Category: World

BEIJING (AP): China’s economic growth sank in the latest quarter as a slowdown in construction and curbs on energy use weighed on its recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. The world’s second-largest economy grew by 4.9% over a year ago in the three months ending in September, down from the previous quarter’s 7.9%, government data showed… Continue reading China’s economic growth weakens amid construction slowdown

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP): Suicide bombers attacked a Shiite mosque packed with worshippers attending Friday prayers in southern Afghanistan, killing at least 47 people and wounding 70, a Taliban official said. It was the deadliest day since the U.S. military withdrawal. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the carnage at the Fatimiya mosque in… Continue reading Suicide attack on Shiite mosque in Afghanistan kills 47

LEIGH-ON-SEA, England (AP): A long-serving member of Parliament was stabbed to death Friday during a meeting with constituents at a church in England, in what police said was a terrorist incident. A 25-year-old man was arrested in connection with the attack, which united Britain’s fractious politicians in shock and sorrow. Counterterrorism officers were leading the… Continue reading Authorities call fatal stabbing of UK lawmaker terrorist act

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