International

Solar-powered barge a key ‘interceptor’ for plastic waste

KLANG, Malaysia (AFP) – Patrick Lee Scooping waste from a Malaysian river to stop it reaching the sea, a solar-powered barge named the “Interceptor” is the latest weapon in a global battle to rid the world’s waters of plastic. Trash is being dumped into seas and rivers in enormous quantities, polluting vital habitats, endangering a kaleidoscope of marine life and sullying once pristine tourist spots. Some eight million tons of plastics enter the world’s oceans […]

Climate change linked heatwave caused mass starvation of seabirds

WASHINGTON, D.C., United States (AFP) – Issam AHMED Around a million North Pacific seabirds known as common murres died during a 2015-16 heatwave that disrupted their food supply, scientists said Wednesday, the biggest mass mortality event ever recorded among avian species. Julia Parrish, an ecologist at the University of Washington and co-author of a paper on the subject published in the journal PLOS ONE told AFP that the increased frequency of such heatwaves appeared to […]

Russia’s President Putin picks little-known tax chief for prime minister

  MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday proposed the little-known head of Russia’s tax service Mikhail Mishustin for the post of prime minister, the Kremlin said. The proposal to appoint 53-year-old Mishustin, a relatively obscure figure who has run the service since 2010, came after the surprise resignation of Putin ally Dmitry Medvedev following the president’s unveiling of a package of constitutional reforms. The two met in the Kremlin where Putin “suggested […]

Relief as rain falls over Australian bushfires

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Rain fell across parts of bushfire-ravaged eastern Australia on Thursday and more wet weather was forecast, giving some relief following months of catastrophic blazes fuelled by climate change. The fires, unprecedented for Australia in terms of duration and intensity, have claimed 28 lives and killed an estimated billion animals. Sustained hot weather and only very rare periods of light rain in the affected areas have deepened the crisis. So authorities had […]

New UK deep coal mine ‘unnecessary’: Green Alliance

LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) – Plans for new deep coal mining projects in Britain are “unnecessary” and incompatible with the country’s 2050 carbon-neutral target, a report by environmental think-tank Green Alliance said Wednesday. The report focused on Woodhouse Colliery in the county of Cumbria, in northwest England, which is the first deep coal mine project to be launched in Britain in 40 years. The mine was “unnecessary” for the local steel industry and would instead […]

Pelosi signs articles of impeachment against Trump, House delivers them to Senate

WASHINGTON, DC (AFP) — Two articles of impeachment against Donald Trump were delivered from the US House to the Senate on Wednesday, setting in motion the trial of the 45th US president. Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi signed the articles, which charge Trump with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, before they were ceremonially walked through the Capitol to the Republican-controlled Senate. “So sad, so tragic for our country, that the actions taken by […]

World’s tallest tower lights up for fire-stricken Australia

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AFP) — The world’s tallest tower, Burj Khalifa in Dubai, lit up Wednesday night in solidarity with Australia where devastating fires are still burning. The bushfires have consumed about 10 million hectares (100,000 square kilometers), leaving at least 28 people dead and destroying more than 2,000 homes since September. The skyscraper, which is 828 meters (2,717 feet) high, lit up with the statement “We can all help” and the hashtag MatesHelpMates […]

Fire forces closure of Spanish airport in tourism hotspot

ALICANTE, Spain (AFP) — A fire broke out Wednesday on the roof of the airport in Alicante, a city on the eastern Mediterranean coast which is a tourism hotspot, forcing its closure to air traffic. “The fire is under control but it has not been extinguished. Firefighters are continuing to work,” a spokesman for Spanish airport operator Aena told AFP, adding the airport will remain closed to air traffic until noon on Thursday. Ten flights […]

Prime Minister Medvedev announces resignation of Russian Cabinet

  MOSCOW, January 15 (Sputnik) – Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev told President Vladimir Putin after his address to the parliament on Wednesday that the government was resigning. “Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich, dear colleagues, you all witnessed the message of the President of the Russian Federation. The president outlined not only the priorities for work in our country for the coming year, but also outlined a number of fundamental changes to the Constitution of the Russian […]

Russian govt in shock resignation after Putin calls for reforms

  by Michael MAINVILLE Agence France Presse MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — Russia’s government resigned on Wednesday after President Vladimir Putin proposed a shake-up of the constitution, in a shock announcement that fuelled speculation about Putin’s future plans. The resignation of Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev — a longtime Putin ally — came after the president used his annual state of the nation address to propose a package of constitutional reforms that would strengthen parliament’s role. Speculation […]

Trudeau with thousands in Edmonton mourn victims of Iran plane crash

By Thomas I. Likness EBC Edmonton Bureau EDMONTON (Eagle News) — Across Canada on Sunday, thousands gathered to remember the 57 Canadians who perished when a Ukrainian airliner was shot down in Iran. In the western Canadian city of Edmonton, a standing room only crowd of more than 2,000 people packed a community sports centre to pay tribute to those who died. Many more, who could not be accommodated, watched the memorial online. Among those […]

Makeshift koala hospital scrambles to save dozens injured in bushfires

KANGAROO ISLAND, Australia (AFP) – Dozens of injured koalas arrive at the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park’s makeshift animal hospital each day in cat carriers, washing baskets or clinging to wildlife carers. Injured in bushfires that have ravaged the wildlife haven off the coast of South Australia state, there are so many marsupials currently requiring urgent treatment that carers don’t have time to give them names — they are simply referred to by a number. Among […]