Los Angeles (AFP) – New psychological horror film “Smile” has Paramount executives beaming after topping the North American box office with an estimated $22 million in weekend ticket sales, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported Sunday. The film…
Thousands march in Canada in solidarity with Iran protests
Ottawa (AFP) – Several thousand people marched in Montreal and other Canadian cities Saturday in solidarity with protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of Iran’s notorious morality police. A wave of street violence has rocked Iran …
Ukraine forces entering key town in Russia-annexed region
Kyiv (Ukraine) (AFP) – Ukraine said Saturday its forces were entering the key eastern town of Lyman, located in one of the four Ukrainian regions that Russia annexed despite international condemnation. The recapture of Lyman — which Moscow’s forces pu…
Russian consulate in New York vandalized with red paint
New York (AFP) – The Russian Consulate in New York was vandalized with red spray paint early Friday, in an apparent protest as President Vladimir Putin pursues his bloody invasion of Ukraine. Officers said they responded to an emergency call just after…
Stocks waver, pound wobbles on mixed data
London (AFP) – Stock markets advanced and the pound seesawed on Friday as investors tracked fresh growth and inflation data at the end of another turbulent week. The pound jumped on revised figures showing the UK economy had avoided recession — but it…
Strong US dollar an unstoppable force endangering other currencies
New York (AFP) – The dazzling rise of the US dollar, which has hit one record after another, is raising fears of a currency crash of a severity not seen since the 1997 Asian financial crisis reverberated around the world. The Federal Reserve’s rapid, …
Blinken heads to Latin America to see new left-leaning leaders
Washington (AFP) – Secretary of State Antony Blinken will head next week to Colombia and Chile to forge ties with new left-leaning leaders elected in the historic US allies, the State Department announced Friday. The top US diplomat flies Monday to Col…
NASA, SpaceX study boosting Hubble to extend its lifespan
Washington (AFP) – NASA and SpaceX have agreed to study the feasibility of awarding Elon Musk’s company a contract to boost the Hubble Space Telescope to a higher orbit, with a goal of extending its lifespan, the US space agency said Thursday. The reno…
Hurricane Ian brings fear to Florida, leaving destruction in its wake
McGregor (United States) (AFP) – Suzanne Clarke wades through waist-deep water, struggling to reach her daughter’s apartment as she drags a kayak behind her. When she finally reaches the home, she loads her two small granddaughters into the boat and pu…
Kremlin to annex more Ukraine territories at ceremony Friday
Moscow (AFP) – Russia will annex four occupied regions of Ukraine at a grand ceremony at the Kremlin on Friday, Moscow said, after President Vladimir Putin threatened he could use nuclear weapons to defend the territories. The Russian leader is expecte…