Villages have been evacuated, ferries suspended and flights cancelled in Philippines and Taiwan as Typhoon Usagi goes through the Luzon Strait which divides them. Meteorologists say the storm is the most powerful this year and will bring a cumulative rainfall of 39in as it heads towards China. The authorities there have announced a red alert… Continue reading Typhoon Usagi hits Philippines and Taiwan
Category: Front Page
Front Page news
North Korea indefinitely postpones family reunions
North Korea has decided to indefinitely postpone scheduled reunions of families separated by the Korean War, a government statement has said. The statement did not provide details other than accusing unidentified conservatives in South Korea of “hostility” towards Pyongyang. North Korea regularly makes such claims about the South. The postponement is an apparent setback after… Continue reading North Korea indefinitely postpones family reunions
Syria sends chemical weapons data to OPCW
Syria has submitted details of its chemical weapons as part of a US-Russia brokered deal to make them safe, the chemical arms watchdog has said. The Hague-based OPCW added that it expected more details from Syria in the coming days and had postponed a meeting planned for Sunday. Syria was given a Saturday deadline to… Continue reading Syria sends chemical weapons data to OPCW
Syria: Rival rebel groups agree Azaz ceasefire
Two rival Syrian rebel groups in the northern town of Azaz have agreed a ceasefire. The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), linked to al-Qaeda, seized the town on Wednesday from the larger Western-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA). Fighting between rebel groups has raised fears of a war within a war. The clashes come… Continue reading Syria: Rival rebel groups agree Azaz ceasefire
Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise seized by Russian security forces in Barents Sea
At least 30 Greenpeace activists are being held at gunpoint by Russian security officers who stormed the group’s ship in the Arctic. About 15 men in balaclavas seized the Arctic Sunrise ship in the Barents Sea, an activist said. This comes a day after four Greenpeace members tried to board a Russian oil platform to… Continue reading Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise seized by Russian security forces in Barents Sea
House of Representatives votes to cut nearly $4 billion from food stamp funding
The House of Representatives voted to cut nearly $4 billion from food stamp funding even after Democrat Rep. Jackie Speier used some congressional dinner expenses as ways to try to shame them into supporting the funding. The 217-210 vote on Thursday was a win for conservatives and it was approved even though Democrats were united… Continue reading House of Representatives votes to cut nearly $4 billion from food stamp funding
NASA: No life on Mars as Curiosity probe failed to find greenhouse gas
NASA has failed to find any evidence that Mars’ atmosphere is supporting life after a year roaming the surface of the Red Planet, it was revealed today. The Curiosity rover currently scanning the Red Planet has not detected any methane, a gas that is produced by living things. Since landing in Gale Crater last year,… Continue reading NASA: No life on Mars as Curiosity probe failed to find greenhouse gas
Hurricane Manuel: At least 97 people killed by storms in Mexico
At least 97 people have been killed by storms that hit Mexico earlier in the week, according to authorities. In the village of La Pintada, near the Pacific coast, a landslide partially engulfed the town. At least 15 bodies have been recovered and almost 70 residents are missing, the authorities said. A helicopter involved in… Continue reading Hurricane Manuel: At least 97 people killed by storms in Mexico
Pope Francis: Catholic Church must heal wounds instead of being focused on abortion and contraception
Pope Francis has warned that the Catholic Church is too focused on preaching about abortion, gay people and contraception and needs to become more merciful. The Pope warned that the Church’s moral structure could “fall like a house of cards” unless it changed. Pope Francis used the first major interview of his papacy to explain… Continue reading Pope Francis: Catholic Church must heal wounds instead of being focused on abortion and contraception
London Whale: JP Morgan makes $920 million payout to regulators
JP Morgan Chase has agreed to pay four regulators $920 million relating to a $6.2 billion loss incurred as a result of the “London Whale” trades. Under the settlement, $200 million will go to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and $215 million to the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). As part of the… Continue reading London Whale: JP Morgan makes $920 million payout to regulators
World Cup 2022: UEFA members agree a summer event could not be played in Qatar
The prospect of a winter World Cup in 2022 took a step forward after UEFA members agreed a summer event could not be played in Qatar. Summer temperatures in the Gulf state can reach 50C, sparking health fears for players and fans alike. UEFA’s 54 member associations backed the switch at a meeting in Croatia.… Continue reading World Cup 2022: UEFA members agree a summer event could not be played in Qatar
Egypt: Security forces clash with militants in Kerdasa
Egyptian soldiers have clashed with militants after entering Kerdasa, a town near Cairo. Security forces went into Kerdasaa at about 05:30 local time to target “criminal and terrorist hotbeds”, officials told Mena news agency. Militants shot dead General Nabil Farag, a senior policeman, state media said. Eleven police officers were killed at a police station… Continue reading Egypt: Security forces clash with militants in Kerdasa
Hurricane Manuel approaches north-western Mexico
Tropical Storm Manuel, which has battered the south-west of Mexico, has gathered strength and is now a category one hurricane, US meteorologists say. Hurricane Manuel is now approaching north-western Mexico and threatens more destruction, the US National Hurricane Centre said. The tropical storms Ingrid and Manuel killed 80 people earlier this week. Now 58 people… Continue reading Hurricane Manuel approaches north-western Mexico
Greece: Neo-Nazi held over Pavlos Fyssas death
Left-wing musician Pavlos Fyssas has been stabbed to death in Athens and the suspect is a member of the Greek neo-Nazi party Golden Dawn. Pavlos Fyssas, 34, was killed early on Wednesday. Police arrested the suspect and searched Golden Dawn’s offices. The party denied any involvement. Social tensions have risen as Greeks deal with years… Continue reading Greece: Neo-Nazi held over Pavlos Fyssas death
Alcon: Novartis eye care unit accused of bribery in China
Swiss drugmaker Novartis says it is investigating claims that its eye care unit, Alcon, bribed doctors in over 200 hospitals in China to promote its lens implants. On Tuesday, a Chinese newspaper alleged that Alcon paid doctors “research fees” through a third-party for fake clinical trials that never took place. This is the second such… Continue reading Alcon: Novartis eye care unit accused of bribery in China
Syria gives Russia new material evidence that rebels used chemical weapons
Syria has given Russia new “material evidence” that rebels have used chemical weapons, a Russian minister has said. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov also said a report by UN inspectors on the alleged use of chemical weapons was “politicized, biased and one-sided”. Sergei Ryabkov said the inspectors had only looked at evidence of an alleged… Continue reading Syria gives Russia new material evidence that rebels used chemical weapons
Australia: Tony Abbott sworn in as prime minister
Tony Abbott has been sworn in as Australia’s prime minister after his Liberal-National coalition ended six years of Labor government. Tony Abbott, 55, took the oath at Government House in Canberra in front of Governor-General Quentin Bryce. His conservative coalition won a comfortable lower house majority in the 7 September polls. It plans to scrap… Continue reading Australia: Tony Abbott sworn in as prime minister
Foss Lake discovery: Oklahoma deputies find six bodies inside two submerged cars
The discovery of two rusting vintage cars containing six bodies under Foss Lake in Oklahoma has reignited the mystery of how three teenagers and three other people vanished in 1970. Highway patrol officers testing their sonar equipment Foss Lake near Elk City, Oklahoma on Friday stumbled upon the rusting 1969 Camaro and a Chevrolet dating… Continue reading Foss Lake discovery: Oklahoma deputies find six bodies inside two submerged cars
Mexico floods: More than 2,000 tourists airlifted from Acapulco
More than 2,000 tourists have been airlifted by the Mexican army from Acapulco resort, following deadly floods caused by Tropical Storm Manuel. Many more tourists and local residents remain stranded in the city and along the west coast after landslides blocked main roads. Manuel was almost immediately followed by Hurricane Ingrid, causing widespread devastation in… Continue reading Mexico floods: More than 2,000 tourists airlifted from Acapulco
Dilma Rousseff cancels US trip over NSA espionage row
Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff has called off a state visit to the US next month in a row over allegations of American espionage. The US National Security Agency (NSA) has been accused of intercepting emails and messages from Dilma Rousseff, her aides and state oil company, Petrobras. The allegations were based on documents leaked by… Continue reading Dilma Rousseff cancels US trip over NSA espionage row
Aaron Alexis treated for mental health issues before Navy Yard rampage
Ex-US Navy reservist Aaron Alexis, who killed 12 people and wounded eight at a Washington DC Navy base, had received treatment for mental health issues, US media have reported. Aaron Alexis, 34, was treated for paranoia, trouble sleeping and hearing voices, the Associated Press reported. A contractor for the Navy, Aaron Alexis had a valid… Continue reading Aaron Alexis treated for mental health issues before Navy Yard rampage
Abdul Kader Mullah: Bangladeshi Islamist leader gets death penalty for war crimes
Bangladesh’s Supreme Court has rejected the appeal of Islamist leader Abdul Kader Mullah against his jail term for war crimes and sentenced him to death. In February Abdul Kader Mullah, of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, was convicted by a special tribunal of crimes during the 1971 war of independence with Pakistan. The life sentence imposed at… Continue reading Abdul Kader Mullah: Bangladeshi Islamist leader gets death penalty for war crimes
Dumex: Danone baby food unit accused of bribery in China
Dumex – Danone baby food unit – said it is investigating claims the company bribed hospital staff in China to use its products. According to China Central Television, Dumex allegedly paid doctors and nurses in the northern city of Tianjin to promote its baby formula products. The report, which cited an unidentified former sales manager,… Continue reading Dumex: Danone baby food unit accused of bribery in China
Costa Concordia cruise ship set upright
Engineers have succeeded in setting the cruise ship Costa Concordia upright, 20 months after it ran aground off the island of Giglio in Italy. They said that the unprecedented salvage effort “reached degree zero [vertical], which was our target”. In the operation that took all of Monday and most of the night, they used cables… Continue reading Costa Concordia cruise ship set upright
Aaron Alexis dies in gun battle with police during Washington Navy Yard rampage
Gunman Aaron Alexis, who died after killing 12 people at a naval installation in Washington DC, has been identified as a former Navy serviceman. Aaron Alexis, 34, of Fort Worth, Texas, died in a gun battle with police during the rampage at Washington Navy Yard. Eight others were injured in the attack, which began at… Continue reading Aaron Alexis dies in gun battle with police during Washington Navy Yard rampage