World News

'True democracy never started': Hong Kongers react to Xi's speech

As Chinese leader Xi Jinping left Hong Kong Friday after a rare visit to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the city's handover from Britain, reactions to his speech ranged from deeming it "reassuring" to terming his stance "delusional".. The Chinese Communist Party places great importance on anniversaries, and the trip presented Xi with an opportunity to emphasise China's authority over Hong Kong after three years of political upheaval there.

Fri, Jul 1, 2022 3 mins read

World News

Turkey cuts access to US, German public broadcasters

Turkey has cut access to public broadcasters from Germany and the United States, threatening to stoke new diplomatic tensions during Russia's invasion of Ukraine.. It also threatens to spark new tensions in Turkey's relations with two of its most important Western allies and trading partners.

Fri, Jul 1, 2022 2 mins read

World News

EU's Takuba anti-terror force quits junta-controlled Mali

The French-led Takuba task force of EU special forces has officially ceased operating in Mali, France announced Friday, ending a year-long anti-jihadist effort that soured after two military coups overthrew the civilian government.. But "the reorganisation of the French military presence in the Sahel... led to the end of operations for Takuba in Mali as of June 30," he said. 

Fri, Jul 1, 2022 1 mins read

World News

'American Woman' rocker reunited with stolen guitar... 46 years on

They say you never forget your first love, and after pining for his stolen guitar for almost half a century, Canadian rock star Randy Bachman has finally been reunited with the instrument which an eagle-eyed fan tracked down in Japan.. Bachman is not the only rock star to be reunited with a long-lost guitar: last year, Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page also tracked one down that went missing at an airport decades ago.

Fri, Jul 1, 2022 3 mins read

World News

War in Ukraine: Latest developments

Here are the latest developments in the war in Ukraine:  - Deadly strike on Odessa -  At least 18 people are killed and dozens wounded in missile strikes on Ukraine's Odessa region.. - Lysychansk pounded - The city of Lysychansk in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region continues to come under sustained bombardment, Sergiy Gaiday -- governor of the Lugansk region, says. 

Fri, Jul 1, 2022 2 mins read

World News

Strikes kill 18 in Ukraine's Odessa

Missile strikes killed 18 people and wounded dozens in Ukraine's Odessa region Friday, a day after Russian troops abandoned positions on a strategic island in a major setback to the Kremlin's invasion. . - Anti-corruption reforms - Friday's attacks came a day after Russian troops abandoned their positions on Snake Island, off the coast of Odessa.

Fri, Jul 1, 2022 4 mins read

World News

Taliban's reclusive supreme leader attends Afghan clerics' meeting

The Taliban's reclusive supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada showed up Friday at a major gathering of clerics in the Afghan capital called to rubber-stamp the hardline Islamist group's rule over the country.. His arrival, broadcast on state radio, was greeted with cheers and chants including "Long live the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan", the Taliban's name for the country.

Fri, Jul 1, 2022 2 mins read

World News

Russian propaganda finds fertile ground in Serbia

After 12 years together, it was Russian propaganda that finally ended Liubov Maric's marriage to her Serbian husband. . The Ukrainian admits they had been having difficulties, but after the invasion of Ukraine in February things began to spiral as her husband lapped up vast amounts of Russian propaganda. 

Fri, Jul 1, 2022 3 mins read

World News

John Lee: the former Hong Kong cop Beijing trusts is sworn in

John Lee, a former beat cop who became Hong Kong's security chief and played a key role in suppressing democracy protests, became the business hub's new leader on Friday in a ceremony overseen by Chinese President Xi Jinping.. It also places a security official in the city's top job for the first time, a man who was pivotal in the quashing of huge democracy protests in 2019 and Beijing's subsequent political crackdown.

Fri, Jul 1, 2022 3 mins read

World News

Women battle for seats in PNG parliament

Women are fighting to get at least one seat in Papua New Guinea's male-dominated parliament when voting opens Monday in a mountainous, forest-clad land scarred by gender-based violence.. Women, though, are hoping just to have a voice in the 118-seat parliament.

Fri, Jul 1, 2022 3 mins read