Sydney, Australia (AFP) Two police officers were among three people killed in a shooting in the Australian state of Queensland, authorities said on Monday, and a hunt for the offenders was underway. Queensland Police ordered residents of the remote rural community of Wieambilla, about 270 kilometres (170 miles) west of the state capital Brisbane, to remain indoors until further notice while they hunted the killer or killers. Australia has some of the toughest gun laws […]
Other News
Musk targets US Covid response lead Fauci in viral tweet
San Francisco, United States (AFP) Elon Musk on Sunday targeted America’s outgoing top infectious disease official and key advisor of the US response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Anthony Fauci, in a viral tweet that sparked backlash. “My pronouns are Prosecute/Fauci,” the billionaire Twitter CEO said, alluding to the practice of indicating gender pronouns after one’s name as well as the right-wing campaign to charge Fauci with crimes related to his involvement in US Covid […]
Unidentified gunmen attack China hotel in Afghan capital
Kabul, Afghanistan (AFP) by Abdullah HASRAT Unidentified gunmen attacked a hotel popular with Chinese business people in the Afghan capital Monday, with witnesses reporting multiple blasts and several bursts of gunfire. Smoke could be seen pouring from the multi-storey Kabul Longan Hotel as Taliban security forces rushed to the site and sealed off the neighbourhood. The Taliban claim to have improved security since storming back to power in August last year but there have been […]
Golden Globes to unveil nominations as censured awards eye comeback
Los Angeles, United States (AFP) by Andrew MARSZAL Boycotted by A-listers and studios last year, the Golden Globes will attempt to rebuild their reputation as one of Hollywood’s top award shows with organizers unveiling this year’s nominees on Monday. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which organizes the film and television awards, has scrambled to reform itself since long-harbored criticisms of the group’s practices went public in early 2021. Tinseltown completely distanced itself from the […]
Japanese startup launches historic Moon mission
Washington, United States (AFP) A Japanese startup’s spacecraft was launched to the Moon on Sunday in the country’s first-ever lunar mission and the first of its kind by a private company. The launch was carried out by Elon Musk’s SpaceX at Cape Canaveral in the US state of Florida after two postponements for additional pre-flight checks. The spacecraft, produced by Tokyo-based startup ispace and carrying a UAE-built rover, blasted off aboard a Falcon 9 […]
Pres. Putin will not hold annual year-end press conference: Kremlin
Moscow, Russia (AFP) Russian President Vladimir Putin will not hold his annual end-of-year press conference this year, which has been dominated by Moscow’s Ukraine offensive, the Kremlin said on Monday. “There will not be (a press conference) before the New Year,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. He added that Putin “regularly speaks to the press, including on foreign visits”. Peskov gave no reason for the break with tradition. Putin, who has been in power since […]
Three boys die after falling into frozen lake in UK: police
London, United Kingdom (AFP) Three boys aged eight, 10 and 11 have died and another boy remains in critical condition after they fell into an icy lake near Birmingham, central England, police said Monday. “Three boys have tragically died after falling into the lake at Babbs Mill Park in Solihull yesterday afternoon,” West Midlands Police said in a statement. The boys suffered cardiac arrest and were rushed to hospital after being pulled from the water. […]
Pres. Macron postpones French pension overhaul to January
Paris, France (AFP) French President Emmanuel Macron said Monday that he was pushing back his presentation of a major pensions overhaul denounced by labour unions, citing recent leadership changes at two opposition parties. Both the Greens and the right-wing Republicans have elected new chiefs, and Macron said he would consult with them before unveiling details of the major reform on January 10, instead of Thursday as planned. “This will give a few more weeks for […]
AirAsia to launch new branch in Cambodia to spur growth
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (AFP) AirAsia parent company Capital A plans to start a new branch of the low-cost airline in Cambodia, its chief executive said Friday, as the firm jump starts expansion plans thwarted by the pandemic. The latest move to reorganise the Malaysia-based firm’s network comes after setbacks in recent years that saw it exit Japan and India. “2022 was about restarting our airline to pre-Covid levels. That machine is in place and will […]
Loud blast, shots heard near China hotel in Afghan capital
Kabul, Afghanistan (AFP) A loud blast and gunfire were heard in the Afghan capital Monday near a hotel popular with Chinese business visitors, a witness said. The Taliban claim to have improved national security since storming back to power in August last year but there have been scores of bomb blasts and attacks, many claimed by the local chapter of the Islamic State group. “It was a very loud explosion and then there was a […]
Japan picks ‘war’ as kanji character of the year
Tokyo, Japan (AFP) Japan chose the kanji character for war on Monday as the symbol for 2022 after a year marked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the assassination of former leader Shinzo Abe. The public votes in the annual event for the written character they think best represents the past year. Olympic-themed choices dominated 2021. The mood was darker this year, however, according to the Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation, which organises the vote. […]
Pacquiao returns to ring for clash with South Korean YouTuber
Seoul, South Korea (AFP) Philippine boxing great Manny Pacquiao returned to the ring Sunday for the first time since retiring from the sport last year, facing off against a South Korean YouTuber in an exhibition match near Seoul. The 43-year-old fighter turned politician stepped away from boxing to launch a bid for the Philippine presidency that failed. He also served as a senator between 2016 and May this year. On Sunday Pacquiao fought D.K. […]
