International

Back-to-back missile launches by North Korea spark concerns

By Sunghee Hwang SEOUL, Dec 18, 2023 (AFP) – North Korea fired another internationally banned “long-range ballistic missile” on Monday, the South’s military said, after Pyongyang voiced outrage over deeper nuclear cooperation between Seoul and Washington. The ballistic launch followed firing overnight Sunday by the North of a short-range missile, extending a record-breaking number of weapons tests this year that have been condemned by the West. The back-to-back launches also come after another bout of […]

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N.Korea nuclear attack on US would spell end of Kim regime: White House

WASHINGTON  (AFP) – Washington on Saturday reiterated its warning to North Korea that any nuclear attack on the United States would result “in the end of the Kim regime.” A joint statement by the US-South Korean Nuclear Consultative Group also reaffirmed that any nuclear attack by Pyongyang on South Korea “will be met with a swift, overwhelming, and decisive response.” “The United States reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to provide extended deterrence to the ROK (Republic […]

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Myanmar ethnic minority fighters seize town from military

BANGKOK (AFP) – Ethnic minority fighters battling Myanmar’s junta said Saturday they seized a trading hub in Shan state, days after China said it had mediated a temporary ceasefire. Clashes have raged across Myanmar’s northern Shan state since the Arakan Army (AA), the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) launched a joint offensive late October. The three allied groups — known as the Three Brotherhood Alliance — say […]

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Ottawa youth accused in terror plot against Jewish people

OTTAWA, Dec 16, 2023 (AFP) – Canadian federal police on Saturday charged an Ottawa youth with directing terrorist activities against Jewish people, and giving instructions on explosives. The accused, because of their young age, cannot be identified under Canadian law. No details were released. In a statement, police said they were monitoring a “concerning trend of violent extremism and terrorist use of the Internet.” Global News reported that an explosives team was sent to the […]

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Northeastern Australia hit by ‘life-threatening’ flooding

SYDNEY, Dec 17, 2023 (AFP) – Near-record rain levels in north Queensland have caused “life-threatening” flooding, Australian authorities said Sunday, forcing the closure of Cairns airport. Emergency services said major flooding had particularly hit the northeastern city of Cairns, a tourist hub and gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. The region’s rivers were already saturated after a tropical cyclone battered the region this week, submerging highways and uprooting trees. Amid the wild weather, a 10-year-old […]

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Japan, ASEAN agree to boost maritime security cooperation

  TOKYO, Dec 17, 2023 (AFP) – Southeast Asian and Japanese leaders agreed on Sunday to boost dialogue and cooperation in “maritime security” in the face of China’s growing assertiveness in the region. Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea, a vital trade corridor, and its increased deployment of vessels and other methods to assert its claims in disputed areas have riled nations across the region as well as Washington. Japan and the Association […]

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Cardinal sentenced to 5.5 years in Vatican fraud trial

By Clement MELKI, Alice RITCHIE VATICAN CITY, Dec 16, 2023 (AFP) – A Vatican court on Saturday sentenced a once powerful Italian cardinal to five years and six months in jail for financial crimes at the end of a historic trial. Angelo Becciu, 75, a former adviser to Pope Francis who was once considered a papal contender himself, was the most senior clergyman in the Catholic Church to face a Vatican criminal court. His lawyer, […]

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Netanyahu vows to keep up military pressure on Hamas despite hostage deaths

By Stuart White with Adel Zaanoun in Gaza Strip JERUSALEM, Dec 16, 2023 (AFP) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Saturday to keep up the military pressure on Hamas, despite anguished appeals from relatives of hostages held in Gaza for a return to negotiations after friendly fire killed three captives. The Israeli army revealed earlier that the three hostages were carrying a white flag and cried for help in Hebrew, when they were mistakenly […]

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Hungary ‘defending interests’ by blocking Ukraine aid: Kremlin

MOSCOW, Dec 15, 2023 (AFP) – Hungary is “defending its interests” by blocking EU aid to Ukraine, the Kremlin said Friday, after Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban derailed the bloc’s new 50 billion euro aid package for Kyiv. “Hungary is a sovereign country. It has its own interests. And Hungary, in contrast to many European countries, firmly defends its interests, which impresses us,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Moscow sees Hungary as one of its […]

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Chinese social media users warned against economic ‘pessimism’

By Jing Xuan TENG SHANGHAI, Dec 15, 2023 (AFP) – Chinese social media users reported on Friday that they had been warned against posting “pessimistic” views about the economy, in a sign of growing political sensitivity as China struggles to boost growth. China’s economy is battling headwinds on multiple fronts and Beijing’s leadership said this month its recovery was confronting “difficulties and challenges”. Several people told AFP that social media platform Weibo had sent them […]

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Six held in Denmark as authorities avert terror plot

COPENHAGEN, Dec 15, 2023 (AFP) – Danish prosecution authorities said Friday that six people had been remanded in custody overnight after a police swoop they said prevented a terror attack. Police have not given any details about the target of the alleged plot but said late Thursday that there was no direct link to the arrest the same day of four suspected Hamas members in Germany accused of preparing an attack against Jewish targets in […]

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