More violence after Israel arrests Palestinian axe murderers

Palestinian

On Sunday, Israeli troops killed a Palestinian in the West Bank and wounded another who stabbed a police officer in Jerusalem, only hours after two Palestinians were arrested for axing three Israelis to death. Since late March, dozens of people have been killed in a wave of violence that includes Palestinian and Arab-Israeli attackers. In … Read more

Iran’s foreign minister says Tehran ‘against’ Ukraine war

Tehran

Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said during a visit by his Polish colleague on Sunday that Tehran is “against” the war in Ukraine and wishes for a peaceful solution. . “We are against the war in Ukraine, just as we are against the war in Yemen, in Afghanistan, in Syria, in Iraq, or in any … Read more

Dozens feared dead in school bombing as G7 rallies behind Ukraine

Ukraine

On the eve of Russia’s World War II victory celebrations, rescuers scrambled on Sunday to find dozens of civilians believed dead in a strike on a Ukrainian school, as the G7 reaffirmed their unity with Kyiv. US First Lady Jill Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau paid surprise visits to Ukraine, and G7 leaders … Read more

Ukraine battles to hold eastern bastions as US First Lady visits

Ukraine

Ukrainian forces prepared to defend their last stronghold in the devastated port city of Mariupol on Sunday, hoping to deny Russia a symbolic victory on the eve of Moscow’s Victory Day celebrations. US First Lady Jill Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made unannounced visits to Ukraine, and G7 leaders are set to join … Read more

60 feared dead after school bombed in east Ukraine: governor

Ukraine

The Lugansk regional governor said Sunday that 60 people were feared dead after an air strike hit a village school in east Ukraine. “Bilogorivka (village) was hit in an air strike” on Saturday, said Sergii Gaidai. “The bombs fell on the school and unfortunately it was completely destroyed. There was a total of 90 people, … Read more

Egypt releases three detained for satirising inflation

Egypt

Egypt has released three social media users who were detained after posting a satirical song about the country’s rampant inflation on TikTok, according to rights groups on Sunday. The group released a satirical video on TikTok in March. The band imitated instruments with household items and parodied a romantic song, changing the lyrics to lament … Read more

US companies break long silence on abortion rights

US

After decades of carefully avoiding the taboo subject, more and more US corporations are taking a stand on abortion rights, a sign of a new generation with growing influence and very different expectations than their predecessors. A variety of American businesses began to react publicly just hours after a draught Supreme Court opinion indicating that … Read more

Blooming shame: Pandemic, Ukraine war hurts Thai orchid industry

Ukraine

Thailand’s orchid growers, who have already been battered by the pandemic for two years, are bracing for new blows to their livelihood as the war in Ukraine and changing weather patterns further cloud their prospects. Orchid growing, once considered a popular pastime among Thailand’s elite, has grown into a multi-million dollar industry, with Thailand now … Read more

Victims voice disbelief, anger as Philippine dictator’s son nears power

Philippine

On the eve of elections that appear to be returning the late Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos’ son to the presidency, the regime’s victims are hurt and disheartened – but determined to continue their struggle. “In other countries, dictators were lined up against the wall. That never happened to them,” said 70-year-old Bonifacio Ilagan. Ilagan, a … Read more

Havana hotel blast toll rises to 30

Havana

Authorities said on Sunday that the death toll from an accidental explosion at a luxury hotel in central Havana had risen to 30, as firefighters continued to search through the rubble. The public health ministry reported that twenty-four people were being treated in hospitals following the powerful blast on Friday, which was thought to be … Read more

Brumbies threaten NZ dominance as Blues set pace with Rebels rout

Brumbies

As the top three in Super Rugby Pacific pulled away over the weekend, the Auckland Blues demonstrated their title credentials, the ACT Brumbies showed signs of being a serious threat, and the Canterbury Crusaders demonstrated they are not a spent force. The rampant Blues led the way with a 71-28 thrashing of the Melbourne Rebels … Read more

Saudi King Salman enters hospital for ‘examinations’: report

King Salman

Saudi Arabia’s ailing King Salman was admitted to a hospital on Sunday for unspecified tests, according to state media. The kingdom has generally sought to quell speculation about the 86-year-old monarch health, who has ruled the Arab world’s largest economy and top oil exporter since 2015. He entered King Faisal Specialist Hospital in the coastal … Read more

EU wrangles over details of Russia oil embargo

EU

European diplomats were negotiating the terms of the EU’s sixth round of sanctions against Russia, with several members seeking guarantees for their oil supplies On Sunday. To punish Moscow for invading Ukraine, the European Commission proposed a package last week that would have seen most EU members suspend oil imports from Russia by the end … Read more

Saudi says King Salman to remain in hospital after colonoscopy

Saudi

Saudi Arabia’s ailing King Salman will remain hospitalized after undergoing tests including a colonoscopy, according to state media on Sunday. For years, the kingdom has tried to quell speculation about the health of the 86-year-old monarch, who has ruled the world’s top oil exporter since 2015. He entered King Faisal Specialist Hospital in the coastal … Read more

Hong Kong leader appointment violates democratic norms: EU chief

Hong Kong

The appointment of a former security chief as Hong Kong’s new leader, according to the European Union’s foreign policy chief, violated democratic norms. A small committee of Beijing loyalists appointed John Lee, 64, who oversaw the crackdown on Hong Kong’s democracy movement, as Hong Kong leader on Sunday. “The European Union regrets this violation of … Read more

Syria’s Assad meets Iran’s head of state, President Ebrahim Raisi

Syria

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met with Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei and President Ebrahim Raisi during a brief visit to Tehran on Sunday, Iranian state television said. “Assad has left Iran for Damascus after meeting separately with the supreme leader” and the president, the report said. Iran is a major ally of Assad, backing him alongside Russia in Syria’s … Read more

Iran arrests 3 policemen for ‘violent’ arrest of woman

Iran

Three Iranian police officers were arrested in Tehran on Sunday, according to official media, following an outcry over a video that appeared to show the officers forcibly arresting a lady. “The police officers who violently arrested a young woman in Lavasan in eastern Tehran have been detained,” the government-run Iran newspaper reported. In recent days, a short … Read more

Lebanese abroad cast votes in key parliamentary election

Lebanese

State media stated that Lebanese expatriates in 48 countries, including France and the United Arab Emirates, voted on Sunday ahead of the May 15 parliamentary elections. The crucial election takes place in the midst of an unparalleled financial crisis that has prompted a mass departure, with opposition politicians resting their hopes for change on the … Read more

Between searing drought and Ukraine war, Iraq watchful over wheat

Iraq

Kamel Hamed, an Iraqi farmer, stares at the golden ears of wheat flapping in the breeze, unable to conceal his distress over the scorching heat that is decimating his harvest. “The drought is unbelievable,” said the 53-year-old in a white dishdasha robe and keffiyeh head covering at his farm in Jaliha village of central Diwaniya … Read more

Scholz deflects criticism over Ukraine war

Germany Senegal

In a speech to the country on Sunday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz defended his policy in Ukraine, stating that Germany will assist Kyiv but will not give in to every demand. Scholz said Germany and its partners have imposed unprecedented sanctions on Moscow, sent weaponry to Ukraine, and given asylum to Ukrainians in the unique … Read more

G7 countries pledge to stop importing Russian oil: W.House

W.House

The G7 club of wealthy nations is “committed to phasing out or prohibiting the import of Russian oil,” according to the White House, increasing pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin over the invasion of Ukraine. “This will hit hard at the main artery of Putin’s economy and deny him the revenue he needs to fund … Read more

Ukraine war puts EU ‘at crossroads’ on anniversary

Ukraine

The EU is transforming into a more robust global actor as it approaches its 50th anniversary on Monday, a shift accelerated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “(The) war in Ukraine is fundamentally challenging our European peace architecture,” European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen declared on Friday. That is visible in the EU’s evolution. What … Read more

UK’s first LGBTQ+ museum opens in London

London

The UK’s first LGBTQ+ museum, Queer Britain, opened its doors in London this week, aiming to showcase the community’s history and culture to a wider audience. The museum has been four years in the making and is entirely funded by private donations. It is housed in a 19th-century building in a rebuilt area behind King’s … Read more

Northern Ireland in limbo after Sinn Fein triumphs

Ireland

International pressure was applied to Northern Ireland’s squabbling politicians on Sunday to form a new government after the Irish nationalist party Sinn Fein won an unprecedented election victory. Sinn Fein, formerly the political wing of the paramilitary IRA, won enough seats in the devolved assembly to propose Michelle O’Neill as first minister of Northern Ireland. … Read more

Facing soaring rents, some US tenants are fighting back

US

Anh-Thu Nguyen and her two roommates mail their landlord rental checks at the beginning of each month. The checks are returned a few days later. The strange routine began soon after Greenbrook Partners, a shady real estate business, bought Nguyen’s Brooklyn building in March 2021 and informed residents they had to depart by June 30. … Read more

Record 12.3 million Syrian children need aid: UN

UN

The United Nations said Sunday that more Syrian children are in need than at any point since a terrible civil war erupted over a decade ago, yet assistance for them is “dwindling.” “Syria’s children have suffered for far too long and should not suffer any longer,” In a statement, the UN Children’s Fund noted that … Read more

First cholera outbreak since 2017 kills one in S.Sudan

Sudan

Cholera has killed one child and sickened 30 individuals in South Sudan, according to health officials, the first outbreak in nearly five years. “The Ministry of Health would like to inform the public that the cholera outbreak has been declared in Rubkona county, Unity State,” the ministry said in a statement. “To date, a total … Read more

Thousands of security forces on alert ahead of Philippine polls

Philippine

More than 60,000 security troops in the Philippines were on high alert Sunday to protect ballot boxes and polling stations on the eve of the presidential election after police reported four people murdered in an outbreak of violence Elections are often tumultuous in a country with permissive gun regulations and violent political culture, but according … Read more