World

Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister of Ethiopia, stands during an event to honour the national defence forces in Addis Ababa, on November 17, 2020. – The United Nations on November 17, 2020 expressed alarm at the “large-scale humanitarian crisis” developing on the border between Sudan and Ethiopia, where thousands of people are fleeing the ongoing fighting in northern Tigray every day. (Photo by EDUARDO SOTERAS / AFP) The leader of Ethiopia’s dissident Tigray region said Monday that his people were “ready to die” defending their homeland, rejecting Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s ultimatum that they surrender within 72 hours. Abiy launched a…

This handout picture provided by Host photo agency shows Russian President Vladimir Putin delivering a speech during a military parade, which marks the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, at Red Square in Moscow on June 24, 2020. – The parade, usually held on May 9, was postponed this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Sergey Guneev / Host photo agency / AFP) / – Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday signed a law on increasing income tax for high earners in the first move away from a flat tax system…

(COMBO) This combination of pictures created on November 23, 2020 shows (L to R) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu giving a statement in Jerusalem on November 19, 2020; and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman addressing the G20 summit in Riyadh on November 22. 2020. – Saudi Arabia on November 23 denied Israeli media reports of landmark talks between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during a visit by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Israeli public broadcaster Kan and other outlets had reported that the meeting took place Sunday, weeks after the Jewish state reached…

Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks during a virtual press conference at Downing Street in central London on September 9, 2020 following an announcement of further restrictions on social gatherings in England due to an uptick in cases of the novel coronavirus. – The UK government on on September 9 sets out tighter rules on social gatherings to curb the spread of the coronavirus, with concern mounting at rising infection rates among the young. The law in England will change from next week to reduce the number of people who can gather socially from 30 to six, with some exemptions.…

Saudi and foreign media representatives listen to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman remotely addressing a press conference, at the G20 summit’s Media Center in the capital Riyadh, on November 22, 2020. (Photo by FAYEZ NURELDINE / AFP)Landmark promises on vaccine access, a US president gone golfing, and awkward questions for the Saudi hosts about the murder of campaigning journalist Jamal Khashoggi have dominated this year’s virtual G20. Here are key quotes from the event. – Solidarity vs. COVID-19 –The novel coronavirus has claimed at least 1,381,915 lives globally, according to an AFP tally, since the World Health Organization announced…

(FILES) In this file photo US President-elect Joe Biden speaks during a press conference at The Queen in Wilmington, Delaware on November 16, 2020. – US President-elect Joe Biden will name on November 24, 2020 the first picks to be part of his administration, his chief of staff said on November 22, 2020, declining to say what positions will be announced. “You are going to see the first of the president-elect’s cabinet picks on Tuesday of this week,” Biden’s chief of staff Ron Klain told ABC. “You’ll have to wait for president-elect to say that himself on Tuesday.” (Photo by…

A Pennsylvania judge on Saturday threw out Donald Trump’s claims of widespread electoral fraud there, dealing a new blow to the Republican’s bid to overturn his loss in the US presidential election. The decision — announced in a scathing judgment which excoriated the Trump team’s legal strategy — paves the way for Pennsylvania to certify Democrat Joe Biden’s victory there, which is scheduled to take place Monday. With the clock ticking down to Biden’s January 20 inauguration, Trump’s team has focused on trying to stop battleground states from certifying election results, in addition to his numerous legal challenges that have…