TEHRAN, Iran (AFP) — An earthquake struck Iran on Friday less than 50 kilometers (30 miles) from the country’s only nuclear power plant, monitors said. There were no immediate reports of any damage. The US Geological Survey said the 5.1 magnitude quake struck 44 kilometers (27 miles) from the southwestern city of Borazjan and at a depth of 38 kilometers. Its reported epicenter is 45 kilometers east of the Bushehr nuclear power plant, on the […]
International
‘Ring of fire’ eclipse wows across Asia
SINGAPORE, Singapore (AFP) — Skywatchers from Saudi Arabia and Oman to India and Singapore were treated to a rare “ring of fire” solar eclipse Thursday. Annular eclipses occur when the Moon is not close enough to the Earth to completely obscure the Sun, leaving a thin ring of the solar disc visible. While these types of eclipses occur every year or two, they are only visible from a narrow band of Earth each time […]
Blockchain and cryptocurrency explained in EBC’s first tech forum
By Caesar Vallejos, OPEN FOR BUSINESS Continuing its thrust to provide news and information on technology along with other relevant global topics around the world, Eagle Broadcasting Corporation (EBC) conducted the EBC Forum on Explaining Blockchain and Cryptocurrency last December 11, 2019, at the EBC Studio 1. In his welcome remarks, Atty. Theoben Jerdan C. Orosa said that “as a responsible company with a recognition of social responsibility, it is also the job of a […]
Former US adviser warns of ‘imminent’ North Korea risk
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Former US national security adviser John Bolton on Monday sharply criticized President Donald Trump’s North Korea policy, warning that the Asian country posed an “imminent” threat. “The risk to US forces & our allies is imminent & more effective policy is required before NK has the technology to threaten the American homeland,” tweeted Bolton, who was dismissed in September amid growing disagreements with Trump, particularly regarding his North Korea policy. […]
Dozens of families found homeless after forest fire in Chilean port
VALPARAISO, Chile (AFP) — Dozens of families found themselves homeless on December 25 after a forest fire in the Chilean tourist port city of Valparaiso burned through two hillside neighborhoods. The blaze broke out Tuesday on Rocuant and San Roque hills and continued to burn on Wednesday, though with less intensity. About 200 homes were “affected” by the fire in a matter of hours. There were no deaths from the fire that had burned 150 […]
China hosts Japan, South Korea with eyes on nuclear North
by Jing Xuan TENG Agence France Presse China hosted the leaders of squabbling neighbors South Korea and Japan for their first official meeting in over a year on Tuesday, flexing its diplomatic muscle with America’s two key Asian allies and seeking unity on how to deal with a belligerent North Korea. The gathering in the southwestern city of Chengdu was held with the clock ticking on a threatened “Holiday gift” from North Korean leader Kim […]
Putin opens Crimea-Russian train traffic in Europe’s longest bridge
(Eagle News Service) – Russian President Vladimir Putin officially opened the newly-built railway bridge that connects Crimea and Mainland Russia last December 23, 2019. The Tavria express passenger train from St. Petersburg to Sevastopol was the first to travel to the Crimean Peninsula via the Crimean Bridge. In his speech at the opening of the Crimea railway route, Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized its significance: “It is important for Crimea, Sevastopol, the entire south of […]
Libya war leaves thousands homeless in Tripoli
by Nawas AL-DARRAJI Agence France Presse Layla Mohammed barely had time to gather her children’s belongings before fleeing their southern Tripoli home when shelling targeted the Libyan capital’s outskirts earlier this year. For months she moved her family between apartments as soaring rents in the crowded city exhausted her savings, eventually leaving them squatting in an unfinished building alongside dozens of other families. More than 140,000 Libyans like Mohammed have fled their homes since April, […]
Morales claims US orchestrated ‘coup’ to tap Bolivia’s lithium
by Liliana Samuel BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AFP) — Former Bolivia president Evo Morales told AFP on Tuesday that he was forced from office by a United States-backed coup d’etat aimed at gaining access to the South American country’s vast lithium resources. Demand for lithium is expected to grow globally as it is one of the key components in batteries used in high-tech equipment such as laptops and electric cars. Morales resigned as president on […]
Survival surfing: Indonesians riding the waves to beat tsunami trauma
by Haeril HALIM Agence France Presse Banda Aceh, Indonesia (AFP) — Surfboard tucked under his arm, Dery Setyawan sprints into the crashing waves. It is not just a physical challenge but an emotional one — most of his family and friends were swept to their deaths when a tsunami hit these shores 15 years ago. His hometown of Lampuuk was almost destroyed entirely, but despite his devastating loss, the father-of-two sees the water as a […]
Benin jails journalist over Facebook post
Cotonou, Benin (AFP) — Benin sentenced an investigative journalist to 18 months in prison on Tuesday for comments he posted on social media, his lawyer told AFP. Ignace Sossou quoted on his Facebook and Twitter pages comments made by Benin’s public prosecutor Mario Metonou at a media event to discuss fake news on December 17. The comments made by the official appeared to criticise the government’s attitude towards freedom of expression. “The internet outage on […]
US House speaker, Senate leader spar over Trump trial
by Chris Lefkow WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell sparred on Monday over the ground rules for President Donald Trump’s trial in the Senate on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. Pelosi, the speaker of the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives, said she is not yet ready to name her team for Trump’s trial in the Republican-majority Senate. “The House cannot choose our […]
