Japanese man sets himself on fire in apparent protest at former PM’s state funeral
TOKYO - A man set himself on fire near the Japanese prime minister's office on Wednesday in an apparent protest at the government's decision to hold a state funeral for former premier Shinzo Abe, who was assassinated earlier this year, media reported.
The man was...
US seeks to weaken global development finance efforts, UN document shows
BRUSSELS/LONDON - The United States is seeking to weaken a global deal aimed at helping developing countries struggling with the impacts of climate change and other...
Japan protests Russia’s decision to ban entry of 13 business executives
TOKYO - Japan protested to Russia on Wednesday over curbs denying entry to 13 Japanese business executives, including the Toyota Motor chairman, as part of counter-sanctions...
Biden warns Iran, assures Israeli PM Netanyahu of aid to fight Hamas
WASHINGTON — US President Joseph R. Biden warned Iran to “be careful” on Wednesday and told Israeli Prime Minister (PM) Benjamin Netanyahu that the...
Webb telescope confirms the universe is expanding at an unexpected rate
WASHINGTON — Fresh corroboration of the perplexing observation that the universe is expanding more rapidly than expected has scientists pondering the cause — perhaps...
Boom in US public banks aiming to stay local and play fair
WASHINGTON — April Fenall wants to electrify and upgrade her fleet of California delivery vehicles, but she thinks her business with a conscience is...
WHO approves Sinovac COVID shot in second Chinese milestone
GENEVA - The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday it has approved a COVID-19 vaccine made by Sinovac Biotech for emergency use listing,...
Congolese NGOs decry mining in main refuge of ‘Africa’s unicorn’
GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo — Illegal gold-mining is destroying tracts of pristine rainforest in Congo’s Okapi Wildlife Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage site meant to be a haven for the endangered mammal nicknamed Africa’s unicorn, environmental organizations warned on Tuesday.
Measles cases jump 79% in 2022 after COVID hit vaccination campaigns
LONDON — Measles cases jumped by 79% in the first two months of this year compared to 2021, after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and lockdowns disrupted...
Democrats nominate Joe Biden for president
DEMOCRATS formally nominated Joe Biden for president on Tuesday, vowing his election would repair a pandemic-battered America and put an end to the chaos that has defined Republican President Donald Trump’s administration.
Hague-based world court to hear arguments on Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories
THE HAGUE — The United Nations’ (UN) top court on Monday opens a week of hearings on the legal consequences of Israel’s occupation of...
Casualty reports awaited from tsunami-hit Tonga with comms mostly down
WELLINGTON — Tsunami-hit Tonga remained largely uncontactable on Sunday with telephone and internet links severed, leaving relatives in faraway New Zealand praying for their families on the Pacific islands as casualty reports had yet to come through.