Skip to main content

11 teenagers wounded in mass shooting at birthday gathering in US state of Georgia

Eleven teenagers were wounded in a mass shooting at a birthday gathering in the US state of Georgia, with two of them in critical condition, media reports said on Monday. The shooting occurred around midnight during a “large gathering” at Carolyn Crayton Park in Macon, about 85 miles (137 kilometres) southeast of Atlanta, CBS News reported, citing the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office. The victims were four 18-year-old men, two 18-year-old women and five 17-year-old boys. An 18-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy remained in critical condition, while the other nine victims were stable. Bibb County Sheriff David Davis said the gathering appeared to be a birthday party that had originally been planned at another location before attendees moved to the park. Another group later arrived, and an argument between the two groups escalated into gunfire, Davis said. All 11 people wounded were part of the birthday gathering. No arrests had been made, and the investigation r...

US, Russian officials hold high-stakes peace talks without Ukraine

Top US and Russian diplomats met on Tuesday in Saudi Arabia, aiming to discuss the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and explore ways to restore deteriorating relations between their countries. This marks the first high-level meeting between the two nations since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine nearly three years ago. The discussions were held at Diriyah Palace in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, under the leadership of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The talks, which are part of an ongoing diplomatic push, are expected to address the war in Ukraine, with a focus on a potential ceasefire, and pave the way for future negotiations, including a potential summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. A significant aspect of the meeting is that no Ukrainian officials were present. This has raised concerns among Kyiv and its European allies, who have been vocal about not being sidelined in the peace process. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in a statement, made it clear that his country would not accept any outcome from the talks unless Kyiv is directly involved in the process. According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, the primary objective of the meeting was to "restore the entire range of U.S.-Russian relations" and to discuss broader security concerns, beyond Ukraine. However, US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce highlighted that while Ukraine was not part of the talks, any meaningful peace negotiations must include the country. This meeting follows a recent series of diplomatic efforts by US President Trump, including phone calls with both Putin and Zelenskyy last week, in which he urged them to end the fighting. In the wake of those conversations, the US and Russia are now taking steps to explore diplomatic avenues for de-escalation and stability in the region. The talks have drawn attention to Saudi Arabia’s growing role in global diplomacy, especially given its neutral stance and diplomatic ties with both Russia and the US. The kingdom has also been involved in other high-profile diplomatic negotiations, including the recent prisoner swap between the US and Russia. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is positioning his country as a key player in efforts to resolve global conflicts. While the focus of the talks remains on Ukraine, experts also expect that a wide range of international security issues, including nuclear concerns and economic relations, will be discussed. In a statement, Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia's sovereign wealth fund, underscored the importance of US-Russia cooperation, saying, “Good U.S.-Russia relations are vital for addressing global challenges and resolving conflicts.” The meeting also comes at a time when the war in Ukraine has shown little sign of ending. Russian forces continue to launch attacks, with reports of drones striking Ukrainian civilian targets overnight. The Ukrainian military stated that Russian troops launched 176 drones at Ukraine, most of which were either destroyed or disabled. Nonetheless, some drones did cause civilian casualties, highlighting the ongoing dangers of the conflict. While the talks in Riyadh represent a breakthrough in US-Russia diplomacy, the absence of direct Ukrainian involvement in the discussions has left many European leaders concerned about the direction of the peace process. French President Emmanuel Macron, who had spoken to both Trump and Zelenskyy, reaffirmed his commitment to a lasting peace, but emphasized that any agreement must involve Ukraine and ensure the country’s security.

from Latest World News, International News | Breaking World News https://ift.tt/Y7fh21P

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

At least 32 miners dead after bridge fails at cobalt site in southeast DR Congo

A bridge collapsed at a cobalt mine in southeast Democratic Republic of Congo killing at least 32 wildcat miners, a regional government official said Sunday. The bridge came down Saturday onto a flooded zone at the mine in Lualaba province, Roy Kaumba Mayonde, the provincial interior minister, told reporters. He said 32 bodies had been recovered and more were being searched for. The DRC produces more than 70 percent of the world supply of cobalt, which is essential for batteries used in electric cars, many laptop computers and mobile phones. More than 200,000 people are estimated to be working in giant illegal cobalt mines in the giant central African country. Local authorities said the bridge collapsed at the Kalando mine, about 42 kilometres (26 miles) southeast of the Lualaba provincial capital, Kolwezi. "Despite a formal ban on access to the site because of the heavy rain and the risk of a landslide, wildcat miners forced their way into the quarry," said Mayonde. He said ...

Vancouver tribunal says 'every dog is entitled to one bite' in injury case

A woman who sought nearly $5,000 in damages after being bitten by a dog on Christmas Eve has had her claim dismissed, after a British Columbia tribunal ruled the incident amounted to an accident — and that “every dog is entitled to one bite.” Ying Shen was bitten on the hand by a mini Australian Shepherd named Juliet as she stepped out of an elevator in her apartment building in Vancouver on 24 December 2022. The dog, which was leashed and accompanied by neighbour Jeffrey Dale Polo, bit Shen as the two passed each other in the corridor. According to the B.C. Civil Resolution Tribunal’s decision, Polo apologised, saying Juliet was “usually well behaved.” Shen sought medical attention that night at St. Paul’s Hospital, where she was treated for a superficial abrasion and given a tetanus shot. She later filed a report with the City of Vancouver. A bylaw officer determined that Juliet was not considered dangerous under city regulations, though the dog was found to be unlicensed. In his 5 M...

Arab countries, Pakistan likely to observe Eid on same day

The International Astronomy Centre confirmed on Wednesday that the crescent moon of Shawwal will be impossible to sight on Saturday, March 29, across all regions of the Arab and Islamic world. This is due to the moon setting before the sun, with the conjunction occurring after sunset. As a result, observing the crescent moon, whether by the naked eye, telescopes, or other means, will be unfeasible on March 29. For countries requiring an actual sighting to mark the start of Shawwal, Ramadan will likely extend to 30 days, with Eid Al Fitr falling on Monday, March 31. However, in some regions where the conjunction occurs before sunset, allowing the moon to set after sunset, some countries may choose to declare Eid on Sunday, March 30, following traditional moon-sighting practices. Notably, a partial solar eclipse will be visible at noon on Saturday in parts of the western Arab world, including Mauritania, Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. This event serves as definitive proof that the cresce...