By LOU KESTEN, BASSEM MROUE AND JON GAMBRELL BEIRUT (AP) — A strike Thursday by a suspected Iranian-made drone killed a U.S. contractor and wounded five American troops and another contractor in northeast Syria, the Pentagon said. American forces said they retaliated soon after with “precision airstrikes” in Syria targeting facilities used by groups affiliated…

A pension reform bill raising the minimum retirement age from 62 to 64 in France was passed into law Monday after a no-confidence motion failed to pass the National Assembly. The vote was planned late last week after President Emmanuel Macron’s chosen prime minister, Élisabeth Borne, used a procedural tactic to prematurely curtail debate on the bill. …

(CNSNews.com) – Leo Varadkar, the gay Taoiseach—or prime minister—of Ireland, celebrated St. Patrick Day’s with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris by attending a breakfast convened at the Vice President’s official residence in Washington, D.C. Harris concluded her introduction of Varadkar by toasting him and his partner, Matthew Barrett. “I will now raise a glass to toast the…

1440 NEWS US officials released video yesterday showing the moments a Russian fighter jet engaged with a US drone over the Black Sea Tuesday, capturing the most direct interaction between the two countries since Russia invaded Ukraine last February. The tape reveals two Russian Su-27 jets intercepting an uncrewed MQ-9 Reaper (watch here), a type of…

1440 News French President Emmanuel Macron’s pension plan heads for final parliamentary votes today after a joint parliamentary committee advanced the final text of the bill. More than 1 million French workers have so far marched nationwide to protest against the proposal to raise the retirement age by two years to 64 by 2030. A conservative Senate majority is expected…

The Hill Investors on Wednesday were so spooked about cracks opening in the global financial system, including at 166-year-old Credit Suisse, that Switzerland’s central bank threw a liquidity lifeline to the systemically important institution, which last year reported $569 billion in assets and is now able to borrow up to 50 billion francs ($53.7 billion)…

By Hannah Ng and Tiffany Meier | Epoch Times The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has reportedly set up defense mobilization offices across China in recent weeks—signaling that the regime is preparing for war against the United States and its allies, according to China expert and author, Bradley Thayer. “[Chinese leader] Xi is attempting to prepare the Chinese people…

1440 News At least nine civilians were killed and hundreds of thousands were left without heat or electricity after waves of Russian missiles and a number of explosive drones landed in cities across eastern Ukraine. Reports suggest the bombardment included at least a handful of Russia’s high-tech hypersonic Kinzhal missiles. Capable of traveling more than…

HAMBURG, Germany (AP) — A former member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses shot dead six people at a hall belonging to the congregation in the German city of Hamburg before killing himself after police arrived, authorities said Friday. Police said an unborn baby also died, without clarifying whether the baby’s mother was among the dead. Eight…

A Belarusian court ruled that human rights activist and 2022 Nobel Peace Prize winner Ales Bialiatski, along with his colleagues, were guilty of smuggling, organizing, and financing public protests, among other crimes. Activists and opponents of the government say the sentences were politically motivated. He was convicted of smuggling and financing “actions grossly violating public…

When King Charles III is officially crowned as king at Westminster Abbey on May 6 — the British monarchy’s first coronation ceremony in seven decades — President Biden is not expected to be among the world leaders in attendance, according to a report. “That does not feel like an event Joe Biden will attend,” a…

by Angeline Tan Following Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s February 15 announcement of her resignation, the race for both the leadership of the Scottish National Party (SNP) and Scotland as a country began. Although political pundits have singled out Cabinet Secretary Kate Forbes as a potential successor, Forbes’ Presbyterian beliefs and opposition to LGBTQ+ and other…

By Jack Phillips | Epoch Times Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday signed a measure to formally suspend the last remaining nuclear arms pact with the United States amid high tensions over the war in Ukraine. Russia will no longer take part in the New START treaty, according to the bill he signed that was published by the…

Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday ordered officials to increase security on the border of Ukraine as a flurry of drones flew into southern and western Russia, including one that crashed 60 miles from Moscow. Russia believes a Ukrainian-made drone found near Moscow was likely intended to hit an energy facility. Ukraine has not taken responsibility for the strike….

by Selwyn Duke In the 1992 book The End of History and the Last Man, philosopher Francis Fukuyama posited that “liberal democracy” would become the world’s unassailable, default norm. Since then, many would argue, we’ve gotten much liberalism and the appearance of democracy, but the substance doesn’t match the style. And a recent study of liberty in the…

1440 News At least 59 migrants drowned Sunday attempting to land on Italy’s southeastern Calabrian coast several days after setting out from Izmir, Turkey. Reports suggest the wooden craft was carrying at least 170 migrants from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, and Iran. Police arrested one survivor believed to be one of the boat’s traffickers. See images here. The…

1440 News The US Department of Energy concluded the most likely origin of the COVID-19 pandemic was an unintentional lab leak in China, according to sources citing a classified report. The findings reverse a 2021 analysis from the department but were said to have included new intelligence; specific details were not provided. The report adds to…

The New York Post On the eve of the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, China has called for a cease-fire between the two sides and for peace talks to commence as part of a 12-point plan to end the war. China’s Foreign Ministry revealed the plan on Friday, Beijing time, and also called for…