Sawt Falasteen - Politics

Logistical challenge looms for Ukraine over promised tanks

The imminent arrival in Ukraine of Western-made light tanks and armoured vehicles, as well as possibly heavy tanks, means Kyiv will need to quickly train up troops to use and maintain the sometimes complex equipment, analysts say.

German lawmakers to recognise Yazidi 'genocide' in Iraq

Germany's lower house of parliament will next week recognise the 2014 massacre of Yazidis by Islamic State group jihadists in Iraq as a "genocide", lawmakers told AFP Friday.

'We need Western tanks': Ukraine's crews warn of frontline losses

Perched on the nose of the Soviet-designed tank near the Donetsk front line, one soldier in Ukrainian commander Maksym's brigade was cradling a can of kitten food repurposed as a paraffin candle.

Stocks extend gains on slowing US inflation, upbeat European GDP

Global equities mostly rose Friday but the dollar struggled as slowing US inflation fuelled speculation that the Federal Reserve would take a softer approach to its monetary tightening campaign.

Morocco team await Algerian green light to fly in for CHAN

Morocco's football team was waiting at Rabat airport Friday for a green light to take off for Algeria, the kingdom's arch-rival which is hosting the African Nations Championship (CHAN).

S.Africa's first democratic parliament speaker dies aged 90

Anti-apartheid activist Frene Ginwala, the speaker of South Africa's first democratic elected parliament -- and the first woman to hold the office -- has died aged 90, the country's presidency said on Friday.

Russia says it controls battered Ukraine town of Soledar

Russia said Friday its forces had wrested control of the war-scarred town of Soledar in east Ukraine, Moscow's first claim of victory in months of battlefield setbacks.

Peru closes Machu Picchu airport as nationwide protests persist

Rail and air links to Peru's famed Machu Picchu site had been cut early Friday after a flare-up in weeks-long protests that has killed dozens.

Ukraine says it is 'de facto' part of NATO

Ukraine has effectively become a NATO member, its defence minister has said, despite the military alliance's reluctance to get embroiled in a wider conflict with Russia.

Ukraine resisting 'high intensity' offensive in Soledar

Ukraine said Friday it was resisting a "high intensity" Russian offensive in Soledar, a nearly completely destroyed town in the eastern Donetsk region that is now the epicentre of the war.

Most markets rise as US inflation boosts Fed slowdown hopes

Asian markets mostly rose again Friday and the dollar remained under pressure after data showing another slowdown in US inflation fuelled bets the Federal Reserve will take a softer approach to its monetary tightening campaign.

Japan racks up new security deals with eyes on China

Space defence, US troop deployments and a "hugely significant" deal with Britain: Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is collecting more than souvenirs on his whirlwind diplomatic tour.

Violent spark followed by a fizzle: Is 'bolsonarismo' spent?

Brazil's democracy has withstood a vicious initial assault by die-hard backers of vanquished far-right ex-president Jair Bolsonaro who on Sunday sacked the symbolic seats of a government since recently in leftist hands.

All-out drone war in Ukraine points to future

Deployed on a scale never seen before to carry out both surveillance and strikes, drones ranging from small commercially-available models to larger aircraft have become a defining feature of the Ukraine conflict.

Zelensky promises 'everything necessary' to defend Soledar from Russia

President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday that Ukrainian forces defending Bakhmut and Soledar in the east would be armed with everything they need to keep Russian troops at bay in some of the bloodiest battles of the war.

Peru closes tourist hub airport as nationwide protests persist

Weeks-long protests that have left dozens dead across Peru continued on Thursday, with escalating tensions in Andean city Cusco prompting the government to preemptively close the tourist hub's airport.

Benin pro-govt parties win parliament majority

Benin's pro-government parties won a majority of seats in parliament, the country's constitutional court said Thursday, in a vote marking the return of the opposition after four years of absence.

Biden investigated over classified documents

The US attorney general named an independent prosecutor Thursday to investigate President Joe Biden's handling of classified documents, after a furor over secret papers found at his former office exploded with the discovery of a second batch.

US Democrats urge Biden to expel Bolsonaro over Brazil riots

Democratic lawmakers called Thursday on President Joe Biden to revoke the visa of former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, saying the United States should not offer refuge to anyone involved in riots against Brazil's newly elected government.

Regional force leaves Tigray city as France, Germany call for 'justice'

The Ethiopian army announced the withdrawal of a regional force from a key Tigrayan city on Thursday under a peace deal to end two years of war as visiting European ministers said there could be no reconciliation without justice.

Special counsel named for Biden documents probe

The US attorney general named an independent prosecutor Thursday to investigate President Joe Biden's handling of classified documents, after a furor over secret papers found at his former office exploded with the discovery of a second batch.

Israeli forces kill three Palestinians in West Bank operations

Israeli forces killed three Palestinians in two separate incidents in the occupied West Bank Thursday, the Palestinian health ministry said, as the army reported opening fire on fleeing suspects and troops being pelted with rocks during raids.

US government examining over 500 'UFO' reports

The US government is examining 510 UFO reports, over triple the number in its 2021 file, and while many were caused by drones or balloons, hundreds remain unexplained, according to a report released Thursday.

Israeli forces kill two Palestinians in West Bank operations

Israeli forces killed two Palestinians in separate incidents in the occupied West Bank Thursday, the Palestinian health ministry said, as the army reported opening fire on fleeing suspects and troops being pelted with rocks during raids.

No reconciliation without justice: French, German FMs tell Ethiopia

France and Germany's foreign ministers said Thursday said there can be no reconciliation without justice as they visited Ethiopia to lend their support to a peace deal signed last year to end two years of brutal war.

US Justice Dept names special counsel for Biden documents probe

US Attorney General Merrick Garland named Thursday an independent prosecutor to investigate President Joe Biden's handling of classified documents, after a furor over secret papers found at his former office exploded with the discovery of a second batch at his private residence.

Putin signals impatience over Ukraine war in commander switch

President Vladimir Putin's move to replace his top commander in Ukraine is a sign of military disarray and his growing impatience in a war Russia is not winning, analysts said.

Brasilia rioters likely had inside help: Lula

Brazil intensified a mop-up operation Thursday after the weekend sacking of government buildings in the capital, as President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said the rioters likely had inside help.

Irish PM cautious about deal to restore N.Ireland govt

Irish premier Leo Varadkar on Thursday played down hopes of a swift end to wrangling over post-Brexit trading rules in Northern Ireland that has caused lengthy political paralysis in Belfast.

Zelensky promises 'everything necesary' to defend Soledar from Russia