Other News

Russia calls on US to halt ‘hostile’ flights after collision

MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — Russia’s ambassador to the United States on Wednesday called on Washington to stop “hostile” flights near his country’s border, after an American drone was intercepted by Russian fighters over the Black Sea. “We assume that the United States will refrain from further speculation in the media and stop flights near Russian borders,” ambassador Anatoly Antonov wrote on Telegram. “We consider any action with the use of US weaponry as openly hostile.” […]

Pakistan ex-PM Khan defies arrest as supporters clash with police

by Kaneez FATIMA Agence France-Presse LAHORE, Pakistan (AFP) — Supporters of former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan clashed repeatedly with police as he remained holed up in his Lahore residence Wednesday, defying attempts to arrest him. Khan was ousted from office by a no-confidence vote last year, and has been snarled in a series of legal cases as he campaigns for early elections and a return to office. Police and paramilitary rangers fought pitched battles […]

Honduras to start diplomatic ties with China, in blow to Taiwan

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AFP) — Honduras will establish diplomatic ties with China, President Xiomara Castro said Tuesday, a move that would result in the severing of longstanding official ties with Taiwan. Castro wrote on Twitter that she had instructed Foreign Minister Eduardo Reina “to undertake the opening of official relations with the People’s Republic of China.” The switch — which Castro pledged to make while on the campaign trail — comes weeks after her government announced […]

Bucks seal NBA playoff berth, Nuggets fall again

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — The Milwaukee Bucks became the first team to clinch an NBA playoff place on Tuesday after holding off a late rally from the Phoenix Suns to complete a 116-104 road victory in Arizona. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 36 points with 11 rebounds and eight assists as the Bucks brought up their 50th win of the regular season to cement their grip on first place at the top of the Eastern […]

‘Once-in-a-lifetime’ Ohtani has World Baseball semis in his sights

by Andrew MCKIRDY Agence France-Presse TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani has been having a ball at the World Baseball Classic and is determined not to let Italy wipe the smile off his face in Thursday’s quarter-final. Japan won all four of their first-round games in Tokyo and Ohtani appears to be relishing playing in his home country for the first time in five years. The Los Angeles Angels ace can be seen […]

Kyiv condemns ‘kidnappings’ as Russians foster Ukrainian kids

by Anna MALPAS with Ihor TKACHOV in Kherson and AFP bureau staff in Novosibirsk Agence France-Presse KYIV, Ukraine (AFP) — At their home in the middle of Siberia, Russian pastor Roman Vinogradov and his wife Yekaterina are the new foster parents of five children from Moscow-occupied eastern Ukraine. The Vinogradovs are experienced fosterers now raising 16 children, including four of their own, and say they just want to help those who are “very much in […]

Arianespace inks deal to launch at least two Vega-C rockets

Washington, United States (AFP) — Arianespace said on Tuesday that it has signed a contract to launch two Vega-C rockets, forging ahead three months after the failure of the Italian-made vehicle’s first commercial flight. The first of the two new launches will occur in the last quarter of 2025 from the Kourou space base in French Guiana, Arianespace said in a statement. The contract includes an option for a third launch, it added. Italian aerospace […]

18.7 Million Viewers Watch 2023 Oscar Awards

  Oscars television ratings increased for the second year in a row, as 18.7 million viewers tuned in to watch hit sci-fi “Everything Everywhere All At Once” dominate a well-reviewed ceremony, the ABC network said Monday. With Jimmy Kimmel back as host, and a number of bona fide blockbusters among the nominated films including “Top Gun: Maverick” and “Avatar: The Way of Water,” organizers had hoped that the 95th Academy Awards would draw audiences back. […]

‘Double whammy’ of extreme weather grips both US coasts

  by Peter HUTCHISON Heavy rain and snow wreaked havoc across the northeastern United States Tuesday, disrupting flights and causing power outages, as extreme weather gripped both American coasts. The “double whammy,” as the National Weather Service (NWS) called it, is the latest in an unusual series of weather fronts to have rocked the country simultaneously. It is hard to establish a direct link between these winter storms, but scientists say human-caused climate change, brought […]

Satellite constellations multiply on profit hopes, geopolitics

by Mathieu RABECHAULT Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The massive constellation of satellites operated by SpaceX, while still growing, will soon be joined in low Earth orbit by many more commercial competitors, but also government-sponsored programs. When firms floated the idea of expanding access to high-speed internet through satellite constellations in low Earth orbit (LEO), analysts expected only two or three companies would succeed. “But the number of players keeps growing,” Caleb Henry, […]

PAGASA says La Niña has ended

(Eagle News) — The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration has said La Niña, or the cold phase, has ended. According to the weather bureau, most climate models predict  El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) neutral, neither El Niño nor La Niña, will be “favored from March through June with an increased likelihood of a transition to El Niño (warm phase) thereafter.” ENSO is a recurring climate pattern that involves changes in central and eastern tropical […]

Bolsonaro’s Saudi jewels scandal: what we know

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AFP) — Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro is in hot water over allegations he tried to illegally import millions of dollars’ worth of jewelry given to him and his wife by Saudi Arabia. The scandal has triggered multiple investigations, potentially complicating life for Bolsonaro — who is expected to return soon to Brazil from the United States, where the far-right ex-army captain has been living since just before his leftist successor, […]