Israel, US to hold air drill simulating striking Iran nuclear program

The Israel Air Force this week will hold one of its largest drills in years with the United States Air Force simulating offensive strikes against Iran’s nuclear program. The drill will take place from Tuesday until Thursday over the Mediterranean Sea and Israel. It will include long-range flights such as those that Israeli pilots might need to make in order to reach the Islamic Republic. … Continue reading Israel, US to hold air drill simulating striking Iran nuclear program

China strengthens grip after rare protests against Covid lockdowns and communism

Police on Monday stopped and searched people at the sites of weekend protests in Shanghai and Beijing, after crowds there and in other Chinese cities demonstrated against stringent COVID-19 measures disrupting lives three years into the pandemic. From the streets of several Chinese cities to dozens of university campuses, protesters made a show of civil disobedience unprecedented since leader Xi Jinping assumed power a decade … Continue reading China strengthens grip after rare protests against Covid lockdowns and communism

Russia amps up missile strikes in Ukraine, killing 15 in Kherson

Russian military strikes on Ukraine this week have left half of the capital city of Kyiv without electricity, amid cold winter temperatures. Fifteen civilians have died following Russian shelling in the recently recaptured city of Kherson. FRANCE 24 – In a rare public spat involving Ukrainian leaders, President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday criticised the mayor of Kyiv for doing what he said was a poor job setting … Continue reading Russia amps up missile strikes in Ukraine, killing 15 in Kherson

Shootings at Brazil schools leave 3 dead, 13 wounded

Law enforcement officials in Brazil say a former student armed with a semiautomatic pistol and wearing a bulletproof vest fatally shot three people and wounded 13 others on Friday after storming two schools in southeastern Brazil. THE HILL – The shootings took place at a public school with elementary and middle school students and a private school, both located on the same street in the … Continue reading Shootings at Brazil schools leave 3 dead, 13 wounded

Much of Ukraine still without power, heat and water after Russian missile attacks

The majority of the country of Ukraine remains without electricity, heat, and water after a series of devastating Russian missile attacks against the country’s infrastructure this week. THE GUARDIAN – The Kyiv mayor, Vitaly Klitschko, said 60% of households in the city of 3 million had no power, and there were rolling blackouts around the country, as engineers struggled to repair transformers and transmission lines … Continue reading Much of Ukraine still without power, heat and water after Russian missile attacks

Beijing comes to a halt as China puts capital city on lockdown

Beijing, the capital city of China, has been placed on strict lockdown as Covid cases within the communist nation starts to rise. CNBC – More and more apartment compounds in Beijing on Friday forbade residents from leaving for at least a few days. That’s on top of a growing number of bans on business activity, which have forced gyms to close and restaurants to halt … Continue reading Beijing comes to a halt as China puts capital city on lockdown

Factory fire kills 38 people in central China, state media reports

A fire at a factory in central China killed dozens of people on Monday, according to Chinese state-media, the latest in a string of fatal industrial accidents to hit the country in recent years. State run-newspaper Henan Daily reported Tuesday that two people previously reported missing had been found dead following the blaze at the factory in Anyang, Henan province, bringing the death toll to … Continue reading Factory fire kills 38 people in central China, state media reports

Fisherman lands whopping 67-pound goldfish, may break world record: ‘It was sheer luck’

A UK fisherman became the envy of anglers everywhere after reeling in a nearly 70-pound monster goldfish — potentially the world’s largest. A Facebook post detailing the man’s catch of a lifetime is currently blowing up on Facebook. Andy Hackett, 42, landed the behemoth, aptly nicknamed The Carrot, while fishing at Bluewater Lakes in Champagne, France, one of the world’s premier carp fisheries, the Daily … Continue reading Fisherman lands whopping 67-pound goldfish, may break world record: ‘It was sheer luck’

Pakistan Orders Probe Into Leak After Report on Army Chief’s Family Wealth

Pakistan ordered an investigation into an alleged leak of confidential tax documents after an online news portal published a report about army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa’s family amassing property worth billions of rupees during his term in office. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar “has taken serious notice of the illegal and unwarranted leakage of tax information of the family members of General Qamar Javed Bajwa,” … Continue reading Pakistan Orders Probe Into Leak After Report on Army Chief’s Family Wealth

Search underway as magnitude-5.6 earthquake leaves over 200 dead in Indonesia

Rescuers were digging through debris on Tuesday to find survivors of a powerful earthquake that toppled homes and buildings in a highly populated area of Indonesia’s West Java province, killing at least 268 people. A further 151 people remain missing and more than 1,000 were injured, the country’s National Agency for Disaster Management (BNPB) said. The 5.6-magnitude quake hit the Cianjur region in West Java … Continue reading Search underway as magnitude-5.6 earthquake leaves over 200 dead in Indonesia

Pope sacks leadership of worldwide Catholic charity, names commissioner

Pope Francis on Tuesday fired the entire leadership of the Roman Catholic Church’s worldwide charity arm following accusations of bullying and humiliation of employees, and appointed a commissioner to run it. The surprise move involved the executives of Caritas Internationalis (CI), a Vatican-based confederation of 162 Catholic relief, development and social services organisations working in more 200 countries. The sackings of the executive level of … Continue reading Pope sacks leadership of worldwide Catholic charity, names commissioner

France in shock after murder of tax inspector

The French government on Tuesday expressed shock after a tax inspector was stabbed to death as he was trying to audit the books of a business owner in the north of the country. The murder victim, a 43-year old civil servant for the tax authorities, was found dead on Monday, killed “most likely by repeated stabbing”, the prosecutors’ office in the northern French city of … Continue reading France in shock after murder of tax inspector

China’s Guangzhou locks down millions in ‘zero-COVID’ fight

The southern Chinese metropolis of Guangzhou locked down its largest district Monday as it tries to tamp down a major COVID-19 outbreak, suspending public transit and requiring residents to present a negative test if they want to leave their homes. The outbreak is testing China’s attempt to bring a more targeted approach to its zero-COVID policies while facing multiple outbreaks driven by fast-spreading omicron variants. … Continue reading China’s Guangzhou locks down millions in ‘zero-COVID’ fight

Indonesia: Java quake kills 162 and injures hundreds

An earthquake on the main Indonesian island of Java has killed at least 162 people and injured hundreds, regional governor Ridwan Kamil has said. The 5.6 magnitude quake struck Cianjur town in West Java, at a shallow depth of 10km (six miles), according to US Geological Survey data. Scores of people were taken to hospital, with many treated outside. Rescuers were working into the night … Continue reading Indonesia: Java quake kills 162 and injures hundreds

Top Russian official warns of possible nuclear accident at Zaporizhzhia

The head of Russia’s state-run atomic energy agency, Rosatom, warned on Monday there was a risk of a nuclear accident at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe’s largest, following renewed shelling over the weekend. Moscow and Kyiv have traded accusations of shelling the facility for months since Russian forces took control of it in March, shortly after invading Ukraine. Renewed shelling on Sunday triggered fresh … Continue reading Top Russian official warns of possible nuclear accident at Zaporizhzhia

Saudi Arabia executes 12 people with swords even after Crown Prince’s promise to cut back

Saudi Arabia has executed 12 people in 10 days despite the Crown Prince‘s promise to cut down on such form of punishment, according to a human rights organisation. Reprieve said the defendants, all males, were sentenced to death after being imprisoned for non-violent drug offences. According to the non-profit organisation, which gathered data on this week’s executions, most of the defendants were beheaded with a … Continue reading Saudi Arabia executes 12 people with swords even after Crown Prince’s promise to cut back

Ukraine nuclear power station shelled, UN nuclear watchdog says

Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which is currently under the control of Russian military officials, was hit by shelling on Sunday, drawing condemnation from the United Nations nuclear watchdog, which said the attacks risked a major disaster in the area. YAHOO NEWS – More than a dozen blasts shook Europe’s biggest nuclear power plant on Saturday evening and Sunday, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) … Continue reading Ukraine nuclear power station shelled, UN nuclear watchdog says

North Korea test launches ballistic missile capable of striking anywhere in US

North Korea test-launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of carrying a nuclear warhead with a range that could strike anywhere across the U.S.’s mainland, defense officials said Friday.  The missile landed 130 miles off the coast of Japan, and the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said it was in close communication with Japanese and South Korean officials. The U.S. command immediately condemned Pyongyang’s missile launched and called … Continue reading North Korea test launches ballistic missile capable of striking anywhere in US

5 Aircraft Carriers Set to Operate Together in Europe for NATO Exercise

U.S. aircraft carriers USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) and USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) will exercise with aircraft carriers from France, Italy and the United Kingdom as part of a joint operation across Europe meant to show NATO interoperability, the Pentagon announced Thursday. The two American carrier strike groups, their embarked air wings and escorts will be operating in the North Atlantic Ocean, North Sea … Continue reading 5 Aircraft Carriers Set to Operate Together in Europe for NATO Exercise

2 Russians, Ukrainian get life for downing 2014 Malaysia Airlines flight, killing 298 aboard

A Dutch court on Thursday sentenced three men to life in prison for the murder of 298 people that were killed after a missile downed a Malaysian Airlines flight over eastern Ukraine in 2014. The court also found that a Russian missile was responsible for the strike.  “The court is of the opinion that MH17 was brought down by the firing of a BUK missile … Continue reading 2 Russians, Ukrainian get life for downing 2014 Malaysia Airlines flight, killing 298 aboard

Zelenskiy Softens Stance on Rocket Origin After Biden Comment

Ukraine’s president appeared to soften his insistence that it was only a Russian missile that caused a lethal blast in Poland this week and said a team would investigate after US President Joe Biden disputed the claim. Volodymyr Zelenskiy said his military officials had told him that images of the crater at the blast site suggested it couldn’t have been caused solely by the remnants … Continue reading Zelenskiy Softens Stance on Rocket Origin After Biden Comment

Spacey Faces New Sex Assault Charges in UK

The authorities in Britain have authorized seven new criminal charges against the actor Kevin Spacey, including three counts of sexual assault, the country’s Crown Prosecution Service announced in a news release on Wednesday. Rosemary Ainslie, who leads the service’s special crime division, said in the news release that all the charges involved the same complainant and concerned incidents that were alleged to have occurred between … Continue reading Spacey Faces New Sex Assault Charges in UK

Butchered bodies wash ashore Acapulco

The butchered remains of three people washed ashore in Acapulco, Mexico, over the weekend — shocking beachgoers at the once-thriving holiday hotspot. Gruesome photos show a body lying face-up on sun-soaked Condesa beach as tourists gawk and families wade in the water nearby. The corpses all showed signs of torture, the Sun reported. Authorities removed the bodies, believed to be victims of brutal cartel violence, … Continue reading Butchered bodies wash ashore Acapulco

NATO chief says Poland blast likely caused by Ukrainian missile — but not Ukraine’s fault

NATO said there was no indication that the missile strike that hit a Polish border village on Tuesday night was deliberate, saying that Russia was ultimately to blame as it continues to bombard Ukraine with missiles. The military alliance’s secretary-general, Jens Stoltenberg, said the missile incident took place “as Russia launched a massive wave of rocket attacks across Ukraine.” While the investigation was ongoing into … Continue reading NATO chief says Poland blast likely caused by Ukrainian missile — but not Ukraine’s fault

Remote undersea volcano likely erupting in Pacific Ocean

A volcano is likely erupting deep beneath the Pacific Ocean in the U. S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, however, scientists have no idea for sure because it is so inaccessible. ASSOCIATED PRESS – Scientists are looking to see if the activity is shallow earthquakes or if material exploded from the crater, said Matt Haney, a USGS research geophysicist. Scientists are checking satellite data … Continue reading Remote undersea volcano likely erupting in Pacific Ocean