Doubts Over Hungary‘s Support For Persecuted Christians
Hungary’s right-wing government has come under pressure amid reports that it spends more on anti-migration propaganda than on support for persecuted Christians.
World News
EU extends sanctions on Russia
The European Union has decided to extend sanctions it imposed on Russia in 2014 following Russian military action against Ukraine. The decision to extend the economic measures was made by the Council of the European Union on June 29.
Pentagon lists twenty top companies as owned or backed by Chinese military
The US Defense Department has published a list of twenty major companies, including Huawei, that it has determined are owned or backed by the Chinese military, BBC News reported Thursday. A result of this determination, the US may apply new sanctions against the companies listed.
Locust Swarms Threaten Argentina, Brazil
Argentina and Brazil were on high alert Monday as a giant swarm of locusts began eating its way through crops in the region.
Satellite image: Iran blast was near suspected missile site
An explosion that rattled Iran’s capital came from an area in its eastern mountains that analysts believe hides an underground tunnel system and missile production sites, satellite photographs showed Saturday.
Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan Agree On Controversial Dam To End Water Dispute
Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan want a deal next month on filling Ethiopia’s giant new hydroelectric dam to end a decade-long dispute over water supplies. Their accord on the Blue Nile river dam announced over the weekend followed mediation by the African Union (AU), the cooperative body of 55 member states on the African continent.
Poland’s President Facing Liberal Challenge In Sunday Poll
Poland’s right-wing president, Andrzej Duda, was seeking a second five-year term in an election amid controversy. Sunday’s poll was seen as a test whether voters share his plans of implementing a conservative agenda. His policies include judicial reforms that the European Union claims undermine democracy.
Investors/lenders urged to help Africa as new study forecasts shrinking economies in 2020
According to a new study, many African nations struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic may find themselves defaulting on debt repayments, DW reports. Weak currencies, higher interest rates, and reduced oil prices could result in African governments losing an estimated US$45 billion in revenue this year alone, the study found.
North and South Korea Remember the 70th Anniversary Of Devastating War
North and South Korea on Thursday recalled the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War that left millions of soldiers and civilians dead, injured or missing, and ravaged much of the Korean Peninsula.
Russia Votes On Controversial Constitution Changes
Russia has begun a week-long vote on constitutional reforms that could allow President Vladimir Putin to rule until 2036.
IMF Downgrades Global Economic Forecast
As governments around the world battle the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has published a further grim forecast, predicting a 4.9% contraction in global GDP (gross domestic product) for 2020, a lower figure than the 3% forecast in April, CNBC reports. The IMF also downgraded its GDP prediction for 2021, lowering it to 5.4% from the 5.8% forecast in April.
US-Russia Agree On Talks To Prevent News Arms Race
U.S. and Russian negotiators have agreed to continue talks on how to prevent a new nuclear arms race. Still, concerns remain over China’s opposition to being included in the negotiations.
At a Time of Declining Popularity, Russia to Vote on Changes That Could Extend Putin’s Rule
Amid declining polls, Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed a military parade on Wednesday, ahead of a vote that could pave the way for him to remain in office until 2036.
US moves aircraft carriers to Taiwan Strait in South China Sea
In a display of power, the US Navy now has three aircraft carriers to the Taiwan Strait in the South China Sea, Fox News reported Monday. This is the first three-carrier mission to take place in several years and it reportedly sends a message of deterrence to China.
Italian infectious diseases specialist says COVID-19 may die out on its own without vaccine
An infectious diseases specialist in Italy has said he believes the COVID-19 virus has weakened and may disappear by itself without a vaccine, Fox News reported Monday. Dr Matteo Bassetti, head of the infectious diseases clinic at San Martino hospital in Genoa, said the virus weakening may be caused by genetic mutations resulting from lockdown and social distancing measures.
Magnitude 7.4 earthquake strikes Mexico, at least 2 dead in building collapses
The coast of southern Mexico was rattled by a powerful earthquake on Tuesday morning that killed at least two people and triggered a tsunami alert for Pacific coastlines along Central America.
US-Russia Unfreeze Nuclear Talks Amid Cold War Tensions
The United States and Russia have restarted negotiations about their nuclear arsenals following a break of more than a year amid the worst military tensions between the two atomic superpowers since the Cold War. But the talks in Vienna, Austria, began Monday amid uncertainty over whether U.S. President Donald Trump wants to secure a nuclear arms control treaty in the last four months before presidential elections.
Libyan Government says Egypt Made Declaration of War
Libya’s Government of National Accord (GNA) said Sunday that Egypt has made a “declaration of war,” against it, the Times of Israel reported.
Frustration and Hope as World Deals with Virus and Visitors
Hope but also frustration and uncertainty marked the world’s efforts Sunday to deal with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Angry North Korea To Dump Millions of Leaflets over South Korea
North Korea threatened Monday to dump a whopping 12 million propaganda leaflets on South Korea as “retaliatory punishment” for materials and Bibles it received from activists.