International

Trump gets Republican nomination and claims election being rigged

  by Brendan Smialowski with Sebastian Smith in Washington Agence France Presse CHARLOTTE, United States (AFP) — US President Donald Trump opened his bid for a second term after securing the Republican nomination Monday, with his party launching its national convention as the US president claims Democrats want to “steal” the election that polls currently show him losing. Minutes after the party completed the nomination vote confirming Trump as the candidate on November 3, he […]

South Korea tightens virus curbs as global deaths cross 800,000

by Sunghee Hwang, with AFP Bureaus SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — South Korea ramped up coronavirus restrictions on Sunday to try to contain a growing outbreak, as many countries around the world battled worrying surges in infections. The pandemic has killed more than 800,000 people globally, and continues to unleash destruction with areas such as Western Europe detecting spikes in infections not seen for many months. Infections have soared past 23 million globally, and some […]

One dead, scores feared trapped in India building collapse

by Pritam SAKPAL MAHAD, India (AFP) — One person was killed and dozens feared trapped after a five-storey apartment building collapsed late Monday in western India, officials said. Estimates of the number of missing people range from 51 to 200, according to various local officials. The collapsed structure comprised 47 flats, police in the town of Mahad — 120 kilometres (75 miles) south of Mumbai in Maharashtra state — said in a statement. The cause […]

First volunteer receives Italian anti-virus vaccine

  ROME, Italy (AFP) — An Italian hospital said on Monday it had innoculated a first volunteer with an anti-COVID-19 vaccine as part of human trials expected to last six months. The woman, in her 50s, received the first dose developed by Rome-based biotech company ReiThera at the capital’s Spallanzani Institute for infectious diseases. The trials, developed between ReiThera and Spallanzani researchers, will be carried out on 90 volunteers divided into groups by age to […]

Jordan summit still on after Iraq minister catches COVID-19: officials

  AMMAN, Jordan (AFP) — An Amman summit between Jordan, Iraq and Egypt will go ahead Tuesday, officials said, with extra precautions after Iraq’s telecommunications minister tested positive for COVID-19. Minister Arkan al-Shaybani and fellow Iraqi officials were tested upon landing in Amman on Friday and were put under confinement following the positive result, according to a statement by Jordan’s information minister Amjad al-Adayla. “This required implementing medical procedures put in place to protect the […]

Georgia mourns after 17 killed in mountain mini-bus crash

TBILISI, Georgia (AFP) — Ex-Soviet Georgia on Monday announced a day of mourning after 17 people were killed when a mini-bus plunged 80 metres (260 feet) off a mountain road. Police said the accident took place on Sunday in the country’s Mtskheta-Mtianeti region in the Caucasus Mountains. The mini-bus “fell over a rocky slope” while travelling in the municipality of Dusheti, killing 17 people and leaving three seriously injured, the interior ministry said in a […]

New Zealand extends Auckland lockdown as virus outbreak persists

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AFP) — Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Monday extended a lockdown in New Zealand’s largest city, saying more time was needed to ensure a stubborn cluster of coronavirus infections was under control. Ardern said stay-at-home orders would remain in place across Auckland until at least late Sunday, instead of restrictions easing late Wednesday as originally planned. “These extra four days are believed necessary to allow us to move down a level in […]

Pompeo starts Middle East tour in Israel

by Guillaume Lavallee and Stephen Weizman JERUSALEM, Undefined (AFP) — US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived in Israel on Monday to start a five-day Middle East tour focused on Israel’s normalising of ties with the United Arab Emirates and pushing other Arab states to follow suit. Pompeo, wearing a face mask in the colours of the US flag, was due to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and in coming days also visit Sudan, Bahrain […]

148 arrested as PSG fans riot after defeat: Paris police

PARIS, France (AFP) — Police said Monday they arrested 148 people as Paris Saint-Germain fans set cars ablaze, smashed shop windows and clashed with police in the French capital after the team’s Champions League final defeat to Bayern Munich. The violence occurred around the Parc des Princes stadium and on the Champs-Elysees avenue during and after the match on Sunday night, police said on Twitter. Thousands of supporters had gathered at the Parc des Princes […]

Trump to dominate Republican convention in bid for campaign momentum

by Brian KNOWLTON WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Donald Trump will try to recover momentum in his uphill re-election struggle at this week’s Republican Party convention, telling Americans that he has answers to the coronavirus pandemic, economic turmoil and racial unrest. Trump and his top aides strived over the weekend to put an optimistic spin on what will be a mostly online convention as he prepares to head Monday to North Carolina to formally […]

Twin storms threaten US as 12 killed in Haiti, D.Republic

by Amelie BARON PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AFP) — Two hurricanes are expected to slam into the US Gulf Coast in the coming days, forecasters said Sunday, as Tropical Storm Laura killed at least 12 people when it struck Haiti and the Dominican Republic. US media said twin hurricanes were unprecedented in the Gulf of Mexico since records began 150 years ago. Tropical Storm Marco strengthened into a hurricane with winds of 75 miles (120 kilometers) per […]

Japan PM in hospital for more checks as health speculation grows

TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe returned to hospital on Monday for more medical checks, a government spokesman said, a week after a first visit that fuelled growing speculation about his health. “I’ve been told today he will receive additional testing after a check-up” last week, government spokesman Yoshihide Suga told reporters at a regular briefing. “I see him every day and I don’t see any change in him,” Suga said, in […]