Fighting has escalated between Ethiopia’s national army and rebels from Tigray, days after Addis Ababa launched a new major offensive in the restive northern region. Getachew Reda, a spokesman for the rebel Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), said on Wednesday that there had been fresh clashes between the Tigrayan rebels …
Read More »Three dead in shooting incident at post office in Memphis
A shooting incident has left three US Postal Service employees at a Memphis postal facility dead, authorities said. The shooting happened on Tuesday afternoon at the East Lamar Carrier Annex, according to the Memphis Police Department. One of the victims was identified as 37-year-old Demetria Dortch by WHBQ and another …
Read More »Brazil’s president accused of ‘crimes against humanity’ in ICC complaint
Climate activists have filed a complaint with the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, accusing him of “crimes against humanity” for his alleged role in the destruction of the Amazon. In an official complaint filed at The Hague-based court on Tuesday, activists with the Austrian environmental advocacy …
Read More »French soldier killed in Mali
France says one of its soldiers has been killed during a “maintenance operation” in northern Mali. French Defense Minister Florence Parly said on Wednesday that non-commissioned officer Adrien Quelin “died [on Tuesday] following an accident that occurred during a maintenance operation in Timbuktu.” According to French Government Spokesperson Gabriel Attal, an investigation …
Read More »China defends recent drills near Taipei
China says recent military drills near Chinese Taipei were a “just” move aimed at protecting the country’s sovereignty and integrity against Taipei’s “collusion” with foreign forces. China carried out beach landing and assault drills in the province directly across the sea from Chinese Taipei on Monday, one week after former …
Read More »Japan’s ruling party presents campaign on platform of countering China, N Korea
Japan’s ruling conservative party has presented its campaign on a platform of increasing the country’s defense spending to counter alleged threats from China and North Korea. Announcing the pledge on Tuesday, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) also promised to “seek responsible actions” over alleged human rights issues related to Uyghurs, Tibet, ethnic …
Read More »US should face up to ‘shameful past’ with tribal nations: VP Harris
US Vice President Kamala Harris has said the United States must face up to its “shameful past” with tribal nations. According to Press TV, Harris was speaking at the National Congress of American Indians 78th Annual Convention, held this year in Portland, Oregon. She called on Americans of all backgrounds …
Read More »US probing whether Trump aides took gifts meant for foreign officials
The United States has launched an investigation to find out whether some aides to former President Donald Trump took gifts that were meant to be given to foreign officials. The State Department Office of Inspector General is reportedly on the case to see if they took thousands of dollars’ worth …
Read More »Record number of Americans quit their jobs in August: Labor Dept.
A record number of Americans quit their jobs in the month of August, says the US Labor Department, with walkouts mostly hitting the food and retail sector. Over 4.3 million workers left their jobs, breaking a record that had stood since the year 2000. “As job openings and hires fell …
Read More »Top UN court rules in favor of Somalia in sea border dispute with Kenya
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has awarded Somalia control of most of a potential oil- and a gas-rich chunk of the Indian Ocean in a dispute over the maritime boundary with neighboring Kenya. Chief Judge Joan Donoghue said at The Hague-based court on Tuesday there was “no agreed maritime …
Read More »Russia rejects Japan’s claim of sovereignty over disputed islands
The Kremlin has rejected a recent claim made by new Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida that Japan’s sovereignty extends to a chain of islands disputed with Moscow. “We disagree with such statements. This is the territory of the Russian Federation,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said at a press briefing on …
Read More »Qatar envoy emphasizes engagement with Taliban at security forum
Qatar’s diplomatic point man on Afghanistan said Tuesday countries should engage the country’s new Taliban rulers, warning that isolation could lead to a wide-reaching security threat, as happened when al-Qaeda used the country as a base to plot the 9/11 attacks. Mutlaq bin Majed al-Qahtani, Qatar’s special envoy for counterterrorism …
Read More »Pentagon says hypersonic weapons are too expensive
The Pentagon wants defense contractors to cut the ultimate cost of hypersonic weapons, the head of research and development said on Tuesday, as the next generation of super-fast missiles being developed currently cost tens of millions per unit. “We need to figure out how to drive towards more affordable hypersonics,” …
Read More »US describes talks with Taliban as ‘candid and professional’
The US State Department official has described the talks with the Taliban in Qatar as “candid and professional,” following the US defeat in the 20-year war against Afghanistan where hundreds of thousands of people were killed and millions more displaced. US officials from the Biden administration on Sunday held their …
Read More »Ethiopian army starts ground offensive against rebellious Tigray forces
Ethiopia’s national army has launched a ground offensive on forces from the rebellious northern region of Tigray, just days after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was sworn in for a new five-year term as the leader of Africa’s second-most populous country. Getachew Reda, a spokesman for the Tigray People’s Liberation Front …
Read More »Climate protesters ask Biden to follow through on his campaign promises
Climate protesters have gathered at the White House in Washington, DC where they warned US President Joe Biden to take their demands seriously, and declare a national emergency, and end projects involving fossil fuels. The Build Back Fossil Free coalition took to the streets in Washington, DC, on Monday which …
Read More »Tornadoes cause damage in Oklahoma; storms rock central US
Severe storms brought suspected tornadoes and baseball-sized hail to parts of Oklahoma, but there were no reports Monday of deaths or injuries. The severe weather system that hit Oklahoma late Sunday also brought heavy rain, lightning and wind to parts of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Texas, and more stormy weather …
Read More »Stop the poison, UK’s Frost tells EU over post-Brexit deal
British Brexit minister David Frost made an impassioned plea to the European Union on Tuesday to allow for “significant change” to post-Brexit rules governing trade with Northern Ireland, saying only that could draw the poison from their relations. A day before the EU is expected to present its proposals to …
Read More »Beirut blast probe suspended again as judge issues arrest warrant
A probe into the catastrophic Beirut port explosion was frozen on Tuesday for the second time in less than three weeks after two politicians wanted for questioning filed a new complaint against the lead investigator, Judge Tarek Bitar. The investigation has been facing obstacles since Bitar sought to question some …
Read More »Russia says talks with US fail to make headway on embassies dispute
Russia and the United States failed to make any major progress on Tuesday in resolving a row over the size and functioning of their embassies and there is a risk that relations could worsen further, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said. With ties already at post-Cold War lows, the …
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