreign Direct Investment slip in 2016, modest recovery expected in 2017 – UNCTAD

In a backdrop of a weak global economic growth and lackluster gains in the volume of world trade, the global flows of foreign direct investment (FDI) fell 13% in 2016 to an estimated $1.52 trillion, according to the latest UNCTAD Global Investment Trends Monitor. The report indicated that the decline was tempered by modest growth in flows to North America (6%) and a sizeable increase in investment in other developed economies, principally Australia and Japan. […]

NATO issues dire Ukraine warning as death toll hits 19

by Yulia SILINA Agence France-Presse AVDIIVKA, Ukraine (AFP) – The head of NATO warned on Wednesday that Ukraine faced its worst violence “in a long time” as global alarm rang out over a spike in bloodshed that has killed 19 people in the European Union’s backyard. Government forces and Russian-backed separatists exchanged mortar and rocket fire for a fourth day around the flashpoint eastern town of Avdiivka that sits just north of the rebels’ de facto […]

Clashes as Israel evicts wildcat settlers

by Joe Dyke with Laurent Lozano in Jerusalem Agence France-Presse AMONA, Palestinian Territories (AFP) – Israeli police clashed Wednesday with Jewish settlers resisting the eviction of hardline residents of a wildcat outpost, hours after the government authorised 3,000 new homes in other West Bank settlements. Israel has issued a series of approvals for new settler homes since US President Donald Trump took office less than two weeks ago having signalled a softer stance on Israeli […]

DND chief says NPA ceasefire termination won’t affect AFP

  (Eagle News) — Defense Secretary Delfin Delfin Lorenzana said the ceasefire termination declared by the New People’s Army (NPA) would have “no effect” at all on the Armed Forces of the Philippines. In a statement, Lorenzana also said the NPA rebels themselves, even during the ceasefire, continued their ambushes and kidnapping of soldiers. “If the CPP-NPA (Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army) will terminate or stop their unilateral ceasefire it is up to […]

Peace adviser Dureza recommends continuation of ceasefire with NPA rebels

  (Eagle News) – The Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza said the Philippine government is “dismayed” with the announcement of the New People’s Army (NPA) to withdraw the unilateral ceasefire effective February 10. The announcement was made by NPA spokesperson “Ka Oris” Madlos on Wednesday morning, February 1. Dureza rued that “this cancellation came just after some progress were made in the 3rd round of peace talks in Rome where negotiating panels […]

Low social rank bigger health risk than obesity: study

PARIS, France (AFP) — People on the bottom rung of the socioeconomic ladder may live two years less on average than those at the top, according to a large-scale study published Wednesday. This makes social rank a bigger risk factor for illness and premature death than either high alcohol consumption or obesity, and it nearly equals the risk posed by physical inactivity, researchers said. On average, a low social rank shaved over 25 months off […]