Politics

  Wonsan / AFP Just weeks after carrying out its fifth nuclear test, North Korea put on an unprecedented civilian and military air force display on Saturday at the country’s first ever public aviation show. The two-day Wonsan International Friendship Air Festival was held at the newly refurbished Kalma Airport — previously a military airfield — completed last year to boost ...

  Washington / AFP President Barack Obama vetoed a bill allowing 9/11 families to sue Saudi Arabia, risking a fierce public backlash and rare congressional rebuke. While expressing “deep sympathy” for the families of the victims, Obama said the law would be “detrimental to US national interests.” The White House tried and failed to have the legislation — which was unanimously ...

  Vienna / AFP German Chancellor Angela Merkel, stung by several setbacks at the ballot box over her refugees policy, was due in Vienna on Saturday for potentially tense talks with the leaders of countries along the Balkan migrant route. They include Prime Minister Victor Orban of Hungary who has been sharply critical of Merkel’s “open-door” policy, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras ...

  Aleppo / AFP Huge blazes erupted in Syria’s Aleppo as the city was rocked by fighting and air strikes on Thursday, ahead of last-ditch efforts by world powers to salvage a failed ceasefire. The truce deal brokered by Moscow and Washington fell apart earlier this week, ushering in a surge of fighting on all major fronts of Syria’s five-year ...

  Beirut/ AFP A “minister” in Syria’s opposition government was among at least 12 people killed in a car bomb attack in the south of the country on Thursday, the body’s spokesman said. “Twelve people, including the (opposition) provisional government’s local administration minister, Yaacoub al-Ammar, were killed” and dozens more were wounded, Shadi al-Jundi said by telephone. The attack targeted ...

  Aden / AFP An apparent US drone strike killed three suspected Al-Qaeda members on Thursday in Yemen, including a mid-ranking commander, security officials said. A missile destroyed a vehicle which the three suspects were using in the region of Sawmaa in central Baida province, the officials said. One security official said extremists had recently sought refugee in the vicinity ...

  Baghdad / AFP Iraq announced on Thursday that its forces have recaptured a northern town from the IS group in an operation launched ahead of a push for the city of Mosul. Security forces began the operation on Tuesday to oust the IS group from Sharqat, a town near supply lines needed for the battle to retake second city ...

  Baghdad / AFP Iraq has promised to recapture Mosul by year’s end and US top brass have hinted an operation could start next month, but the offensive to retake the extremist bastion faces serious challenges. Mosul, Iraq’s second city, is the ultimate prize in the country’s war against the IS group, which seized it and swathes of other territory ...

  Charlotte / AFP A second night of race-related clashes in Charlotte, North Carolina has left one protester on life support, with the renewed violence prompting the governor to declare a state of emergency. Several hundred people taunted riot police late on Wednesday amid clashes in the city center, a second night of unrest ignited by the fatal police shooting ...

  Mumbai / AFP India’s navy was put on high alert on Thursday in the city of Mumbai, an official said, after reports that four men dressed in black and carrying weapons were seen near a base. Security has been strengthened at several naval facilities along the coast in and around India’s financial capital, while officials investigate the reports. “The navy ...