Sierra Leone charges ex-President Koroma with treason over foiled coup
Freetown, Sierra LeoneReuters Sierra Leone’s ex-President Ernest Bai Koroma has been charged with four offences including treason for his alleged role in a failed military attempt to topple the West African country’s government in November, a court in the capital Freetown said on Wednesday. The court’s decision could escalate tensions in Sierra Leone coming after […]
Sight-Seeing: The disturbing news of Christmas
As we approach the Western church celebration of Epiphany on 6th January, PAUL CLARK looks at the role Herod played in the story of the birth of Christ…
Japan says Coast Guard plane apparently not cleared for take-off before runway collision
Tokyo, JapanReuters Japanese authorities said on Wednesday a passenger jet that collided with a Coast Guard turboprop at a Tokyo airport had been given permission to land, but the smaller plane had not been cleared for take-off, based on control tower transcripts. All 379 people aboard the Japan Airlines (JAL) Airbus A350 managed to evacuate […]
Russia and Ukraine stage major POW exchange after UAE mediation
Kyiv, UkraineReuters Ukraine and Russia on Wednesday announced their first exchange of prisoners of war in nearly five months, with more than 200 freed by each side after what both said was a complex negotiation involving mediation by the United Arab Emirates. Russia’s Defence Ministry said 248 military personnel had been handed over by Ukraine. […]
Thirty-one migrants kidnapped in Mexico rescued by authorities
Mexico CityReuters Mexican authorities have rescued 31 migrants who were kidnapped over the weekend in the northern Mexican state of Tamaulipas, officials announced on Wednesday. Presidential spokesperson Jesus Ramirez confirmed the rescue on messaging platform X. “They are already in the hands of the authorities and are undergoing the appropriate medical examinations,” he added, along […]
Hezbollah chief says group “cannot be silent” after Hamas leader’s killing, warns Israel against spreading Gaza war
Beirut, Lebanon/Cairo, Egypt/Gaza Reuters The head of Lebanon’s Hezbollah said on Wednesday it “cannot be silent” after the killing of Hamas’ deputy leader in Beirut and warned that his heavily armed forces would fight to the finish if Israel chose to extend war from Gaza to Lebanon. Israeli forces meanwhile kept up their aerial and […]
Blasts kill nearly 100 at slain commander Soleimani’s memorial, Iran vows revenge
Dubai, United Arab EmiratesReuters Two explosions killed nearly 100 people and wounded scores at a ceremony in Iran on Wednesday to commemorate commander Qassem Soleimani who was killed by a US drone in 2020, Iranian officials said, blaming unspecified “terrorists”. Iranian state television reported a first and then a second blast after 20 minutes during […]
Japan quake: survivors face freezing rain, threat of landslides
Kashimaji, Japan Reuters The death toll from a massive earthquake that struck Japan on New Years Day rose to 62 on Wednesday as authorities rushed to bring aid to survivors facing freezing temperatures and heavy rain forecast for later in the day. The quake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6 struck the Noto peninsula on […]
Runway safety concerns in focus as Japan probes Tokyo crash
Paris, FranceReuters Japanese investigators are preparing to probe the collision of two airplanes at Tokyo’s Haneda airport, weeks after the global airline industry heard fresh warnings about runway safety. All 379 people aboard a Japan Airlines Airbus A350 escaped after a collision with a De Havilland Dash-8 Coast Guard turboprop that killed five of six […]
Takeaways from the 2024 US election trail: Dueling TV events, attack ads
Des Moines, Iowa Reuters Iowa Republicans will have dueling televised events to choose from on 10th January as they consider which candidate they want to face Joe Biden in November’s presidential election: the frontrunner, former President Donald Trump, going solo on one news channel or his two closest rivals squaring off against each other. On […]