Category: World

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP): Dubai’s Expo 2020 on Saturday offered conflicting figures for how many workers had been killed on site during construction of the massive world’s fair, first saying five and then later three. Expo refused for months to publicly provide any figures for construction-related casualties in the run-up to the $7 billion… Continue reading Dubai Expo 2020 offers conflicting figures on worker deaths

MANILA, Oct 2 (Reuters): Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Saturday he was retiring from politics, a surprise move that fuelled speculation he was clearing the way for his daughter to run to succeed him, despite her filing for re-election as mayor. “Today, I announce my retirement from politics,” Duterte said, accompanying loyalist Senator Christopher… Continue reading Philippine President Duterte says he is retiring from politics

(AP): She lived a life of adventure that spanned two continents. She fell in love with a World War II fighter pilot, barely escaped Europe ahead of Benito Mussolini’s fascists, ground steel for the U.S. war effort and advocated for her disabled daughter in a far less enlightened time. She was, her daughter said, someone… Continue reading Woman who survived 1918 flu, world war succumbs to COVID

QUITO, Ecuador (AP): Ecuador’s president has declared a state of emergency in the prison system following a battle among gang members in a coastal lockup that killed at least 116 people and injured 80 in what authorities say was the worst prison bloodbath ever in the country. Officials said at least five of the dead… Continue reading Ecuador declares prison emergency after 116 killed in riot

COPENHAGEN (Reuters): Iceland has voted more women than men into its parliament, a first in Europe, in a national election that saw the ruling left-right coalition strengthen its majority, final results showed on Sunday. Thirty-three women were voted into the 63-seat parliament in Saturday’s election, up from 24 in the last election. Iceland, a North… Continue reading Iceland elects Europe’s first women-majority parliament

JERUSALEM (AP): Five Palestinian gunmen were killed in shootouts with Israeli security forces during a sweeping West Bank arrest operation cracking down on the Islamic militant group Hamas on Sunday. It was the deadliest violence between Israeli troops and Palestinian militants in the occupied West Bank in recent weeks and came amid heightened tensions following… Continue reading Israeli troops kill 5 Palestinian gunmen in arrest clashes

(BBC): A 5.8 magnitude earthquake has rattled southeast Australia, damaging buildings in the city of Melbourne. The earthquake happened about 09:15 local time (00:15 GMT) on Wednesday at Mansfield, not far from the Victorian state capital. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said, “we have had no reports of serious injuries and that is very good news”.… Continue reading Melbourne earthquake: Tremor rattles southeast Australia

AP: Most Americans don’t believe their personal information is secure online and aren’t satisfied with the federal government’s efforts to protect it, according to a poll. The poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and MeriTalk shows that 64% of Americans say their social media activity is not very or not at… Continue reading Americans have little trust in online security: AP-NORC poll

MOSCOW (AP): Russian President Vladimir Putin entered self-isolation after people in his inner circle became infected with the coronavirus, the Kremlin said Tuesday, adding that the leader himself tested negative for COVID-19. Putin, who is fully vaccinated with Russia’s Sputnik V, held several public engagements indoors Monday and even said that he may have to… Continue reading Putin in self-isolation due to COVID cases in inner circle

NEW YORK (AP): Twenty years ago, the 11th of September dawned as just a date. By midnight, it was 9/11, the staggering starting point for a new era of terror, war, politics, patriotism and tragedy. The U.S. marks the milestone anniversary Saturday under the pall of a pandemic and in the shadow of a frantic… Continue reading US marks 20 years since 9/11, in shadow of Afghan war’s end