Al-Qaida Chief Appears in 9/11 Video amid Rumors He Is Dead
Al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri appeared in a new video marking the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11, attacks, months after rumors spread that he was dead.
World News
US Pulls Missile Defenses in Saudi Arabia Amid Yemen Attacks
The U.S. has removed its most advanced missile defense system and Patriot batteries from Saudi Arabia in recent weeks, even as the kingdom faced continued air attacks from Yemen’s Houthi rebels, satellite photos analyzed by The Associated Press show.
US President Under Fire Over Syrian Pipeline
U.S. President Joe Biden has come under fire over his reported decision to lift sanctions on Syria for an energy deal with Islamist militants after he ended a massive pipeline project in America.
Scores Of Americans, Foreigners Leave Afghanistan
Some 200 people, including about 30 Americans, left war-ravaged Afghanistan Thursday on one of the first international commercial flights since last month. The Qatar Airways flight to Doha with onboard men, women, and children marked the reopening of the Kabul airport after it was damaged after the Taliban captured the capital.
Powerful Cat 4 Typhoon Chanthu to brush Philippines on journey toward Taiwan
Typhoon Chanthu remained a formidable storm Thursday over the Philippine Sea despite slightly weakening and no longer being considered a super typhoon, AccuWeather forecasters said.
National insurance rise sets UK on path to record tax level
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s plan to hike payroll taxes to raise billions in funding for health and social care will raise Britain’s tax burden to its highest ever level, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies.
Secretary of State admits Taliban are blocking flights from leaving Afghanistan; RNC wants him fired
Secretary of State Antony Blinken told the Taliban on Wednesday to stop blocking charter flights carrying Americans who are trying to leave Afghanistan.
China threatens to send warships inside US territorial waters
China, on Wednesday, threatened to send warships into U.S. territorial waters.
Powerful Mexico Quake Kills, Leaving Many Without Power (Video)
A powerful earthquake shook southwestern Mexico near the beach resort of Acapulco, killing at least one man crushed by a falling post and causing rockfalls and damaging buildings, authorities say.
China Weighing Occupation of Former U.S. Air Base at Bagram: Sources
China is considering deploying military personnel and economic development officials to Bagram airfield, perhaps the single-most prominent symbol of the 20-year U.S. military presence in Afghanistan.
Afghanistan’s Resistance Leader Vows Not To Surrender After Taliban’s Claimed Victory
The leader of the last remaining resistance in Afghanistan said Wednesday he would never surrender to Afghanistan’s Islamist Taliban rulers.
Turkey Mulls Alliance With Taliban While Pleasing Russia, China
The president of Turkey reportedly mulls an alliance with the Taliban or other pro-Sharia groups ruling Afghanistan, a move that could further harm Turkish-U.S. relations.
At Brazil rallies, Bolsonaro deepens rift with Supreme Court
Tens of thousands of supporters of embattled right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro heeded his call and turned out at rallies Tuesday as he stepped up his attacks on Brazil’s Supreme Court and threatened to plunge the country into a constitutional crisis.
IAEA Says Iran Blocking Access To Nuclear Sites, Still Boosting Enrichment
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says Iran is blocking access to some of its nuclear sites and continues to boost its stocks of uranium enriched above the percentage allowed in its hobbled 2015 deal with world powers.
Mexico: Criminalizing abortion is unconstitutional, court rules
Mexico’s Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that criminalizing abortion is unconstitutional.
Taliban announce interim government of Afghanistan, including minister wanted by FBI for terror attack
The Taliban’s new interim government of Afghanistan includes Interior Minister Sarajuddin Haqqani, who is on the FBI’s most-wanted list for terror attacks, Sky News reports. The Taliban announced the composition of the new government during a news conference on Tuesday.
US databases in hands of Taliban could be used to target Afghans who worked with America
It appears that massive databases built by the US and its allies for the Afghan people have now fallen into the hands of the Taliban, and may be used to identify and persecute locals who worked with America during its 20-year war in Afghanistan, Associated Press (AP) reports.
Panjshir bombed by Pakistani Air Force drones
Panjshir province, the last bastion of resistance forces in Afghanistan, was bombed by Pakistani Air Force drones, reports said on Sunday. Former Samangan MP Zia Arianjad was quoted as saying by Aamaj News that Pakistani drones have bombed Panjshir using smart bombs.
Nipah Virus with 75% Mortality Rate Triggers WHO Alert in India
The World Health Organization (WHO) lists Nipah as a virus with pandemic potential. It attacks the brain, can spread from human-to-human and has a fatality rate as high as 75 percent.
U.S.-built databases a potential tool of Taliban repression
Over two decades, the United States and its allies spent hundreds of millions of dollars building databases for the Afghan people. The nobly stated goal: Promote law and order and government accountability and modernize a war-ravaged land.