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Fear and silence mark Myanmar’s general election under military rule
YANGON, Dec 27 — Campaigning ahead of Myanmar’s general election that begins on Sunday has been shorn of the energy of previous polls, residents said, as voting is scheduled amid a civil war and a humanitarian crisis as well as
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Chernobyl’s safety shield was meant to last a century — war has changed that
CHERNOBYL, Dec 26 — Inside an abandoned control room at Ukraine’s Chernobyl nuclear power plant, a worker in an orange hardhat gazed at a grey wall of seemingly endless dials, screens and gauges that were supposed to prevent disaster. The
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A year after Jeju Air disaster, victims’ families say truth remains out of reach
SEOUL, Dec 26 — A South Korean investigation into the Jeju Air crash that killed 179 people is set to miss a one-year deadline to release a progress report, two officials said, as frustrated relatives of the victims continue to
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Russian nuclear-capable bombers conduct ‘scheduled’ flight over waters near Scandinavia, prompting foreign jet escort
MOSCOW, Dec 25 — Russian nuclear-capable bombers conducted a “scheduled” flight over the Norwegian and Barents Seas, prompting “fighter jets of foreign countries” to escort them, Russia’s Defence Ministry said today, according to Russian news agencies. Neither the date of
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Putin hails ‘invincible friendship’ and ‘militant fraternity’ with North Korea in New Year letter
SEOUL, Dec 25 — Russia’s President Vladimir Putin touted an “invincible friendship” with North Korea in a New Year letter to leader Kim Jong Un, state media reported today. In the message, received in Pyongyang last week, Putin praised the
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Leo XIV celebrates first Christmas as pope, revives Christmas Day service tradition
VATICAN CITY, Dec 25 — Pope Leo XIV held the first Christmas mass of his pontificate yesterday, greeting thousands of faithful gathered in St Peter’s Square before the service. During the mass, Leo said Christmas was a feast of “faith,
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Trump and Prabowo to sign Indonesia-US trade deal in January after resolving tariff disputes
JAKARTA, Dec 23 —Indonesia and the US have agreed on all substantial issues for a tariff deal, paving the way for the signing of an agreement by presidents Prabowo Subianto and Donald Trump at the end of January, Indonesia’s chief
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Cambodia wants Kuala Lumpur as neutral ground for border talks with Thailand, cites ‘safety concerns’
PHNOM PENH, Dec 23 — Cambodia’s defence ministry has asked Thailand to hold bilateral talks in the neutral venue of Kuala Lumpur, according to a letter seen by AFP on Tuesday, with the countries set to negotiate truce terms after
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After seizing two vessels, US forces chase ‘dark fleet’ tied to Venezuela’s oil exports
WASHINGTON, Dec 22 — The US Coast Guard was pursuing another allegedly sanctioned tanker on Sunday, a US official told AFP, as Washington ramps up its pressure campaign targeting Venezuela’s vital oil sector. The “active pursuit” in the Caribbean Sea
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Australia PM orders police, intelligence review after deadly Bondi Beach shooting
SYDNEY, Dec 21 — Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said today he has ordered a review into the police and intelligence services after two gunmen shot and killed 15 people at a Jewish festival on Bondi Beach. A father and
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