World News

Israel missiles hit arms depot in Syria's Aleppo airport: monitor

An Israeli missile strike destroyed a suspected arms depot used by Iran-backed militias at Syria's Aleppo airport Wednesday, a war monitor said, with authorities saying the raid put the airport out of service.. A strike on Aleppo airport in September put it out of service for several days.

Exiled opposition leader calls on Belarus to break with Russia

Exiled Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya urged her country to break ties with neighbor Russia as she spoke out Wednesday against President Alexander Lukashenko's support for the war in Ukraine.. "And it's important to remember that there are brave Belarusians, independent journalists, human rights defenders and other members of civil society, who are bravely fighting in exile to expose Lukashenko's criminal complicity in Russia's war in Ukraine." ft/mlm

Quake-hit Syrians brace for subdued Ramadan

Umm Esmat, a mother living in war-torn Syria, is preparing for the onset of Ramadan this year with a heavy heart, after a deadly earthquake forced her from her home.. The disaster heaped more misery on the people of northwestern Syria who have been battered by 12 years of war.

Inter-American court hears first abortion rights case

Women gathered outside the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) in Costa Rica Wednesday, calling for "justice" as lawyers presented the tribunal's first-ever abortion rights case.. "The fact that the Court has agreed to hear this case strongly indicates... that the denial of any health service, including those that are controversial such as abortion, is a human rights violation," said Maria Antonieta Alcalde of the Ipas reproductive rights NGO, which is among the plaintiffs.

Blinken says China has not 'crossed line' on lethal aid to Russia

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday that China has not provided substantial military aid to Russia despite Beijing's ramping up of diplomatic support.. "I think their diplomatic support, their political support, and to some extent material support for Russia certainly goes against our interest in bringing this war to an end," Blinken said of China.

DNA analysis of Beethoven's hair provides clues to his death

Ludwig van Beethoven died in Vienna nearly 200 years ago after a lifetime of composing some of the most influential works in classical music.. - Family secret - Beethoven, who was born in Bonn in 1770 and died in 1827, battled gastrointestinal problems at various times of his life as well as jaundice.

Army convoy brings food to blockaded Burkina city

An army convoy has delivered desperately-needed supplies to a northern Burkina Faso city that has been blockaded by jihadists for months, locals and security sources told AFP Wednesday.. Another security source told AFP that 15 IEDs had been defused along the way, and that the convoy had suffered ambushes.

Debt-ridden China Evergrande rolls out restructuring plan

Troubled Chinese property giant Evergrande unveiled on Wednesday a long-awaited restructuring proposal for its massive debts, as it fights off a winding-up court petition brought by creditors in Hong Kong.. The next hearing in the Hong Kong winding-up case is scheduled for July 31, with Evergrande telling the court on Monday that it foresees October 1 as the last date by which its restructuring plan would take effect. 

DNA analysis of Beethoven's hair provides clues to his death

Ludwig van Beethoven died in Vienna nearly 200 years ago after a lifetime of composing some of the most influential works in classical music.. - 'Acute illness' - Beethoven, who was born in Bonn in 1770 and died in 1827, battled gastrointestinal problems at various times of his life as well as jaundice.