Los Angeles (AFP) – Black and Asian community leaders gathered in Los Angeles on Friday to mark 30 years since the US city was engulfed in violence in the wake of the acquittal of four police officers for the brutal beating of Rodney King. Dozens died …
Russia admits striking Kyiv during UN chief’s visit
Kyiv (Ukraine) (AFP) – Russia confirmed on Friday that it carried out an air strike on Kyiv during a visit by the UN’s secretary general, the first such attack on the Ukrainian capital in nearly two weeks, and in which a journalist also died. Vera Gyry…
Islamic State ‘Beatle’ Kotey sentenced to life in US jail
Washington (AFP) – Alexanda Kotey, part of the Islamic State kidnap-and-murder cell known as the “Beatles,” was sentenced to life in jail by a United States court on Friday. Kotey, a 38-year-old former British national, pleaded guilty in September, adm…
Boosted by oil prices, ExxonMobil, Chevron throw cash at investors
New York (AFP) – ExxonMobil and Chevron reported soaring profits Friday despite lower oil and natural gas volumes as the petroleum giants return billions of dollars to shareholders in the wake of lofty crude prices and refining margins. Both US oil gia…
Trump to rally with candidate accused of sexual assault
Washington (AFP) – Former US president Donald Trump was set to appear at a rally Friday to endorse a political candidate accused of sexually assaulting eight women including a state senator. Charles Herbster, a 67-year-old multimillionaire cattle-breed…
Russians ‘behind schedule’ in Donbas: Pentagon
Washington (AFP) – The Russian campaign to seize control of the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine is moving slowly and behind schedule, a Pentagon official said Friday. Stiff resistance from Ukrainian troops and caution after Russia’s failure to capture…
US drug regulator schedules infant Covid vaccine meeting for June
Washington (AFP) – The US Food and Drug Administration on Friday announced it would hold a set of meetings on Covid vaccines in June that would include deciding whether to authorize them for the youngest children. Children five and under are the only g…
Tom Cruise unveils ‘Top Gun’ sequel with mid-air stunt
Las Vegas (AFP) – Tom Cruise unveiled the world-first screening of “Top Gun: Maverick” at CinemaCon in Las Vegas Thursday — introducing the long-awaited sequel while balanced atop a flying bi-plane. The new “Top Gun,” which picks up the story of Maver…
Russia strikes Kyiv during UN chief’s visit, Biden asks for $33bn for Ukraine
Kyiv (Ukraine) (AFP) – Russian forces bombarded Ukraine’s capital late Thursday during a visit by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who decried the “absurdity” of war in the 21st century, as US President Joe Biden asked for $33 billion more to sup…
Biden proposes $33 bn package for Ukraine, targets Russian oligarchs
Washington (AFP) – US President Joe Biden on Thursday proposed a huge $33 billion package for arming and supporting Ukraine, saying that “caving” in to Russia is not an option for the West as the war stretches into a third month. Speaking in the White …