WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — A lion attacked and killed a young American woman who had just started working at the facility where it was kept, the center said Sunday. Alexandra Black, 22, was passionate about wildlife and had worked just 10 days as in intern at the facility in Burlington, North Carolina. “The Conservators Center is devastated by the loss of a human life today,” it said in a statement. “While a husbandry team […]
International
After Mattis, Shanahan takes Pentagon helm at critical time
by Thomas WATKINS Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Patrick Shanahan, who on Tuesday becomes the acting US secretary of defense, takes the helm of America’s massive military machine at a critical time. Shanahan is moving up from his position as deputy defense secretary to the top spot following the resignation of Jim Mattis, who quit over long-running — and ultimately irreconcilable — disagreements with President Donald Trump. Little known outside business and […]
N. Korea’s Kim vows more summits with South next year: Seoul
SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed to meet the South’s President Moon Jae-in “frequently” next year to discuss denuclearisation of the peninsula in a rare letter sent to Seoul, Moon’s office said Sunday. The leader of the isolated North met with Moon three times this year — twice at the border truce village of Panmunjom and once in the North’s capital Pyongyang — as a reconciliatory push gathered pace. […]
15 suspects brought before Morocco judge over hiker murders
RABAT, Morocco (AFP) — A Morocco prosecutor on Sunday presented to an anti-terror judge 15 people suspected of links to the murder of two Scandinavian women in the Atlas Mountains, Rabat’s attorney general said. The prosecution asked that the suspects be investigated for “setting up a gang to prepare and commit terrorist acts”, “premeditated attacks on life” and “advocating for terrorism”, the attorney general said. Seven other detainees will be referred to the prosecution in […]
White House chief: Trump not building a ‘wall’
by Ian Timberlake Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Outgoing White House chief John Kelly said in an interview published Sunday that he had “nothing but compassion” for undocumented migrants crossing into the US, and undercut President Donald Trump’s claims to be building a “wall” at the Mexico border. As a partial government shutdown entered a ninth day due to an impasse over Trump’s demands for funding the US-Mexico border barrier, the president’s […]
Merkel says Germany must fight for ‘our convictions’
BERLIN, Germany (AFP) — Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday said Germany must “stand fast, argue, and fight for our own convictions” and assume greater responsibilities at a time when multilateralism is coming under intense pressure. In her New Year’s address to Germans, Merkel said long-held certainties about international cooperation were being put to the test. Global challenges including climate change, immigration and the fight against terrorism could not be solved by countries going it alone, […]
6.9-magnitude quake strikes off southern Philippines: USGS
A 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck off the southern Philippine island of Mindanao on Saturday, monitors said, adding that a tsunami threat was possible for parts of the Philippines and neighbouring Indonesia. The quake struck southeast of Davao City at a depth of 59 kilometres (35 miles), the US Geological Survey said, while the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said “hazardous tsunami waves from this earthquake are possible” along the coasts of Indonesia and the Philippines. However tsunami […]
Nations count cost of 2018 climate disasters
by Patrick GALEY Agence France-Presse PARIS, France (AFP) — Climate change-induced disasters cost nations at least $100 billion in 2018, a watchdog said Thursday, warning the spate of deadly wildfires, floods and superstorms was “a shadow” of things to come if greenhouse gas emissions aren’t slashed. This year is set to be the fourth hottest on record and as planet-warming carbon and methane levels in the atmosphere continue to rise, extreme weather events such as […]
Australia swelters in record-breaking heatwave
SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Australia’s vast continent is sizzling through extreme heatwave conditions this week, with temperatures reaching record highs and emergency services on high alert for bush-fires. The mercury is up to 16 degree Celsius (29 degrees Fahrenheit) higher than usual for this time of the year for southern Australia, with numerous towns setting new December records, the Bureau of Meteorology said Friday. “Heatwave conditions are being experienced across large parts of the country,” […]
Russia says will host Putin-Erdogan-Rouhani summit early 2019
MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — Moscow will early next year host the leaders of Russia, Iran and Turkey to discuss the Syrian conflict, Russia’s deputy foreign minister said Friday, after the United States announced it was withdrawing troops from the country. “It’s our turn to host the summit… around the first week of the year. This will depend on the schedules of the presidents,” Mikhail Bogdanov was cited as saying by Interfax news agency. The meeting […]
Blue sky at night lights up social media in New York
NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — An alien invasion? The Rapture? The sky flashed an eerie blue over New York City on Thursday night and social media users feared the worst. Extraterrestrial activity was a leading theory: “IM SORRY WHAT???? THE SKY JUST TURNED BLUE???? literally so confused I think aliens just tried to steal new york,” one user wrote on Twitter. “Apparently aliens are landing in New York City right now bcs the sky’s […]
UAE reopens Damascus embassy after seven years
by Maher al-Mounes with Rouba El Husseini in Beirut Agence France Presse DAMASCUS, Syria (AFP) — The United Arab Emirates reopened its embassy in Damascus Thursday, the latest sign of efforts to bring the Syrian government back into the Arab fold. The UAE broke ties with Syria in February 2012, as the repression of nationwide protests demanding regime change was escalating into a devastating war. Nearly seven years later, the Emirati flag was raised again […]
