English

Gavin Blackburn

World News

Tanker hit by Yemen's Houthi rebels burning in Red Sea salvaged

The MV Sounion carrying one million barrels of crude oil was struck in August and later sabotaged with explosives by the Houthis as part of their solidarity campaign with Hamas over the war in Gaza.

Europe News

UK's Rachel Reeves in China in bid to reset economic ties

Officials said Prime Minister Starmer wants a 'pragmatic' approach to working with Beijing on global stability, climate change and the transition to clean energy.

Tech News

US Supreme Court looks likely to uphold TikTok ban on security grounds

TikTok has been "on notice" since 2020, during Donald Trump's first term, that its sale could be required if it couldn’t satisfy national security concerns.

Europe News

Italy's Antonio Tajani meets Joseph Aoun for talks in Beirut

Tajani's talks in Lebanon come on the same day he met Syria's de facto leader in his first visit to Damascus since the fall of long-time ruler Bashar al-Assad.

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USA

Death toll from California wildfires rises to 11, officials say

Dozens of blocks of the scenic Pacific Palisades area have been flattened to smouldering rubble while in neighbouring Malibu, blackened palm strands were all that was left above debris where oceanfront homes once stood.

Europe News

Greenland's PM says his people don't want to be Americans

The United States is a strong ally of the European Union and the leading member of NATO and many in Europe were shocked by the suggestion that an incoming US leader could consider using force against an ally.

Europe News

More than 30 dolphins dead in Kerch Strait oil spill

Fuel oil spilled out of two tankers nearly three weeks ago in the Kerch Strait, about 250 kilometres from Sevastopol on the southwest of the occupied Crimean Peninsula.

World News

Syria's new foreign minister visits Qatar for diplomatic talks

Asaad al-Shibani's trip to Doha comes after he hosted the French and German foreign ministers in Damascus on Friday.

North Korea

South Korean police take charge to detain impeached President Yoon

Dozens of anti-corruption agency investigators and assisting police officers attempted to detain the impeached president on Friday but retreated from his residence in Seoul after a tense five-hour standoff with the presidential security service.

Europe News

Montenegrins demand security officials resign after mass shooting

Wednesday's shooting came after a bar brawl and saw a 45-year-old man go home to get his gun before returning to the bar and opening fire.

USA

Trump's plan to pardon 6 January rioters sparks backlash

More than 1,250 people pleaded guilty or have been convicted after trials in connection with the Capitol breach, with more than 650 receiving prison time ranging from a few days to 22 years.

Europe News

Crimea officials declare emergency as oil spill reaches Sevastopol

Oil was found on four beaches in the region and was 'promptly eliminated' by local authorities working together with volunteers, the regional governor said.

Gaza

Biden administration plans $8 billion arms sale to Israel

The sale includes medium-range air-to-air missiles to help Israel defend against airborne threats, 155 mm projectile artillery shells for long-range targeting, Hellfire AGM-114 missiles, 500-pound bombs and other weaponry.

Europe News

Montenegro holds memorial service for 12 victims of mass shooting

Prime Minister Milojko Spajić said that holders of registered guns will undergo new security and psychological checks while 'draconian' punishment is planned for those who hold weapons illegally.

Europe News

Karl Nehammer to step down as Austrian coalition talks fail

Coalition talks have dragged on after Austria's main parties refused to work with the leader of the right-wing Freedom Party (FPÖ), Herbert Kickl, who came first in September's election with 28,8% of the vote.

USA

Former US President Jimmy Carter's state funeral begins

Carter, who was in the White House from 1977-1981, died on 29 December at the age of 100.

USA

Republican Mike Johnson narrowly re-elected as House speaker

Johnson's weak grip on the gavel has threatened not only his own survival but Trump's ambitious agenda of tax cuts and mass deportations as the Republicans sweep to power.

World News

Blinken heads to Asia, Europe on final expected overseas trip

The State Department announced that Blinken would visit Seoul, Tokyo and Paris beginning on Sunday.

Europe News

Zelenskyy says Trump's unpredictability can end Ukraine war

Trump, who takes office on 20 January, hasn't publicly fleshed out his policy on Ukraine, but his previous comments have put a question mark over whether the United States will continue to be Ukraine’s biggest military backer.

Europe News

Tehran warns Rome ties at risk if detained Iranian not released

Mohammad Abedini was arrested by Italian authorities at Milan’s Malpensa airport on a US warrant on 16 December, accused of supplying the technology for a drone strike in Jordan which killed three US service personnel.

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