Hong Kong Holds Rate as Fed Presses Pause on Hiking Cycle
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority maintained its base rate at 5.75% on Thursday as the US Federal Reserve
2023-09-21 13:49
Azerbaijan hails end of Armenian separatists’ advance in Nagorno-Karabakh
Azerbaijan's president on Wednesday hailed the country's restoration to "full sovereignty" over the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region as ethnic Armenian forces agreed to lay down their weapons. Authorities in the Armenian region declared that the local defence force will disarm and withdraw all weaponry under a Russia-mediated ceasefire following the latest bout of fighting in the decades-long separatist conflict. President Ilham Aliyev in a televised address hailed his soldiers, while offering the ethnic Armenians of the Nagorno-Karabakh region prospects of cooperation, reconciliation and joint development. "In just one day, Azerbaijan fulfilled all the tasks set as part of local anti-terrorist measures" and "restored its sovereignty", the president said, adding he now wished to integrate Karabakh's population and turn the region into "paradise". He said Azerbaijan had nothing against Karabakh's Armenian people – "they are our citizens" – but only against their "criminal" separatist leadership. His words appeared aimed at addressing allegations by Armenian leaders that Baku planned to "ethnically cleanse" Karabakh's 120,000-strong Armenian population amid decades of mistrust between the two nations. The Azerbaijan army on Tuesday launched an "anti-terrorist" operation, unleashing an artillery barrage and drone attacks against outnumbered and undersupplied pro-Armenian forces. Nagorno-Karabakh human rights ombudsman Gegham Stepanyan said at least 200 people, including 10 civilians, were killed and more than 400 others were wounded in the fighting. He said earlier that children were among the dead and wounded. Russia and America condemned the “bloodshed” and called for an “immediate” end to hostilities between Azerbaijan and Armenians in the contested region. French president Emmanuel Macron spoke with Mr Aliyev and "condemned Azerbaijan's decision to use force ... at the risk of worsening the humanitarian crisis" and "compromising ongoing efforts to achieve a fair and lasting peace", his office said. Russian peacekeepers in a statement on Thursday said they have taken in about 5,000 Karabakh residents after evacuating them from dangerous areas. Thousands of Armenians also gathered at the airport of the regional capital, Stepanakert, in a bid to flee the conflict. Armenian prime minister Nikol Pashinyan in an address to the nation said the fighting decreased following the truce, emphasizing that Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh are fully responsible for its residents’ security. "If peacekeepers have proposed a peace deal, it means that they completely and without any reservations accepted the responsibility of ensuring the security of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians, and provide the conditions and the rights for them to live on their land and in their homes safely," he said, according to the Associated Press. Mr Pashinyan, who has previously recognised Azerbaijan's sovereignty over Nagorno-Karabakh, said Armenia wouldn't be drawn into the fighting. He said his government didn't take part in negotiating the deal, but "has taken note" of the decision made by the region's separatist authorities. Protesters rallied in the Armenian capital of Yerevan for a second straight day Wednesday, blocking streets and demanding that authorities defend Armenians in Karabakh. Azerbaijan's move to reclaim control over Nagorno-Karabakh raised concerns that a full-scale war in the region could resume between the two nations, which have been locked in a struggle over Nagorno-Karabakh since a separatist war there ended in 1994. During another war that lasted for six weeks in 2020, Azerbaijan reclaimed broad swaths of Nagorno-Karabakh and adjacent territories that were held for decades by Armenian forces. More than 6,700 people died in the fighting, which ended with a Russian-brokered peace agreement. Moscow deployed about 2,000 peacekeeping troops to the region. Read More Ceasefire agreed after Azerbaijan unleashes military strikes in Nagorno-Karabakh Why new fighting in Azerbaijan's troubled region may herald a new war Nagorno-Karabakh: Fears of full-scale war as Azerbaijan launches attack on Armenian positions The Body in the Woods | An Independent TV Original Documentary The harrowing discovery at centre of The Independent’s new documentary
2023-09-21 13:29
Iran's president says US should ease sanctions to demonstrate it wants to return to nuclear deal
Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi says that relations with the United States can move forward if the Biden administration demonstrates it wants to return to the 2015 nuclear deal, and a first step should be easing sanctions
2023-09-21 13:29
Analysis-Fed's hawkish stance spooks investors, though some say peak rates near
By Davide Barbuscia and David Randall NEW YORK The Federal Reserve’s plans for a prolonged period of elevated
2023-09-21 13:28
SimScale Announces A.I. Based Physics Simulation Launch
MUNICH--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep 21, 2023--
2023-09-21 13:26
'AGT' Season 18: Disappointed fans request judges to buzz Reba McEntire's performance during Results Show as they call her 'overrated'
Reba McEntire performs on final ‘AGT’ Results Show, fans request to buzz her off stage
2023-09-21 13:24
South Korea raids US military bases in drugs probe
Some 17 soldiers and five other people allegedly smuggled or used synthetic marijuana via military mail.
2023-09-21 13:24
Zelensky tries to counter war fatigue in Washington trip
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky makes his second wartime visit to Washington on Thursday in a bid to win fresh aid to fight Russian invaders despite signs...
2023-09-21 13:24
Stocks retreat, US yields advance, dollar strengthens on hawkish Fed
By Xie Yu HONG KONG Asian stocks followed Wall Street's lead on Thursday, dipping across the board as
2023-09-21 13:23
Sharp has hat trick, Fagundez scores winner as Galaxy rally past Minnesota United 4-3
Billy Sharp had his first career hat trick and Diego Fagundez scored the winner as the Los Angeles Galaxy rallied from a two-goal deficit to beat Minnesota United 4-3
2023-09-21 13:23
Poland to stop supplying weapons to Ukraine over grain row
It comes as tensions rapidly escalate between the two countries - historically close allies.
2023-09-21 13:21
Asian Games offer a few sports you may not recognize. How about kabaddi, sepaktakraw, and wushu?
If you are bored with day-in, day-out sports like basketball or swimming or volleyball, then check out the Asian Games when they open in Hangzhou, China
2023-09-21 13:19
