2LT International News

SpaceX marks new milestone with successful Starship mission

BROWNSVILLE, Texas: SpaceX launched another of its massive Starship rockets on a test flight Monday, completing a journey halfway around the world and deploying mock satellites along the way. The 403-foot (123-meter) rocket — the largest and most powerful ever built — lifted off from SpaceX's Starbase site in southern Texas, soaring into the evening sky. Its booster separated and made a controlled descent into the Gulf of Mexico, while the s...

Gen Z-led uprising in Madagascar forces country’s president to flee

Oct 16,2025

ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar: Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina said late on October 13 that he fled the country “to protect his life” following a military rebellion,...

Ceasefire offers brief calm amid unresolved questions on Gaza’s future

JERUSALEM, Israel: Israel and Hamas took a cautious first step toward implementing a fragile Gaza ceasefire on Monday, exchanging hostages and prisoners as part...

Defiant China urges talks as Trump threatens massive tariff hike

BEIJING, China: China signaled on October 12 that it would not back down in the face of President Donald Trump’s threat to impose 100...

Ukraine endures new energy strikes as Russia raises missile fears

KYIV, Ukraine: Russia launched another wave of overnight strikes on Ukraine’s power grid, intensifying its campaign to cripple the country’s energy infrastructure ahead of...

France’s new government seeks to calm markets, end chaos

PARIS, France: France’s newly reappointed Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu unveiled his new government on October 12, facing urgent pressure to deliver a workable budget...

Dutch move to control Nexperia deepens Western chip security rift

Oct 15,2025

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands: The Dutch government has moved to take control of chipmaker Nexperia over concerns that sensitive technology could be transferred to its Chinese...

From churches to mosques, global worshippers face growing threats

LONDON, U.K. Every week, hundreds of millions of people around the world gather in churches, mosques, synagogues, and temples to pray in peace. But...

Two jurors regret Weinstein guilty vote, cite pressure from peers

NEW YORK CITY, New York: Two jurors who helped convict former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault in June now say they regret...

Washington vows retaliation if nations back UN shipping plan

Oct 14,2025

WASHINGTON, D.C.: The United States warned it could impose visa restrictions, port bans, and sanctions on countries that back a United Nations plan to...

Google flags major cyberattack on Oracle tools affecting many firms

WASHINGTON, D.C.: Google said that more than 100 companies may have been affected by a sweeping hacking campaign targeting Oracle’s suite of business software,...

Jubilation as Israeli hostages are reunited with families

Hamas released all 20 remaining living hostages held in Gaza on Monday, while Israel began releasing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners as part of a ceasefire pausing two years of war that...

Drone violations part of campaign to divide Europe, EC President warns

STRASBOURG, France: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned this week that a wave of recent drone incursions and other airspace violations across...

Barroso’s exit opens new Supreme Court vacancy for President Lula

BRASILIA, Brazil: Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Luis Roberto Barroso announced this week that he will step down from the court — well before his...

Fifteen months after defeat, Le Pen says RN’s moment is near in France

PARIS, France: After failing to win a majority in last year’s snap legislative election, French far-right leader Marine Le Pen said her party’s victory...

US seeks to curb China’s flight access amid growing trade tensions

Oct 13,2025

WASHINGTON, D.C: This week, the Trump administration proposed banning Chinese airlines from flying through Russian airspace on routes to and from the United States,...

Disillusioned youth sit out Cameroon’s election as Biya seeks 8th term

YAOUNDE, Cameroon: As Cameroon prepares to head to the polls on Sunday, many young people say they will sit out the vote, convinced that...

US pullback triggers massive UN peacekeeping reduction

NEW YORK CITY, New York: The United Nations will begin a sweeping reduction of its global peacekeeping force in the coming months, with thousands...

Argentina jails attacker in failed 2022 Cristina Fernández shooting

Oct 12,2025

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina: An Argentine court has sentenced a man to 10 years in prison for attempting to assassinate former President Cristina Fernández de...

Bloomberg says Ronaldo first footballer to reach billionaire mark

NEW YORK CITY, New York: Cristiano Ronaldo has become the first footballer in history to reach billionaire status, according to the latest Bloomberg Billionaires...

Chad accuses African Parks of neglect, revokes control of parks

DAKAR, Senegal: Chad has revoked the mandate of African Parks, a non-profit conservation group associated with Prince Harry, to manage several of its key...