International

US Fed could rethink rate hikes as Trump trade wars drag on economy

by Heather SCOTT Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The US central bank sent a strong signal on Friday that it would be willing to reconsider expected interest rate hikes amid new data showing President Donald Trump’s multi-front trade wars are dragging on the economy and shaking up investors. The message, from the senior Federal Reserve official with the closest links to US financial markets, sent the Dow Jones Industrial Average surging 300 […]

Nets win sixth-straight game against LeBron James, Lakers

By Carlo Valdez EBC New Jersey Bureau BROOKLYN, NY (Eagle News) – LeBron James and the L.A. Lakers took on the red-hot Brooklyn Nets in a sold-out crowd bleeding purple and gold to support who some have dubbed as the world’s greatest basketball player at Barclays Center Tuesday night. The Lakers tried to end their last of their four-game road trip with a win. Despite the King’s 36-point performance, the team could not quite handle […]

Spurs defeat Magic 129-90; Orlando’s worst loss of season

By Melissa Potes EBC Florida Bureau ORLANDO, FL (Eagle News) – Orlando Magic Head Coach, Steve Clifford, has been preaching the importance of defending their home court. However, in the Magic’s most recent home game against the San Antonio Spurs the team did not execute what Clifford preached. The Magic were attempting to go for the season sweep against the Spurs as well as get to .500 and improve their current record of 14-15. However, […]

Gatwick airport says reopened for limited number of flights

LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — London’s Gatwick Airport, paralyzed for more than two days after dozens of drone sightings, said it planned to reopen Friday for a “limited number” of flights. “Gatwick’s runway is currently available and a limited number of aircraft are scheduled for departure and arrival,” the airport said on Twitter. It advised passengers to check the status of their flights before travelling to the airport. But police have still yet to find […]

Dozens of bodies ‘found in IS mass grave’ in Iraq

HAWIJA, Iraq (AFP) — Iraqi authorities said they uncovered a new mass grave containing the remains of dozens of people in an area of northern Kirkuk province once held by the Islamic State group. Security forces have discovered dozens of mass graves since they drove out IS in 2017 after three years of occupation of swathes of northern and western Iraq. The United Nations said in November that more than 200 mass graves containing up to […]

Carlos Ghosn re-arrested over fresh allegations

by Kyoko HASEGAWA / Richard CARTER Agence France-Presse TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Japanese prosecutors re-arrested former Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn over fresh allegations Friday, apparently dashing his hopes of being home for this coming holiday in the latest twist to a roller-coaster saga. The case of the once-revered 64-year-old tycoon has gripped Japan and the business world since he was arrested as he stepped off his private jet at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport on November 19. […]

Thirteen dead after fire in Czech mine

PRAGUE, Czech Republic (AFP) — Thirteen miners died and 10 were injured after a fire caused by burning methane erupted in a mine in the east of the Czech Republic, a spokesman said Friday. “In total we have 13 dead miners, 11 Polish and two Czech,” Ivo Celechovsky, spokesman for the OKD mining company, told AFP. The accident occurred at the CSM mine in the city of Karvina, about 300 kilometres (200 miles) east of […]

Windstorm causes severe damage in Vancouver, Canada

VANCOUVER, Canada (Eagle News) — After being hit by torrential rain, the greater Vancouver area is now facing problems caused by a severe windstorm that left more than 300,000 homes without power. According to BCHydro, 132,000 homes lost power in the Lower Mainland, and 110,000 homes on Vancouver Island. According to Environment Canada, the area was hit with gusts of wind of more than 100km/h. Because of this, many traffic lights have stopped working, causing […]

Sydney cars pummeled by hail the size of tennis balls

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Australia’s largest city was picking up the pieces Friday after a series of lightning and hailstorms pummeled cars with ice blocks the size of tennis balls. The authorities issued a severe storm warning, but that was not enough to prevent damage that is already running into the tens of millions of dollars. “As of 6:30 am we are at 15,000 claims and AUS$80 million (US$57 million) in damages,” the Insurance Council […]

Recommendation of Federal Commission to arm teachers with guns spurs reactions across the US

UNITED STATES (Eagle News) — The Federal Commission on School Safety recently released its report to the President of the United States with recommended solutions to advance safety in U.S. schools. The commision was established by President Donald Trump following the February 14, 2018, school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. The panel, led by Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education Betsy DeVos, was tasked to produce policy recommendations with […]

US bishops face pressure amid new sex assault revelations

by Nova Safo Agence France Presse CHICAGO, United States (AFP) — US bishops preparing for a meeting to address the sexual abuse scandal roiling the Catholic church suddenly find themselves in a high-stakes credibility test following a damning report accusing them of underplaying the crisis. Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan on Wednesday issued an explosive report accusing the states Catholic dioceses of not releasing the names of at least 500 clergy accused of sexually abusing […]

Japan prosecutors re-arrest Carlos Ghosn on new allegations

by Kyoko HASEGAWA Agence France Presse TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Prosecutors re-arrested former Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn over fresh allegations on Friday, apparently dashing his hopes of early release in the latest twist to a rollercoaster saga. The case of the once-revered 64-year-old tycoon has gripped Japan since he was arrested completely out of the blue as he stepped off his private jet at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport on November 19. And in another unexpected development, […]