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Pentagon chief Hegseth to headline Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, China sends only scholars
SINGAPORE, May 29 — Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth is the headline speaker at Asia’s premier defence summit opening today, but China’s top officials aren’t expected despite weighty questions like Taiwan and the war in Iran. Beijing’s defence minister is to
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Climate change is shrinking the safe window for Haj, study warns
MECCA, May 29 — Climate change is gradually shrinking the times of year when the annual Muslim Haj pilgrimage can take place in safe weather conditions, according to a new study published today. The Haj in western Saudi Arabia, one
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WHO chief says Ebola ‘can be stopped’ as he lands in DR Congo
KINSHASA, May 29 — The UN health chief said yesterday the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo which has claimed over 200 lives can be stopped, as he arrived to oversee the fight against the highly infectious disease.
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Lebanon condemns ‘collective punishment’ after deadly Israeli raids
BEIRUT, May 29 — Israel pounded south Lebanon with deadly strikes and widened its offensive with the first raid near Beirut in weeks where authorities said a woman and two children were killed despite a ceasefire. The attack near the
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US, Iran close in on 60-day truce deal, but Trump says he is ‘not satisfied’ yet
TEHRAN, May 29 — The United States and Iran closed in on a framework for a ceasefire extension detail yesterday but President Donald Trump has yet to approve any agreement, US officials said. US sources told AFP earlier that the
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UK risks ‘lost generation’ as youth unemployment nears one million, says govt report
LONDON, May 28 — Britain risks creating a “lost generation” as the number of young people out of work, education and training nears one million and is set to keep rising, a government-commissioned review said today. Without action, the number
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US strikes Iran, triggering retaliation on military base in major escalation since ceasefire
TEHRAN, May 28 — The United States struck southern Iran today, drawing retaliation from Tehran against a US military base, in the most serious clashes since an April ceasefire began. The fighting, which drew in US ally Kuwait, threatened to jettison
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Thai court dismisses royal defamation case against ex-opposition leader Thanathorn in rare ruling
BANGKOK, May 28 — A Thai court today dismissed a royal defamation case against a former opposition leader over comments he made during the Covid-19 pandemic, in a rare ruling in favour of a prominent government critic. Thailand’s strict lese majeste
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Trump appears to threaten to ‘blow up’ ally Oman
WASHINGTON, May 28 — President Donald Trump yesterday appeared to threaten to attack US ally Oman if it sides with Iran over reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Trump said Oman must “behave” or he would “blow them up,” when he was
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Israel declares southern Lebanon combat zones, urges mass evacuation ahead of strikes
BEIRUT, May 28 — Israel yesterday declared all areas south of Lebanon’s Zahrani River, which runs roughly 40 kilometres (25 miles) from the border, “combat zones” and urged residents to evacuate ahead of strikes against Hezbollah. The first such sweeping warning
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