WORLD - The African Mirror

Jun

01

2023

Russia reports attacks on oil refineries and town near border with Ukraine

WORLD

RUSSIA said Ukrainian artillery hit a Russian town for a third time this week and drones struck two oil refineries in an uptick in attacks on Russian territory as Ukraine prepares a Western-backed push to end Moscow's invasion. Inside Ukraine, Russian-installed officials said five people had been killed in Ukrainian army shelling of a Russian-occupied village in the east, where Russia has fought months of bloody and inconclusive battles to try to seize more territory. There was no immediate comment from Ukraine on the Russian reports, in a week when the two countries accused each other of spreading terror in their capitals…

Jun

01

2023

By The African Mirror

Hungary frees 777 foreigners convicted of people smuggling

WORLD

HUNGARY has in recent weeks freed 777 foreigners, mostly Serbian, Ukrainian and Romanian nationals, convicted of human trafficking, the directorate of prisons said on Wednesday in a reply to Reuters questions. Citing overcrowded prisons, Prime Minister Viktor Orban's government issued a decree in April allowing the release of foreign nationals convicted of people smuggling, on condition that they leave Hungary within 72 hours once freed. The move drew a protest from neighbouring Austria, a top destination for smuggled migrants heading for the heart of the European Union via Hungary from the Balkans. Vienna said it regards the release of human traffickers as…

Jun

01

2023

By MARTIN QUIN POLLARD

Elon Musk greeted with flattery and feasts during China trip

WORLD

BILLIONAIRE Elon Musk was showered with praise during a trip to China this week, with people on social media calling him "a pioneer", "Brother Ma" and "a global idol" while the CEO of Tesla, Twitter, SpaceX and other companies also met in person with three government ministers. Since landing in Beijing on Tuesday, Musk has met with China's foreign, commerce and industry ministers and has dined with Zeng Yuqun, chairman of top battery supplier CATL. Little is known of those conversations. The industry ministry only said Musk and its head exchanged views about the development of electric vehicles and connected…

May

31

2023

By The African Mirror

Putin says Ukraine drone strikes on Moscow aim to scare and provoke Russia

WORLD

PRESIDENT Vladimir Putin said that Ukraine's biggest-ever drone strike on Moscow was an attempt to scare and provoke Russia, and air defences around the capital would be strengthened. Russia said eight drones targeted civilian areas of Moscow and the Moscow region - with a population of over 21 million - in the early hours of Tuesday but were either shot down or diverted with special electronic jammers. Putin cast the assault, which brought the 15-month war in Ukraine to the heart of Russia, as a terrorist response that came after Russia struck at Ukraine's military intelligence headquarters several days ago.…

May

31

2023

By The African Mirror

Hawkers back on China’s streets as economic recovery teeters

WORLD

WANG Chunxiang pushes a cart around busy areas of Shanghai, playing cat and mouse with the authorities as she tries to sell pastries. The jobs she could get do not pay enough for her to make ends meet. "Salaries are too low," said the 43-year-old, after serving a customer steamed sweet rice cakes from a wok. "At my age, without much knowledge, I could only earn 5,000 to 6,000 yuan ($868) per month as a cleaning lady. Shanghai rent is so expensive. Even low-quality homes are 2,000-3,000 yuan," said Wang, who recently resumed hawking after a six-year break. She can…

May

31

2023

By ALEXANDRA ULMER and ANNA TONG

Deepfaking it: America’s 2024 election collides with AI boom

WORLD

"I actually like Ron DeSantis a lot," Hillary Clinton reveals in a surprise online endorsement video. "He's just the kind of guy this country needs, and I really mean that." Joe Biden finally lets the mask slip, unleashing a cruel rant at a transgender person. "You will never be a real woman," the president snarls. Welcome to America's 2024 presidential race, where reality is up for grabs. The Clinton and Biden deepfakes - realistic yet fabricated videos created by AI algorithms trained on copious online footage - are among thousands surfacing on social media, blurring fact and fiction in the…

May

30

2023

By GUY FAULCONBRIDGE

Lavrov warns West: Black Sea grain deal is in danger of collapse

WORLD

RUSSIA warned the West that a deal allowing Ukrainian grain to be exported from the Black Sea would cease unless a United Nations agreement aimed at overcoming obstacles to Russian grain and fertiliser exports was fulfilled. The United Nations and Turkey brokered the Black Sea deal for an initial 120 days in July last year to help tackle a global food crisis that has been aggravated by Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, one of the world's leading grain exporters. Russia has repeatedly warned it will allow the deal to expire because of obstacles to its own exports of grain and fertiliser…

May

30

2023

By RANEEN SAWAFTA and RONEN ZVULUN

Israeli forces kill Palestinian officer in clashes

WORLD

ISRAELI forces killed a Palestinian security officer during clashes in the occupied West Bank flashpoint city of Jenin on Monday, the Palestinian Fatah faction said in a statement. The Israeli military said its forces had come under heavy Palestinian fire while seeking the arrest of security suspects in Jenin and had returned fire at the gunmen. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah party identified the officer as Ashraf Sheikh Ibrahim, saying he had died "as he confronted the aggression and the occupation's storming of the city of Jenin". Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade militant group, associated with Fatah, claimed him as a member.…

May

30

2023

By ANDREW HAY

Man charged with murder after 3 dead in New Mexico biker shootout

WORLD

A biker was charged with murder after a shootout between rival motorbike gangs at a motorcycle rally in Red River, northern New Mexico, in which three gang members were killed and five wounded, police said. Members of the Bandidos and Waterdogs groups traded gunfire around 5:00 p.m. (2100 GMT) on the packed main street of the mountain resort town 75 miles northeast of the state capital Santa Fe, State Police Chief Tim Johnson said on Sunday. "It was just gangbanger on gangbanger," Johnson told a press conference in Red River, adding that no bystanders were injured. Of the three killed,…

May

29

2023

By The African Mirror

Putin congratulates ‘dear friend’ Erdogan for winning Turkish election

WORLD

RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin congratulated his "dear friend" Tayyip Erdogan who claimed victory in Turkey's presidential election, saying the win was evidence the Turkish people appreciated Erdogan's independent foreign policy. "The election victory was a natural result of your selfless work as the head of the Republic of Turkey, clear evidence of the support of the Turkish people for your efforts to strengthen state sovereignty and conduct an independent foreign policy," Putin said in a message to Erdogan, according to the Kremlin. "We highly appreciate your personal contribution to the strengthening of friendly Russian-Turkish relations and mutually beneficial cooperation in…