- Published on
03-22-2023
- Authors
- Name
- AI Writer
- @danwakeem
Tragic domestic mass shooting in South Carolina leaves four dead
Authorities confirm that three children and one man died in a domestic mass shooting in Sumter, South Carolina, on Tuesday night. Officials suspect that the shooter, who is among the deceased, was known to the victims. Authorities have stated that there is no risk to the wider community.
North Korea Fires Cruise Missiles During U.S.-South Korea Joint Military Exercise
North Korea fired several cruise missiles toward the East Sea during the U.S.-South Korea joint military exercise. The drills included large-scale landing exercises for the Amphibious Assault Ship USS Makin Island, which had just arrived in South Korea. This was in response to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's sister's vow to take overwhelming actions to the joint military exercise. The North Korean regime is showcasing its weapons' combat readiness, as Park Wongon, a professor of North Korean Studies, says. These cruise missiles, although not considered as threatening as ballistic missiles, cannot be overlooked in the region because of their difficulty to detect and intercept when flying at a low altitude.
IMF approves $5 billion loan program for Ukraine
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved a $5bn loan program for Ukraine, aimed at helping it close its budget deficit and maintain macrofinancial stability. The program will run for four years, initially targeting Ukraine's budget deficit and eventually supporting its bid for European Union membership and post-war reconstruction. The IMF loan is expected to help Ukraine secure additional financing from its international partners by demonstrating the Ukrainian government's adherence to sound economic policies.
TikTok CEO to tell Congress company goes 'above and beyond' rivals on data protection
TikTok’s CEO, Shou Zi Chew, has said the company is committed to user safety and data protection, and is free from Chinese government influence. The comments came ahead of a US congressional hearing during which the video-sharing app’s security will be discussed. Lawmakers have suggested various methods to counter possible security risks including enacting a national ban, imposing structural restrictions between the app’s American operations and ByteDance, and even potentially separating the companies.
Slovakia to buy $1B worth attack choppers from the US
Slovakia will buy Bell AH-1Z attack choppers, 500 AGM-114 Hellfire II missiles and training for 340 million coming from Slovakia and the remaining $660 million to be covered by US foreign military financing. 200 million euros in additional compensation will be given to Slovakia by the EU. The deal is yet to be accepted by Slovakia. Defense Minister Jaroslav Nad said that the deal would significantly enhance Slovakia's military capabilities since their armed forces currently lack combat helicopters.
Retired soldiers and policemen clash with riot police and troops in Lebanon
Retired soldiers and depositors clashed with riot police and troops in Beirut, Lebanon. The demonstrators were protesting for better pay and the ability to access their savings after local banks imposed informal capital controls. The country has been burdened with harsh economic conditions because of years of mismanagement by the ruling class. The Lebanese pound has lost more than 95% of its value over the past three years, causing significant hardship for the population, and businesses have resorted to dollarization. The international community has asked Lebanon to implement reforms, but the political class has resisted, leaving three-quarters of the population in poverty and causing inflation to soar.
Breaking News: Ship Dislodged from Holding, 15 Hospitalized
A ship, named the Petrel, owned by the late Microsoft co-founder, Paul Allen, became dislodged and started to lean to one side at a 45-degree angle because of strong winds. 15 people were taken to the hospital and 10 others were treated at the scene. The ship is equipped with deep-sea exploration technology and was previously used for high-profile missions to locate historic shipwrecks, and has been moored since 2020 as a result of COVID-19 challenges.
Consumer Prices Rise Faster Than Expected in UK Inflation Report
UK inflation rose to 10.4% in the past 12 months according to the Office for National Statistics, surprising analysts who had predicted a slowdown to 9.9%. The increase puts upward pressure on the Bank of England to raise interest rates again, despite concerns about how it may impact an increasingly strained global banking system. The report signifies the challenges faced by UK consumers as food, drinks, clothing and energy costs continue to increase, leading to an overall living standards decline. However, government subsidies should begin to impact the high cost of energy, slowing inflation later in the year, according to economists.
Israeli airstrike damages Aleppo airport and arms depot in Syria
Israeli warplanes have bombed Aleppo airport in Syria, causing damage to the runway and putting the facility out of service, Syria's civil aviation head, Bassem Mansour, has said. Repair work has begun, but the airport has been a vital channel for aid following the recent earthquake in the region. In addition to the airport, the attack also destroyed an arms depot for Iran-backed militants, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Israel has carried out hundreds of similar strikes on targets inside Syria over the past few years.
International backlash as Israel revokes law dismantling four settlements in West Bank
Jordan's parliament has approved the expulsion of Israel's envoy and the US have summoned Israel's ambassador after the country's Knesset voted to revoke a 2005 law, which dismantled four settlements. Critics argue that this could allow rebuilding and threaten Palestinian hopes for statehood. Pressure builds against Israel's new hardline government as protesters demonstrated against plans to overhaul the legal system. Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected criticism, stating it ends discrimination against Jews living in “northern Samaria”.