International

IMF boss Lagarde says will run for second mandate

The managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Friday (January 22) she will run for a second term. Christine Lagarde has no obvious challengers and has said previously she was open to serving another term. “Yes I am candidate to a second mandate. I was honoured to receive from the start of the process the backing of France, Britain, Germany, China, Korea, Mexico,” she told France 2 television in an interview from […]

U.S. presidential candidate Rubio makes first appearance during ‘Tonight Show’

(REUTERS) — U.S. Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio appeared on NBC’s “The Tonight Show” for the first time on Thursday (January 21). During this appearance, host Jimmy Fallon joked about Rubio wearing boots with high heels during campaign event in New Hampshire. “I love these boots, by the way and people made a big deal that you had heels on your boots, who cares?” Fallon joked. “These are great boots, by the way, these are […]

Powerful snowstorm threatens U.S. East Coast, flights canceled

A massive winter storm was barreling toward Washington D.C. on Friday, (January 22) with the system poised to drop near-record snowfall on the U.S. capital before walloping New York and other East Coast cities with blizzard conditions. The National Weather Service described the storm as “potentially crippling” for a swath of the Northeast, with snowfall exceeding two feet (61 cm) in the Baltimore and Washington D.C. metro areas. In the suburbs of the nation’s capital, […]

Japan’s PM says calls for larger Japan worldwide leadership role, defends security policy

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe addressed the country on Friday (January 22) from the parliament building, saying he expected the country to take on more international leadership in the coming year. Abe pointed out that Japan should take on a stronger role especially as it is to host a G7 gathering later in the year. “There is no end in the pursuit of the international community for a better future and a better world. In […]

Myanmar releases political prisoners before power transfer

Myanmar began releasing the first of about 100 political prisoners on Friday (January 22), government officials said, days before democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi’s party is due to form a new government after an election victory in November. The freeing of prisoners by the outgoing administration of President Thein Sein comes after U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Myanmar to free all of its political prisoners during a visit on Monday (18). […]

Islamist gunmen kill 17 in Somalia beach restaurant attack

At least 17 people were killed when Islamist gunmen struck a popular beachside restaurant in the Somali capital of Mogadishu late on Thursday (January 21), Somali police said. Al Shabaab, a militant group aligned with al Qaeda, said its members set off two car bombs at the Beach View Cafe on Mogadishu’s popular Lido beach, engaging in a gun battle for hours with government troops trying to flush them out. “The attackers started shooting from […]

Earthquake hits western coast of Mexico

According to the United States Geological Survey, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake hit the western coast of Mexico. There is no recorded damage in the aftermath of said earthquake. (Eagle News Service Described by Jay Paul Carlos, Video Editing by Dexter Magno, Uploaded by MRFaith Bonalos)

South Korean president seeks five-party talks on North’s nuclear program

South Korean President Park Geun-hye called on Friday (January 22) for a meeting of five countries, excluding North Korea, to discuss that country’s nuclear program alongside long-stalled “six-party talks” that include Pyongyang. Park’s comments on Friday come amid a flurry of diplomatic exchanges involving Washington and Beijing as the international community seeks to impose fresh sanctions on North Korea for its fourth nuclear test on January 6. “In the past, six-party talks had usefulness as […]

State of emergency declared in U.S. east coast under snowstorm threats

Washington, D.C. and another five U.S. states along the U.S. East Coast on Thursday declared state of emergency as the region was bracing itself for a historic snowstorm over the weekend. As authorities in Washington, D.C., and the states of Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania declared the state of emergency on Thursday, blizzard watches were also issued by the National Weather Service along the storm’s path, stretching from Arkansas through Tennessee and Kentucky to […]

Fight against ISIS “bearing fruit”, says commander of French aircraft carrier

The French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle arrived in the UAE capital Abu Dhabi on Thursday (January 21), its 2,000-strong crew taking a break from nearly two months of intensive air strikes against the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria. The jihadist group lost control of the western Iraqi city of Ramadi last month, in a sorely needed victory for Iraqi forces backed by a U.S.-led international coalition. Rear Admiral Rene-Jean Crignola, the commander […]

American special forces arrive in Anbar to assist in war against I.S.

Special American forces arrived at Al Asad Airbase in Anbar on Wednesday (January 20) to aid Iraqi joint forces in the liberation of West Anbar from Islamic State. The arrival of the soldiers triggered mixed reaction from Iraqi politicians. Some were dismissive of the help, while others welcomed the arrival. “We welcome any international effort to liberate our areas and eliminate terrorism and ISIS. There is news of international forces landing at one of the […]

Iraqi minister says “blackmail” behind kidnapping of US citizens

Iraq’s defence minister said on Thursday (January 21) the three Americans who went missing in Baghdad last week had been seized by an “organised gang that carries out abductions for blackmail”. In an exclusive interview with Reuters in Cairo, Khaled al-Obaidi did not elaborate. The three men are employed by a small company that is doing work for General Dynamics Corp, under a larger contract with the U.S. Army, according to a source familiar with […]