Australia kicks off weeks-long same-sex marriage ballot
Australia on Tuesday launched a postal vote on whether to legalize same-sex marriage as a widely watched poll indicated the country would be overwhelmingly in support.
World Headlines
UN experts: NKorea exported $270 million illegally recently
North Korea illegally exported coal, iron and other commodities worth at least $270 million to China and other countries including India, Malaysia and Sri Lanka in the six-month period ending in early August in violation of U.N. sanctions, U.N. experts say.
Merkel’s re-election in Germany is all but certain, but world of fourth-term challenges is not
Six months ago, it looked like her job might be in jeopardy, but now Chancellor Angela Merkel is cruising to victory in Germany’s Sept. 24 vote and the big question is what Europe’s dominant political leader plans to do with her mandate for a fourth term.
North Korea Promises More ‘Gifts’ for U.S. as Fears Rise of New Missile Launch
North Korea’s chief diplomat at the United Nations was not hiding his satisfaction with Pyongyang’s recent nuclear test, warning the U.S. that it can expect more “gift packages” to come its way.
Germany disputes size of Russian wargames, predicts 100,000 troops
Germany said on Thursday that Russia was planning to send more than 100,000 troops to war games on NATO’s eastern flank this month, disputing Moscow’s version that only 13,000 Russian and Belarussian servicemen would participate.
Iranian militia vows to turn against U.S. troops once Islamic State is defeated in Iraq
The U.S. military is keeping a wary eye on Iran’s most violent proxy militia in Iraq, which has vowed to start killing Americans again once the Islamic State is expelled.
Trump says U.S. ‘won’t be putting up’ with North Korea’s actions
President Trump again insisted Wednesday that the U.S. and its allies will not tolerate North Korea’s nuclear weapons tests and missile launches, discussing the crisis on the Korean peninsula with Chinese President Xi Jinping in a 45-minute phone call.
Putin: US weapons could exacerbate conflict in Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that any decision by the United States to supply defensive weapons to Ukraine would fuel the conflict in eastern Ukraine and possibly prompt pro-Russian separatists to expand their campaign there.
China’s military practices for ‘surprise attack’ over sea near Korea
China’s air force has carried out exercises near the Korean peninsula, practicing to defend against a “surprise attack” coming over the sea, Chinese state media reported.
Syrian army, allies break Islamic State siege in eastern city
Syrian government forces on Tuesday reached troops besieged for years by Islamic State in the eastern city of Deir al-Zor, the militants’ last major stronghold in Syria, the army said.
South Korea’s Moon discusses ‘unpredictable’ North Korea situation with Putin
South Korean President Moon Jae-in told Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Wednesday that the situation on the Korean peninsula could become unpredictable if Pyongyang did not halt its ‘provocative actions’ after its latest nuclear bomb test.
Egypt finalizes deal with Russia for first nuclear plant
Russian media said Monday that Egypt has finalized a deal to build a nuclear power plant with funding from Moscow after nearly two years of negotiations.
US seeks UN vote next week to punish North Korea for nuclear test
The Trump administration is pushing for a vote next week at the United Nations Security Council to punish North Korea for its nuclear test over the weekend.
Kenya’s Presidential Poll Results Declared ‘Invalid, Null and Void’
Kenyans reacted with celebration, frustration and shock Friday after the Supreme Court, in a 4 to 2 decision, ordered a do-over of last month’s presidential election.
Russia blames Obama, Congress for souring relations, not Trump
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Friday blamed former President Barack Obama and the Congress — but not President Trump — for the downward spiral in U.S.-Russia relations.
Russian Twitter Bots Troll NATO
Seventy percent of Russian-language tweets targeting NATO military activities in Eastern Europe are generated by automated Russian trolls, according to a survey done by the military alliance.
US commander: IS leader al-Baghdadi probably still alive
Islamic State group leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi appears to be still alive, a top US military commander said Thursday, contradicting Russia’s claims that it probably killed the top counterterror target months ago.
Trump retaliates by closing Russian diplomatic outposts in U.S.
The Trump administration ordered Russia to close a consulate in San Francisco and scale back operations in New York and Washington in retaliation for Moscow’s expelling U.S. diplomats and closing sites in Russia a month ago, the State Department announced Thursday.
Al Qaeda affiliate mining uranium to send to Iran, Somali official warns US ambassador
An Al Qaeda affiliate has seized control of uranium mines in Africa with the intent of supplying the material to Iran, according to a diplomatic letter from a top Somali official appealing to the U.S. for ‘immediate military assistance.’
Russia warns US against new sanctions on North Korea
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has warned U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson that potential new sanctions against North Korea would be ‘dangerous.’