Seoul (AFP) – North Korea fired more than 20 missiles Wednesday, including one that landed close to South Korea’s waters in what President Yoon Suk-yeol said was “effectively a territorial invasion”. It also fired an artillery barrage into a maritime “…
Democrats lean in on economy, democracy in midterm home stretch
Washington (AFP) – A week out from the US midterm elections, Democrats stepped up their campaign offensive Wednesday, ringing alarm bells on right-wing threats to democracy and pushing President Joe Biden’s plans to tackle runaway inflation. Biden — w…
US says its worries are growing over Russian nuclear talk
Washington (AFP) – The White House said Wednesday it was increasingly concerned over Moscow’s talk of using a nuclear weapon in Ukraine, after a media report said top Russian military officials had discussed how and when to use such a weapon. “We have …
Suspect in Pelosi attack was on ‘suicide mission’: court filings
San Francisco (AFP) – The man accused of attacking the husband of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi with a hammer told police he also planned to target several other politicians as part of a “suicide mission,” according to court documents filed Tuesday. Da…
Julie Powell of ‘Julie and Julia’ fame dies at 49
New York (AFP) – Julie Powell, the writer whose yearlong mission to cook through Julia Child’s “French Cooking” masterpiece was immortalized in print and film, has died of cardiac arrest, The New York Times said Tuesday. She was 49 years old. Citing he…
US woman who led female IS battalion gets 20 years in prison
Alexandria (United States) (AFP) – An American woman who converted to Islam and joined the Islamic State in Syria, leading an all-female military battalion, was sentenced to 20 years in prison by a US court Tuesday. Allison Fluke-Ekren, 42, who grew up…
Rapper Takeoff, member of Migos, shot dead at 28
New York (AFP) – The rapper Takeoff, a member of the influential hip-hop trio Migos, was fatally shot Tuesday at a bowling alley in Houston, according to police. He was 28 years old. Police in the Texas city said they received a call at approximately 2…
Attempted kidnap, assault charges filed against suspect in Pelosi husband attack
San Francisco (AFP) – Federal authorities on Monday charged California man David DePape with attempting to kidnap US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi last week when he broke into her San Francisco home and attacked her husband Paul. The Justice Department sa…
Taylor Swift makes US song charts history with ‘Midnights’
New York (AFP) – Taylor Swift made music history Monday, becoming the first artist ever to simultaneously nab all 10 spots on the top US song chart after the release of her album “Midnights.” “Anti-Hero” led the charge, taking the Billboard Hot 100’s t…
Biden threatens tax hit for oil majors who fail to lower costs
Washington (AFP) – US President Joe Biden plans to seek tax penalties for oil companies unless they invest their record profits in lowering household costs and ramping up production, a White House official said Monday. The comments come days after US o…