With Xi at his side, Putin marks World War II victory as Ukraine war grinds on
Updated: 9:30am (AEST) Moscow, Russia Reuters Russia marked the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II on Friday with a major military parade that went off without any reports of Ukrainian attacks despite three years of devastating war. President Vladimir Putin, the longest-serving Kremlin chief since Josef Stalin, […]
Haiti gangs’ US terrorism designation risks harming most vulnerable, NGOs warn
Port-au-Prince, Haiti Reuters The designation of Haiti’s major gangs as terrorists by Washington could risk further entrenching their power by limiting financial and humanitarian aid, NGOs focused on organised crime and human rights have warned. The United States last week designated Viv Ansanm, the armed alliance that controls most of capital Port-au-Prince, and Gran Grif, […]
Snapshot: St Kitts and Nevis from above
See HOLGER WOIZICK’s image…
US says solution for Gaza aid is “steps away” as aid groups raise alarm
Washington DC, US Reuters The US State Department said on Thursday a solution to be able to deliver food aid to Gaza was “steps away” and an announcement was coming shortly, as the aid community expressed scepticism that the plan would bring relief to the enclave’s conflict-ravaged population. Anticipation has built up about a new […]
Ukraine says Russia violating its own three day ceasefire, calls it a “farce”
Kyiv, Ukraine Reuters Ukraine’s foreign minister said on Thursday Russia had repeatedly violated its own three day ceasefire hours after it began and called the initiative a “farce”, while Moscow said Kyiv had continued fighting. There was, though, a drop-off in combat activity after the ceasefire announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin came into force […]
Press freedom stifled in Greece, reforms needed, says Human Rights Watch
Athens, Greece Reuters Press freedom has been stifled in Greece since Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ conservative government came to power in 2019, with phone malware and aggressive lawsuits used against journalists, Human Rights Watch said in a report on Thursday. At least 15 journalists said they had at some point faced a lawsuit or legal […]
Israel mounts heavy airstrikes in south Lebanon
Beirut, Lebanon Reuters Israel launched dozens of airstrikes in south Lebanon on Thursday, in one of its heaviest bombardments of the region since a ceasefire ended last year’s war with the Iran-backed Hezbollah. The Israeli military said it had hit a Hezbollah infrastructure site in the south. There was no immediate comment from Hezbollah, which […]
Pope Leo once levied criticism at Trump and Vance. MAGA is not amused
Washington DC, US Reuters Before becoming pontiff, the first US-born Pope was not shy about criticising President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance – social media musings that pulled him into the maelstrom of divided US politics on Thursday as he took on leadership of the global Catholic Church. Pope Leo XIV, who was […]
Orthodox Church leader says faith is humanity’s safeguard against the “impending robotocracy”
Athens, Greece AP The spiritual leader of the world’s Orthodox Christians has said that religious faith should serve as humanity’s safeguard amid rapidly advancing technology and what he described as the “impending robotocracy”. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, 85, said that Orthodox tradition preserves “valuable human-centric wisdom” essential for navigating a world of accelerating technological change and automation. Orthodox […]
Papal election: Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, known as the ‘saint of the north’ in Peru for his closeness to poor
FRANKLIN BRICEÑO and NICOLE WINFIELD, of Associated Press, provide some background on the man who has succeeded Pope Francis at the Vatican…