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Grandmaster Hans Niemann defends reputation after cheating claims

American international grandmaster Hans Niemann said Wednesday he "won't back down," after the chess platform chess.com reported he has "probably cheated more than 100 times" in online games.. "Overall, we have found that Hans (Niemann) has likely cheated in more than 100 online chess games, including several prize money events," the world's leading online chess platform wrote in a Tuesday evening report that ran 20 pages, with 50 additional appendices.

Thu, Oct 6, 2022 2 mins read

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North Korea fires two ballistic missiles, slams UN meet

North Korea fired two ballistic missiles Thursday, Seoul's military said, as the UN Security Council met to discuss Pyongyang's earlier, highly provocative launch of a missile over Japan.. The launch is Pyongyang's sixth in less than two weeks, and comes two days after it fired an intermediate-range ballistic missile over Japan, prompting Tokyo to issue a rare evacuation warning.

Wed, Oct 5, 2022 3 mins read

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Climate change made 2022 drought 'at least 20 times likelier'

Human-caused climate change made this summer's drought across the Northern Hemisphere at least 20 times more likely, according to a rapid analysis released Wednesday that warns such extreme dry periods will become increasingly common with global heating. . For the top one metre of soil -- known as the root zone -- this summer's dryness was made at least 20 times likelier due to global heating.

Wed, Oct 5, 2022 3 mins read

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Alec Baldwin reaches settlement with family over 'Rust' death

Actor Alec Baldwin has reached a civil settlement with the family of the woman he shot dead on a film set last year, he said Wednesday, as it was announced production on the movie would restart in January.. "We are pleased to announce today the settlement of the civil case filed on behalf of the family of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins," Baldwin said in an Instagram post.

Wed, Oct 5, 2022 2 mins read

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Ukraine pushes east, Moscow vows to win back lost ground

Kyiv on Wednesday claimed further victories over Russian troops in eastern Ukraine as the Kremlin vowed to recapture territory lost in a lightening Ukrainian counteroffensive.. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow would take back land it lost to Kyiv within the annexed regions, vowing they would be "Russian forever and will not be returned." 

Wed, Oct 5, 2022 3 mins read

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Ten dead after Indian Himalayas avalanche hits climbers

Ten people are confirmed dead after an avalanche struck climbers in the Indian Himalayas, police said Wednesday, with 18 other members of the expedition still missing.. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami confirmed on Twitter that accomplished climber Savita Kanswal, who had summited Everest earlier this year, was among the dead.

Wed, Oct 5, 2022 2 mins read

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OPEC+ expected to slash oil output

Major oil producers led by Saudi Arabia and Russia were expected Wednesday to agree on a major cut in output to prop up prices despite Western concerns over energy-fuelled inflation.. The OPEC+ discussion also comes as Western nations mull imposing a price cap on Russian oil while an EU ban on most crude from Russia comes into effect in December. 

Wed, Oct 5, 2022 3 mins read

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Ethiopia govt says accepts AU invite to peace talks

Ethiopia's government said Wednesday it has accepted an African Union invitation to hold peace talks with Tigrayan rebels after almost two years of brutal war in the north of the country. . Tigrayan authorities said last month they were ready to participate in talks mediated by the African Union, removing an obstacle to negotiations with the government in Addis Ababa.

Wed, Oct 5, 2022 2 mins read

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In Morocco hills, cannabis farmers bet on budding industry

In the hills of northern Morocco, vast cannabis fields are ready for harvest, but farmers complain that a government plan to market the crop legally is yet to deliver them any benefits. . "Farmers are the weak link in the supply chain -- we're the ones who pay the price" for involvement in the illicit market, Karim complained.

Wed, Oct 5, 2022 3 mins read

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Hadis, Minoo and Ghazaleh: the women victims of Iran's crackdown

"I am really hoping that in some years from now, after everything has changed, I will be happy to have been involved by taking part in this protest," Iranian woman Hadis Najafi, 22, said in a self-recorded video as she prepared to take to the streets.. Shortly after recording the message to her phone, Najafi was killed while participating in a street protest on September 21 in Karaj, outside Tehran.

Wed, Oct 5, 2022 4 mins read