(Reuters) — China has begun operating a lighthouse on one of its artificial islands in the South China Sea near which a U.S. warship sailed last year to challenge China’s territorial claims. China claims most of the energy-rich waters of the South China Sea, through which about $5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes every year. But neighbors Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims. China’s transport ministry held a “completion ceremony”, marking […]
International
Battered Fiji braces for cyclone
SUVA, Fiji (AFP) — Fiji was battening down for another tropical cyclone Wednesday, just weeks after the most powerful storm in the Pacific nation’s history left 44 people dead and crippled infrastructure. The Fiji Meteorological Service said Tropical Cyclone Zena formed overnight Tuesday when a depression west of the main island Vita Levu intensified. It said the category two cyclone, with wind gusts of up to 130 kilometres (80 miles) an hour, was gathering strength, […]
Michelle Obama hosts last garden planting at White House
WASHINGTON, DC, United States (Reuters) – U.S. first lady Michelle Obama held her annual garden planting activity at the White House on Tuesday (April 5). Mrs. Obama invited students from nearby schools to help with the last planting season before her husband leaves office early next year. “I want to take this time to thank all the kids here and all the kids around the country who have been a part of this garden. […]
Lebanon resumes garbage disposal but expert urges long-term solution
BEIRUT, Lebanon (Reuters) – Lorries began clearing the rubbish that had piled up in Beirut’s streets, under a plan approved last month to solve the seven-month garbage crisis in Lebanon. And though residents are relieved to be able to enjoy clean streets in the capital again, environmentalists warn against what they say is only a temporary solution. The garbage crisis, which began last July when the Naameh landfill site south of Beirut was closed with […]
Major political figures linked with the Panama papers
Iceland premier resigns as Panama Papers scandal widens
by Hugues Honore with David Williams in Paris REYKJAVIK, Iceland (AFP) — Iceland’s prime minister resigned Tuesday, becoming the first political victim of a mushrooming global scandal over hidden offshore financial dealings exposed in the so-called Panama Papers. Prime Minister Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson was the biggest casualty of a worldwide media probe into 11.5 million leaked documents that purportedly reveal the offshore financial activities of 140 political figures, including 12 current or former heads of […]
Brazil’s Lula leads rally against impeachment of President Rousseff
SAO BERNARDO DO CAMPO, SAO PAULO STATE, Brazil (Reuters) – Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva led a rally in defence of embattled President Dilma Rousseff on Monday (April 4) as the current president tries to stave off calls for her impeachment. Lula called on supporters at the Union of Metal Workers in Sao Bernardo do Campo, just outside the city of Sao Paulo, to defend the government. “The people are going to […]
France’s Bordeaux conducts anti-terrorism drill ahead of Euro 2016
Reuters – The southwestern French city of Bordeaux conducted an anti-terrorism drill on Monday evening as it prepares for the UEFA Euro 2016 in June. More than 500 policemen, firefighters and health workers took part in the mock terrorist attack in the Place des Quinconces, the second largest city square in the European Union. The square will be used as an outdoor zone for fans during Euro 2016, with the capacity to hold 62,000 people. […]
Panama president defends transparency amidst leak scandal
PANAMA CITY, Panama (Reuters) – Panama’s President Juan Carlos Varela reaffirmed his country’s commitment to tax transparency after governments across the world began investigating possible financial wrongdoing by the rich and powerful after a leak of four decades of documents from a local law firm that specialized in setting up offshore companies. The “Panama Papers” revealed financial arrangements of politicians and public figures including friends of Russian President Vladimir Putin, relatives of the prime ministers […]
Rescuers pull three-year-old boy from well in eastern China
WEIFANG CITY, SHANDONG PROVINCE, China (Reuters) – Rescuers in eastern China saved a three-year-old boy from a well on Thursday (March 31), state media reported. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said that the boy had fallen 11.8 meters-deep (38.7 feet) into the 90 meter-deep (295.2 feet) well while playing in an empty courtyard on Thursday afternoon in Weifang City of Shandong province. Local firefighters were called to the scene soon after. Unable to physically reach the […]
New Zealand prime minister supports Helen Clark for the United Nations top job
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Reuters) – New Zealand Prime Minister, John Key, on Tuesday (April 5) threw his support behind his predecessor, Helen Clark, following her announcement she would campaign to be the next United Nation secretary-general. New Zealand submitted a letter on Monday to the president of the 193-member General Assembly formally nominating Clark, who heads the U.N. Development Program, as a candidate to succeed Ban Ki-moon as secretary-general. “There are major global challenges […]
French security drills prepare forces for potential Euro2016 attacks
BORDEAUX, France (Reuters) – France carried out a security drill at a “fan zone” area in the city of Bordeaux on Monday (April 4) to ensure security and emergency rescue forces are prepared in the event of an attack during the upcoming Euro2016 championship. Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve and Health Minister Marisol Touraine attended the exercises. Bordeaux will host five matches at the tournament, four in the group stages and a quarter-final. Security has become […]
