International

Finland hopes new nuclear reactor eases energy crunch

by Elias HUUHTANEN Agence France-Presse EURAJOKI, Finland (AFP) — After over a decade of delays, the deafening sound of Finland’s new Olkiluoto 3 nuclear reactor finally running its turbine at full power was welcomed with joy — and relief. The Nordic country is hoping the plant will be able to ease the coming winter’s challenges as Europe battles soaring energy prices following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “It has taken a lot of perseverance and years […]

Ukraine claims new gains, welcomes Western air defense pledge

by Emmanuel PEUCHOT, with Dave CLARK in Toretsk Agence France-Presse KYIV, Ukraine (AFP) — Ukraine said Wednesday it had reclaimed more territory in the south and welcomed a Western pledge to deliver air defense systems to Kyiv “as fast as we can” after days of intense Russian missile strikes. A US-led group of around 50 countries held talks at the NATO headquarters in Brussels and vowed to deliver new anti-missile systems to Kyiv. Ukraine is […]

North Korea says it has tested and deployed ‘tactical nuke’ cruise missiles

SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — Kim Jong Un supervised the launch of two long-range cruise missiles, state media said Thursday, adding that the weapons had already been deployed to “tactical nuke” units of the North Korean army. Kim has overseen a blitz of ballistic missile launches in recent weeks, which Pyongyang has described as tactical nuclear drills that simulated taking out airports and military facilities across South Korea. The Wednesday test of the two cruise […]

Taiwan welcomes foreign tour groups as border fully reopens

TAOYUAN, Taiwan (AFP) — Taiwan welcomed its first batch of international tour groups after the island fully reopened its borders Thursday, ending strict quarantine rules in place since the coronavirus pandemic began. A group of holidaymakers from Thailand arrived shortly after midnight and were greeted at Taoyuan airport with flower garlands and an exuberant dancing bear mascot. Valaisurang Bhaedhayajibh, 53, said she was visiting Taiwan the first time in 20 years and was accompanied by […]

Google allows Donald Trump’s Truth Social in Play Store

  San Francisco, United States | AFP | Google on Wednesday said it has allowed Donald Trump’s Truth Social app in its Play Store for Android devices — after receiving assurances it would meet the platform’s standards for moderating harmful content. The app — which Trump launched after being barred from Twitter over the 2021 Capitol riot — had been kept out of Google’s store over its lack of moderation tools, including for violent threats. […]

Spanish baby gets groundbreaking intestinal transplant

  Madrid, Spain | AFP | A 13-month old baby girl received the world’s first intestinal transplant, Spanish health authorities have announced. The baby “has already been discharged and is in perfect condition at home with her parents”, said the statement from Madrid’s La Paz hospital, issued Tuesday. The baby received the organ via asystolic donation — from a donor at the end of their life. This method of donation means “the organ to be […]

Russia says eight suspects detained over Crimea bridge blast

  Moscow, Russia | AFP | Russia has detained eight suspects over the deadly explosion of the bridge linking annexed Crimea to Russia, the FSB security service said in a statement quoted by news agencies on Wednesday. The suspects include five Russians and “three Ukrainian and Armenian citizens”, it said, without providing more details. “The explosives were hidden in 22 plastic film rolls weighing 22,770 kilograms (50,200 pounds),” it said. The rolls left on a […]

Ukraine says recaptured five settlements in Kherson region

  Kyiv, Ukraine | AFP | Ukraine said Wednesday it had retaken five more settlements in the southern region of Kherson as Kyiv continues its counteroffensive despite mass Russian missile strikes that hit the country in the past days. “Ukrainian armed forces have liberated five more settlements in Beryslav district (of Kherson region): Novovasylivka, Novogrygorivka, Nova Kamyanka, Tryfonivka, Chervone,” the presidency said in its daily report. “The enemy continues shelling the positions of our units […]

Myanmar junta jails Suu Kyi for 6 more years for corruption: source

Yangon, Myanmar | AFP | Myanmar’s junta sentenced ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Wednesday to another six years in prison for corruption, a source with knowledge of the case said, taking the Nobel laureate’s total jail time to 26 years. Suu Kyi “was sentenced to three years imprisonment each for two corruption cases” in which she had been accused of taking bribes from a businessman, the source said, adding that the terms would […]

NASA kicked asteroid off course in test to save Earth

Washington, United States | AFP | by Issam AHMED NASA on Tuesday celebrated exceeding expectations during a mission to deflect a distant asteroid, in a sci-fi like test of humanity’s ability to stop an incoming cosmic object from devastating life on Earth. The fridge-sized Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) impactor deliberately smashed into the moonlet asteroid Dimorphos on September 26, pushing it into a smaller, faster orbit around its big brother Didymos, NASA chief Bill […]

‘Murder, She Wrote’ star Angela Lansbury dies aged 96

  Los Angeles, United States | AFP | by Huw GRIFFITH / and Manon BILLING in Paris Actress Angela Lansbury, who became a household name through her role as a writer-detective in “Murder, She Wrote,” died on Tuesday, her family announced. She was 96. The British-born star, who found fame and fortune as one of television’s most memorable characters, was also a hugely successful and decorated stage and film actress. “The children of Dame Angela […]

Pres. Putin ‘miscalculated’ Russia’s ability to occupy Ukraine: Pres. Biden

  Washington, United States | AFP US President Joe Biden said Tuesday he believes his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin is a normally rational actor who badly misjudged his prospects of occupying Ukraine. The president spoke out in a rare televised interview as his administration looks for what he has described as an “off-ramp” for Putin to deescalate his invasion of Ukraine before he resorts to weapons of mass destruction. “I think he is a rational actor who has […]