South Africa's ANC marks its 112th anniversary ahead of tough election year January 12, 2024 at 11:46PM

South Africa's ruling party African National Congress is celebrating its 112th anniversary ahead of the upcoming national elections. President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is seeking a second term, will outline the party's program for the year. The ANC is facing criticism for failing to deliver basic services to the country's poor majority, as well as allegations of corruption. Polls suggest the party may struggle to gain more than 50% of the vote for the first time in its reign.

Turkey launches airstrikes against Kurdish militants in Iraq and Syria after 9 soldiers killed January 12, 2024 at 11:16PM

Turkey's Defense Ministry conducted airstrikes targeting Kurdish militants in Iraq and Syria following an attack on a Turkish military base. The airstrikes aimed to eliminate terrorist attacks against Turkey and ensure border security. The Turkish government has been launching strikes against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a banned Kurdish separatist group. Militants linked to the PKK made an attempt to breach a Turkish base in northern Iraq, as reported by Turkish officials. This incident resulted in the death of six soldiers. The additional clashes claimed the lives of six more Turkish soldiers.

Russia may launch naval base in Georgian breakaway region in 2024 January 11, 2024 at 11:47PM

A Russian naval base in Abkhazia, a breakaway territory internationally recognised as part of Georgia, may become operational in 2024, Russian state news agency RIA quoted Abkhazia's security council as saying on Friday.Russian and Abkhazian authorities agreed in October that Russia could open a permanent naval base in the town of Ochamchire.RIA quoted the secretary of Abkhazia's security council, Sergei Shamba, as saying that construction of the base had not yet begun, but that "its operation may begin this year".

China media warns against taking China's Indian Ocean research as threats January 11, 2024 at 11:07PM

Chinese state media warned on Friday that a report by a prominent US think tank on the military uses of Chinese scientific research across the Indian Ocean gave "ammunition" to countries bent on concocting threats from China. The report this week by the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) "comes at a time when some countries need to manufacture a 'China threat' narrative in the Indian Ocean region and provides them with ammunition", the state-controlled tabloid Global Times said in an editorial.