International

Saudi Arabia will continue to stop Houthi advances in Yemen -ambassador

The Saudi military will continue to use force to stop Houthi militants from making advances in Yemen, the Saudi ambassador in Washington said on Wednesday (April 22), despite the announcement on Tuesday of an end to the Saudi-led air campaign. “When the Houthis or their allies make aggressive moves, there will be a response. The decision to calm matters now rests entirely with them,” ambassador Adel al-Jubeirtold reporters. He said Saudi forces, which were reported to have carried out at least 12 air strikes insouthern […]

WWF Lauds BFAR for Lifting of Yellow Card Rating for RP

THE European Union (EU) on 21 April lifted the nation’s Yellow Card fisheries rating, which was slapped onto the Philippines in June 2014 for inadequately addressing illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing or IUUF. “We laud the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and all players for this success, but we should not stop here. We have created the momentum to sustainably transform the country’s fisheries sector,” says World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-Philippines) President […]

Former Egyptian leader Morsi sentenced to 20 years in prison

AN Egyptian court on Tuesday sentenced former president Mohamed Morsi to 20 years in prison for the torture and killing of opposition protesters in 2012 clashes. Morsi was on trial along with 12 other members of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhoodgroup and the sentencing of one of Morsi’s several trials lasted just four minutes. “As a representative of the injured protesters, the verdict was satisfactory. However, it definitely wasn’t for the families of those killed in the […]

U.S. says China use of water cannons on Philippine boats, a “provocative” step

THE U.S. State Department said on Tuesday (April 21) that if reports that China used water cannons on Philippine fishing boats in disputed waters are accurate, it would be a “provocative” step. “It would represent a step backward in finding a diplomatic resolution to the dispute,” State spokeswoman Marie Harf said. Filipino activists have accused China’s coast guard of turning water cannons on civilian boats in the disputed area on Monday. Chinese ships rammed a […]

Bolivia seize 654 kilos of cocaine headed to Spain

BOLIVIA — Bolivian authorities on Tuesday (April 21) said they had seized more than 650 kilograms (1,400 pounds) of cocaine and arrested six suspected drug traffickers. Bolivian government minister Hugo Moldiz said the sting was an operation that lasted several months that led to the arrest of the suspects and the seizure of the drugs which he said were destined for Spain. Narcotics police officers displayed the more than 600 bricks of cocaine for journalists […]

Saudis announce end of military operations in Yemen as air strike hits Aden

SAUDI Arabia announced on Tuesday (April 21) the end of a military air strike campaign against Houthi rebels and their allies in Yemen after nearly a month of air strikes that have worsened a humanitarian crisis in the country. “Today, the leadership of the coalition has announced that it has ended the Decisive Storm Operation in accordance with a request by the Yemen government and his excellency the President (of Yemen), who felt that the […]

WHO admits mistakes regarding Ebola outbreak

GENEVA, Switzerland – The World Health Organization (WHO) admitted that it committed mistakes in handling the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, with the leadership of said organization promising reforms in preparation for similar crises in the future. (Reuters)

Libyan foreign minister “appalled” by Islamic State killing of Christians

LIBYA’S Foreign Minister Muhammad Dayri told reporters on Monday (April 20) how he is “appalled” by the barbaric beheading of at least 28 Christians in Libya, after a video purportedly made by Islamic State was posted on social media sites. “We are appalled at this barbaric killing of 28 Ethiopian nationals yesterday in Libya. This is not the first time that these hordes of ISIS do operate with this tragic and horrible actions in Libya,” […]

Magnitude 6.8 quake hits Taiwan, buildings sway in Taipei

TAIWAN, Taipei — A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8 rattled Taiwan and small islands in the far south of Japan on Monday (April 20), official monitoring sites said, shaking offices in the capital, Taipei. Local television broadcaster FTV showed footage of their offices shaking as the earthquake hit on Monday morning. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said there was no threat of a tsunami after the quake, which had been measured at 6.3 […]

Strong quake hits Japan, Taiwan, triggering brief tsunami warnings

JAPAN — The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) held a news conference on Monday (April 20) lifting the tsunami alert for the Okinawa island chain triggered by a strong earthquake which rattled small islands in the far south of Japan and parts of Taiwan. “At around 10:43 a.m. on April 20, a 6.8 magnitude earthquake has occurred and the Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami warning to Miyakojima and Yaeyama region. The warning is lifted as […]

Strong quake hits Japan, Taiwan; tsunami warning for Okinawa

A strong earthquake rattled Taiwan and small islands in the far south of Japan on Monday, official monitoring sites said, prompting a warning for a 1-metre tsunami for the Okinawa island chain. There were no immediate reports of damage after the quake in either country. The Japan Meteorological Agency said a 6.8 magnitude hit near Okinawa, saying it was very shallow. It issued a warning for a 1-metre tsunami in small islands that are part of […]

Islamic State shot and beheaded 30 people in Libya

Islamic State released a video on Sunday (April 19) purporting to show its militants shooting and beheading what appeared to be about 30 Ethiopian Christians in Libya. Reuters was not able to verify the authenticity of the video but the killings were similar to past violence carried out by Islamic State, which has expanded its reach from strongholds in Iraq and Syria to chaotic Libya. The video portrayed Christians as crusaders out to kill Muslims […]