Feb 15 Japan loses spot as world’s third-largest economy, slips into recession By Yuri Kageyama, Associated Press The government reported the economy shrank at an annual rate of 0.4% in October to December, though it grew 1.9% for all of 2023. Japan's economy was the 2nd largest until 2010, when it was overtaken by China's. Continue reading
Feb 15 Israeli airstrikes kill 10 civilians in Lebanon, state media reports. Hezbollah vows to retaliate By Mohammed Zaatari, Bassem Mroue, Associated Press Hezbollah has vowed to retaliate for Wednesday's strikes, which hit in the city of Nabatiyeh and a village in southern Lebanon just hours after projectiles from Lebanon killed an Israeli soldier and wounded eight. Continue reading
Feb 15 6 people killed in missile strike in Russian city of Belgorod near Ukrainian border, 18 injured, officials say By Illia Novikov, Emma Burrows, Associated Press Hours earlier, Russia fired cruise and ballistic missiles at a broad area of Ukraine, hitting multiple regions after a midnight strike in Ukraine's northeast killed four people in an apartment building. Continue reading
Feb 15 At Munich Security Conference, U.S. to confront Trump-driven turmoil By Matthew Lee, Associated Press The annual event kicks off Friday after former President Donald Trump threatened not to come to the defense of European allies in the event of an attack by Russia. Continue reading
Feb 15 Israeli forces storm main hospital in southern Gaza, seeking remains of hostages taken by Hamas By Wafaa Shurafa, Bassem Mroue, Melanie Lidman, Associated Press Thursday's raid came a day after the army sought to evacuate thousands of displaced people who had taken shelter at the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. Continue reading
Feb 14 Myanmar says newly activated conscription law will draft 5,000 people a month. Some think of fleeing By Grant Peck, Associated Press The surprise weekend announcement on conscription appeared to confirm that the military has been stretched thin by increasing pressure from armed pro-democracy resistance forces. Continue reading
Feb 14 Watch 6:09 National security warning reportedly involves Russian space weapon By Nick Schifrin, Ian Couzens, Ted Everett One of the handful of members of Congress with the most access to America’s secrets warned of a "serious national security threat" on Wednesday. Leaders have since described it as “serious but not urgent.” Nick Schifrin reports. Continue watching
Feb 14 Watch 5:53 Former general linked to human rights abuses elected as Indonesia’s next president By Geoff Bennett, Dan Sagalyn Prabowo Subianto appears to be the winner of Indonesia's presidential election. Prabowo currently serves as Defense Minister and was accused of major human rights abuses, including overseeing the abduction of democracy activists. Indonesia is the world's third-largest democracy and sits… Continue watching
Feb 14 UN chief warns climate chaos and food crises threaten global peace: ‘Empty bellies fuel unrest’ By Edith M. Lederer, Associated Press Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told a high-level U,N. meeting Tuesday that climate disasters imperil food production and "empty bellies fuel unrest."… Continue reading
Feb 14 Analysis from Japan’s lunar spacecraft could shed light on moon’s origin By Mari Yamaguchi, Associated Press A Japan space agency official says an unmanned spacecraft that landed on the moon last month has captured and transmitted data analyzing 10 lunar rocks, a greater-than-expected achievement. Continue reading