Los Angeles, United States (AFP) by Huw GRIFFITH California ruled Thursday that all new cars sold in America’s most populous state must be zero emission from 2035, in what was billed as a nation-leading step to slash the pollutants that cause global warming. The widely touted move has been hailed by environmentalists, who hope it will prod other parts of the United States to quicken the adoption of electric vehicles. The rules demand an ever-increasing […]
Other News
US senator lands in Taiwan for fourth political visit this month
by Amber WANG Agence France-Presse TAIPEI, Taiwan (AFP) — US Senator Marsha Blackburn landed in Taiwan late Thursday, the fourth visit by an American politician this month and a move bound to rile Beijing, which has staged huge military drills to protest such trips. Tensions between China and the United States have soared to their highest level in decades since House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit triggered Beijing’s unprecedented show of force around the island earlier […]
Malaysia’s jailed ex-PM Najib back in court for more graft charges
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (AFP) Malaysia’s jailed former prime minister Najib Razak returned to court Thursday to face more charges linked to a multi-billion-dollar financial scandal at state fund 1MDB, two days after he began serving a 12-year prison term. Najib, 69, was sent to prison Tuesday after the Federal Court, Malaysia’s highest tribunal, upheld his sentence in the initial batch of charges linked to the scandal that brought down his government in 2018. Najib was […]
Taiwan announces plans for record defence budget after China drills
Taipei, Taiwan (AFP) Taiwan announced plans for a record increase to its defence budget on Thursday after huge military drills by China earlier this month sent tensions between the two to their highest in decades. Taipei has proposed a defence budget of Tw$415.1 billion ($13.7 billion) for next year, up 13 percent year-on-year, pending parliamentary approval. An additional special budget will also be created specifically to acquire new fighter jets and other projects to boost […]
Gas prices approach record peak on Russian supply fears
London, United Kingdom (AFP) by Roland JACKSON European natural gas prices climbed Thursday towards a record peak on heightened fears over Russian supplies, while equities marked time on the eve of a key speech from Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell. Europe’s benchmark Dutch TTF gas contract advanced to 318 euros per megawatt hour before paring gains. That was not far from the record high 345 euros struck in March shortly after key gas producer Russia […]
Ukraine nuclear plant disconnected from grid: operator
Kyiv, Ukraine (AFP) Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant under occupation by Russian troops was disconnected from the national power supply on Thursday, the state energy operator said. “The actions of the invaders caused a complete disconnection of the (Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant) from the power grid — the first in the history of the plant,” Energoatom said on Telegram. The Zaporizhzhia plant — Europe’s largest nuclear facility — has been occupied by Moscow’s troops since the […]
Messi’s Argentina prove top draw at World Cup: official
Doha, Qatar (AFP) Tickets for two games featuring Lionel Messi‘s Argentina have been the top attractions for fans at this year’s World Cup in Qatar, according to the chief organiser. Argentina’s first round group games against arch-rivals Mexico on November 26 and Saudi Arabia on November 22 were the “most requested”, Nasser Al-Khater, CEO of the Qatar organising committee, told the QNA national news agency late Wednesday. Both matches will be at the 80,000-capacity Lusail […]
Ukraine plans international court to put Putin on trial
Kyiv, Ukraine (AFP) by Thibault MARCHAND Six months into Russia’s invasion, Ukrainian officials are drawing up plans to make sure Russian President Vladimir Putin and his top military commanders will be tried for launching the war. The plan for a special international tribunal to investigate Russia’s alleged “crime of aggression” is being spearheaded by Andrii Smirnov, deputy head of Ukraine’s presidential administration. The definition of the crime of aggression was adopted in the 2010 Rome […]
Putin increases Russian army headcount
Moscow, Russia (AFP) Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday signed a decree to increase the headcount of the country’s army, as Moscow’s military intervention in Ukraine enters its seventh month. Russia’s army will have over two million people, including 1.15 million servicemen, starting January next year, according to the decree published on a government portal. Putin last set the army headcount in 2017 at around 1.9 million people with 1.01 million soldiers. While the […]
US GDP contracted 0.6 percent in Q2, less than initial report
Washington, United States (AFP) The American economy contracted in the April-June quarter but not as much as initially reported, as revised data showed stronger US exports and spending, according to government data released Thursday. Second quarter GDP fell 0.6 percent, annualized, less than the 0.9 percent drop the Commerce Department announced in the initial estimate last month. Coming after the steep 1.6 percent contraction in the first quarter, the data still feeds concerns about a […]
Former Pakistan PM Khan granted bail by anti-terror court
Islamabad, Pakistan (AFP) by Zain Zaman JANJUA Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan accused the government Thursday of trying to score a “technical knockout” against him, after being granted bail on charges brought under the country’s anti-terrorism act. Khan’s court appearance is the latest twist in months of political wrangling that began when he was ousted by a vote of no confidence in the national assembly in April. The former cricket star retains widespread support, […]
North Korea reports four new ‘fever’ cases
Seoul, South Korea (AFP) North Korea’s state media reported four new fever cases Thursday, saying they were suspected of being infected with the “malignant epidemic” — just two weeks after the country declared victory over Covid-19. The isolated nation, which has maintained a rigid blockade since the start of the pandemic, confirmed an Omicron outbreak in the capital Pyongyang in May. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un — who also fell ill during the outbreak […]
