US House passes debt limit deal as lawmakers race to avert default

WASHINGTON — The US House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday to pass a bill to suspend the nation’s debt limit through January 1, 2025, as lawmakers race to prevent a catastrophic

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Arab League support’s Egypt’s greening initiative

CAIRO — The Arab League on Wednesday affirmed its support for Egypt’s national initiative for smart green projects.The backing for Cairo’s efforts at this level was declared by the director general

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Fresh diplomatic gains must match action on the ground in Syria to end war

DAMASCUS — Action on the ground must match diplomacy’s steadily advancing gains towards ending the 12-year-old war in Syria, where violence is once again, killing a growing numbers of civilians, the

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Xi Jinping tells China’s national security chiefs to prepare for ‘worst case’ scenarios

HONG KONG — Chinese leader Xi Jinping has called on his top national security officials to think about “worst case” scenarios and prepare for “stormy seas,” as the ruling Communist Party hardens

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Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes begins 11-year prison sentence

WASHINGTON — Disgraced Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes has reported to the federal prison where she will serve an 11-year sentence.Holmes, 39, was convicted early last year on four counts of fraud

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US synagogue gunman driven by 'malice and hate'

PITTSBURG — A gunman who killed 11 worshippers at a Pittsburgh synagogue, in the deadliest antisemitic attack in US history acted with "malice and hatred", a court has heard.Prosecutors described

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North Korea says spy satellite launch failed

SEOUL — North Korea has said an accident happened as it planned to send up its first space satellite, causing it to crash into the sea.Pyongyang announced earlier it planned to launch a satellite by

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Man prises crocodile's jaws off his head at Australian resort

SYDNEY — An Australian man has escaped with his life after being attacked by a saltwater crocodile while snorkeling at an exclusive Queensland resort.Marcus McGowan, 51, has detailed how he managed to

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Clashes as Chinese Muslims protest to save 13th century mosque

BEIJING — Protesters have clashed with large numbers of police over the planned demolition of a mosque's dome in a largely-Muslim town in Yunnan, China.Social media videos showed crowds outside the

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China sends first civilian astronaut to space as Shenzhou-16 blasts off

BEIJING — China sent its first civilian astronaut into orbit on Tuesday, as it launched the Shenzhou-16 mission to its space station for its second in-orbit crew rotation, marking another step forward

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Covid-19: Top Chinese scientist says don’t rule out lab leak

LONDON — The possibility the Covid virus leaked from a laboratory should not be ruled out, a former top Chinese government scientist has told BBC News.As head of China's Center for Disease Control

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Russian air strikes target Kyiv for third night running

KYIV — Blasts were heard in Kyiv and several buildings were set ablaze after Russia targeted Ukraine's capital for the third night running.Officials say falling debris caused the blazes, as Ukraine's

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Fresh clashes as NATO troops called in to northern Kosovo towns

PRISTINA — NATO has condemned as “totally unacceptable” attacks by demonstrators in Kosovo that left some 25 of its peacekeepers injured.Police and NATO troops clashed with Serb protesters in the

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Lawmakers race to secure US debt deal votes as deadline looms

WASHINGTON — US President Joe Biden said he is optimistic that a bipartisan deal to temporarily suspend the nation’s debt ceiling will pass through Congress.The deal must pass in the narrowly-divided

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Explosions heard in Kyiv after intense drone attacks

KYIV — Explosions have been reported in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, following two nights of heavy drone strikes.The city's mayor, Vitali Klitschko, urged residents to take shelter and warned about

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Spain’s conservative opposition trounces Socialists in key local and regional elections

MADRID — The conservative Popular Party made significant gains but may need far right’s help to form a coalition and govern some regions.Spain’s opposition conservative Popular Party (PP)made significant

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Delhi police file rioting charges against India's top wrestlers

MUMBAI — Police in India's capital Delhi have filed cases including of rioting against the country's top wrestlers after they were detained during a protest.The protesters, including two Olympic

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Erdogan wins another term as Turkey’s president

ANKARA — Turkey Pesident Recep Tayyip Erdogan won reelection on Sunday.Chairman of Turkey's Supreme Election Council (YSK) announced that the incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been re-elected

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Preliminary Turkish election results show Erdogan leading in presidential runoff

ANKARA — Preliminary results in Turkey’s presidential runoff vote on Sunday showed President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ahead of his rival as the leader fights to stretch his rule into a third decade.With

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Despite ‘slightly’ improved food security in Yemen, hunger stalks millions

GENEVA — The food security situation in Yemen’s government-controlled districts “slightly improved” during the first five months of this year, but acute malnutrition is on the rise, UN agencies

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Texas House votes to impeach Trump ally Paxton

HOUSTON — Texas’ Republican-run House of Representatives has voted to impeach state Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, who is accused of bribery and abuse of public trust.Paxton, an ally of

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Stop tobacco farming, grow food instead, says WHO

GENEVA — With hunger spreading worldwide and tobacco responsible for eight million deaths each year, countries should stop subsidizing tobacco crops and help farmers grow food, the World Health Organization

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Pakistan slaps travel ban on ex-PM Imran Khan amid row with army

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan’s government has restricted former Prime Minister Imran Khan, his wife and hundreds of political aides from traveling abroad amid a standoff with the country’s powerful military,

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Terrifying moments as plane door opens midair during South Korea flight

SEOUL — A man has been arrested for opening the emergency door of an Asiana Airlines flight as it was landing in South Korea.All 194 passengers survived the flight, which landed safely but with its door

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Passenger arrested for opening plane door during South Korea flight

SEOUL — A man has been arrested for opening the emergency door of an Asiana Airlines flight as it was landing in South Korea.All 194 passengers survived the flight, which landed safely but with its door

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Russian rocket attack on Ukraine hospital kills two, injures many

KYIV — At least two people have been killed and 23 injured in a missile strike on a medical clinic in the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro, the regional governor says.Of the 23 injured, 21 are in hospital

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UK sees record net migration levels

LONDON — Net migration to Britain reached record levels last year, official figures showed on Thursday, putting pressure on the UK government that has made the issue a political touchstone.Britain saw

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Boycott calls cast shadow on India parliament opening

NEW DELHI — India's new parliament is set to be inaugurated this weekend amid a political row as 19 opposition parties say they will boycott the ceremony.Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate

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Three killed in shooting and stabbing attack central Japan

TOKYO — Three people have been killed in a stabbing and shooting attack in central Japan, local media say.A man in camouflage is said to have stabbed a woman and then used a hunting rifle in the city

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Tech troubles as DeSantis launches White House bid

WASHINGTON — Ron DeSantis's long-awaited entry into the 2024 race for the White House was hit by technical glitches after a Twitter livestream malfunctioned.It meant the Florida governor's bid

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German police conduct nationwide raids against climate activists

MUNICH — German investigators have launched a nationwide raid against members of the Last Generation climate activist group, the Munich State Prosecutor’s Office said Wednesday.A total of 15 properties

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Virgin Orbit: Branson’s rocket dream ends after mission failure

LOS ANGELES — Sir Richard Branson's rocket company Virgin Orbit has shut down, just months after a major mission failure.It comes weeks after the firm set up to launch satellites paused operations

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Australia's Albanese announces migration deal with India

SYDNEY — India and Australia have announced a migration deal as they aim to strengthen their economic cooperation.The announcement came after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his counterpart Anthony

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Swiss court clears Islamic scholar Tariq Ramadan of rape charges

GENEVA — Renowned Islamic studies scholar Tariq Ramadan has been cleared of rape and sexual coercion by a Swiss court.Ramadan, who is Swiss, is the grandson of Hassan Al-Banna, the founder of Egypt's

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US distances itself from Belgorod incursion into Russia

WASHINGTON — The US has distanced itself from an incursion into Russia — which Moscow says ended in the defeat of armed insurgents who entered from Ukraine.Parts of the border region of Belgorod came

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South Africa could become failed state, says ANC’s Mbalula

JOHANNESBURG — South Africa could become a “failed state” but has yet to reach that point, a senior official of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) has said.The admission by ANC Secretary

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Prince Harry loses challenge to pay for police protection in UK

LONDON — Prince Harry has lost a legal challenge over his bid to be allowed to make private payments for police protection.His lawyers wanted a judicial review of the rejection of his offer to pay for

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Hungary and Poland rally allies to defend veto power in EU foreign policy

BRUSSELS — Hungary and Poland are mounting a push to retain the unanimity rule in the European Union's foreign and security policy, a blunt response to a recently formed coalition that is pressing

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Turkey runoff: Third-placed candidate backs Erdogan

ISTANBUL — Turkey’s third-placed presidential election candidate, Sinan Ogan, on Monday backed frontrunner Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a boost ahead of the scheduled runoff vote.Ogan, who received 5.17%

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India wrestlers risk Olympic dream for '#MeToo' protest

NEW DELHI — For Vinesh Phogat, the year 2023 was crucial in every sense.With just three months left for the World Championships and the Asian Games, the Indian wrestler would have been at the peak of

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El Salvador: Renewed state of emergency undermines right to fair trial

SAN SALVADOR — The decision by El Salvador to extend a state of emergency aimed at cracking down on gangs undermines the right to fair trial, three experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council said

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Braverman in trouble over speeding scandal

LONDON — Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is set to consult ethics advisor after British Home Secretary Suella Braverman was accused of seeking preferential treatment to handle her speeding violations.Braverman

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Wagner chief vows to hand Bakhmut to Russian army by June

MOSCOW —The head of Russia’s Wagner mercenary group has vowed to transfer control of the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut to the Russian army by June 1.Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin claimed to have captured

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Biden's Papua New Guinea no-show takes shine off Pacific pact

HIROSHIMA — The people of Papua New Guinea were ready to party in honor of a special guest — the president of the United States.Monday was even declared a public holiday, but the guest of honor was

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Thousands mass for pro-EU rally in Moldovan capital amid tensions with Russia

CHISINAU — A huge pro-EU rally has taken place in Moldova's capital Chisinau, organized by the country's President Maia Sandu.An estimated 75,000 people turned out to support Ms Sandu's well-publicized

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Biden and McCarthy seek to break debt ceiling impasse

HIROSHIMA — President Joe Biden and top Republican Kevin McCarthy have spoken on the phone, in a change of tone in stalled talks on lifting the US debt ceiling.McCarthy said his call with Biden, who

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Army fights to keep Wadi Saeedna airbase, residents say

KHARTOUM — Sudan’s army is resisting an attempt by paramilitaries to advance towards its main airbase near the capital Khartoum, residents have said.The airfield is used by the military to carry out

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Mitsotakis center-right leads in Greece but has no majority, exit poll suggests

ATHENS — Greek Prime Minister and New Democracy conservative party leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis are set to win Sunday's elections but are well short of the majority for an outright victory, an initial

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Ukraine war: Kyiv rejects Wagner claim over Bakhmut

KYIV — The battle for Bakhmut has become the longest of the war that Russia launched last yearRussian mercenaries are in full control of the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, their chief said — a claim immediately

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Greece recovers hundreds of stolen artefacts

ATHENS — Greece has been spearheading efforts to force museums and private collections to return stolen artefactsGreece says it has recovered hundreds of looted artefacts, including a 2nd-Century bronze

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Japan’s pacifism hangs in balance as China and North Korea threats loom

HIROSHIMA — Toshiyuki Mimaki said he remembers crying as he looked up at a blackened sunset after the nuclear bomb hit Hiroshima.He was only three years old at the time, but he remembers the dazed and

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Man climbs BBC headquarters scaffolding and hammers at statue

LONDON — A man has climbed scaffolding at the front of the BBC’s headquarters in London and hit a controversial statue with a hammer in an apparent protest.There have been calls for Eric Gill’s Prospero

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Spanish elections reopen deep wounds, as ETA terrorists run for political office

MADRID — The explosion lasted for just a few seconds.It was March 1978, and workers at the Lémoniz nuclear power plant in the Basque Country, northern Spain, were finishing their shift when the blast

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Mocha death toll rises sharply in Myanmar

YANGON — At least 145 people are now known to have been killed in Myanmar (Burma) by a powerful cyclone, the country's military rulers have said.They say most of the victims of Cyclone Mocha that

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Iran executes three over anti-government protests

TEHRAN — Authorities in Iran have executed three men sentenced to death in connection with the nationwide anti-government protests last year, the judiciary says.The three were convicted over their alleged

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The Kerala Story: Supreme Court lifts West Bengal's ban on controversial film

NEW DELHI — India's Supreme Court has stayed a ban imposed by West Bengal state on a controversial film that shows three women from the country joining the ISIS terror group.The court also asked

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Meghan and Prince Harry looked nervous, says New York taxi driver

NEW YORK — A New York City cab driver who drove the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for about 10 minutes on Tuesday night as they tried to shake off photographers has said the couple were clearly nervous

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US court approves extradition of 26/11 Mumbai attack accused

WASHINGTON — A US court has approved the extradition of Chicago businessman Tahawwur Rana to India where he is wanted for his role in the 2008 terror attack in Mumbai. Rana was convicted in 2011 of

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Thai opposition parties form coalition to take on military establishment

BANGKOK — Opposition parties intent on preventing the military establishment from remaining in power in Thailand have formed a coalition with the hopes of forming a new government that could radically

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Intense flooding claims lives in northern Italy

BOLOGNA — Floods in northern Italy have killed at least three people and led to thousands being evacuated, after a period of heavy rainfall.Authorities announced on Wednesday three lives were lost in

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Melbourne bus crash: School children suffer 'life-changing' injuries

SYDNEY — A group of primary school children has suffered traumatic, "life-changing" injuries after a horrific bus crash in Melbourne, Australia.The bus was carrying 45 students when police

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Quad summit in Australia canceled after Joe Biden shortens Asia trip

SYDNEY — A planned summit of Quad leaders from the United States, India, Australia, and Japan in Sydney next week has been canceled after US President Joe Biden pulled out of his visit, Australia’s

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Asante King asks British Museum to return gold to Ghana

LONDON — The ruler of Ghana's Asante people has asked the British Museum to return gold items in its collection to his country.The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, recently met the museum's

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French Resistance man breaks silence over German prisoners executed in 1944

PARIS — Excavation work is to start soon to find the bodies of up to 40 German soldiers who were executed by the French Resistance in June 1944.It follows the testimony of an ex-Resistance fighter who

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OpenAI CEO calls for US to regulate artificial intelligence

WASHINGTON — The creator of the advanced chatbot ChatGPT has called on US lawmakers to regulate artificial intelligence (AI).-Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, testified before

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Kyiv comes under heavy missile and drone attack

KYIV — The Ukrainian capital Kyiv has been subjected to an air attack by Russia, described by one official as "exceptional in density".At least three people were injured in the barrage, which

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Singapore renters sound the alarm as prices surge

SINGAPORE — At the end of last year, the lease on Eva Teh's flat in central Singapore came up for renewal.The Singaporean and her husband were expecting their monthly rent to rise. What they weren't

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Rudy Giuliani accused of sexual harassment by ex-employee

NEW YORK — Donald Trump's former lawyer Rudy Giuliani is being sued for sexual harassment by an ex-employee.The $10m (£8m) civil case claims he coerced her into sex acts, making her work naked,

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Six dead and more missing in New Zealand hostel fire

WELLINGTON — At least six people have died and others remain unaccounted for following a fire in a hostel, New Zealand's prime minister has told local media.Emergency services were called to the

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Imperative to ‘explore all options’ to reach civilians in Ukraine – Griffiths

NEW YORK — Civilians who are caught up in the crossfire in Ukraine need and deserve humanitarian relief, “wherever the are”, said the UN Humanitarian Affairs chief on Monday, briefing the Security

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UN marks 75 years since displacement of 700,000 Palestinians

NEW YORK — The UN on Monday commemorated for the first time in its history, the mass displacement of Palestinians from land that was to become Israel, 75 years ago, that turned 700,000 Palestinians into

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UK promises more arms for Ukraine as meets Sunak on European tour

LONDON — Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in the UK on Monday as part of his whirlwind European tour, which has already taken in Paris, Berlin, Rome and the Vatican over the weekend.The visit

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Two Russian commanders killed in Ukraine fighting, Defense Ministry says

KYIV — Two senior Russian military officers have been killed in eastern Ukraine, the Russian Defense Ministry said Sunday, the latest high-profile losses for Moscow in a grinding war with its western

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Zibo barbecue: Millions bring sudden fame to Chinese city

SINGAPORE — Zibo, a sleepy industrial city of 4.7 million in eastern China, is not typically known as a tourist hot spot.But when Zibo native Zhang traveled home for his wedding last month, he was stunned

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Runoff likely as Turkey's Erdogan falls below 50%

ANKARA — Turkey's battle for the presidency looks set to go to a run-off, with both contenders adamant they have victory in their grasp.After 20 years in power, Recep Tayyip Erdogan stood on the

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Thai voters deliver stunning victory for reform

BANGKOK — Thai voters have delivered a stunning verdict in favor of an opposition party that is calling for radical reform of the country's institutions.Early results show Move Forward exceeding

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Belarus leader Lukashenko misses event, fueling health rumors

MINSK — Belarus' leader Alexander Lukashenko has missed a major state celebration, further fueling health speculation.The autocratic politician, 68, usually speaks publicly at the annual National

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Avoiding disaster in a dangerous world

GENEVA — More people globally are being affected by disasters than ever before, despite the adoption of a UN-backed international disaster reduction agreement in 2015.Experts from around the world are

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Moura: Over 500 killed by Malian troops, foreign military personnel in 2022 operation

GENEVA — There are “strong indications” that more than 500 people were killed — the vast majority summarily executed — by Malian troops and foreign military personnel during a five-day operation

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People pack shelters as Cyclone Mocha menaces refugee camp

COX’S BAZAR, Bangladesh —About half a million people are being evacuated to safer areas in south-eastern Bangladesh, ahead of a cyclone that could be extremely dangerous.Mocha is predicted to make

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Zelensky barred from giving Eurovision Song Contest message

LONDON — The Ukrainian President had wanted to record a video for contestants, and the global audience of up to 200 million people, during Saturday night's final in Liverpool.Volodymyr Zelensky has

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Ukraine claims gains in Bakhmut after Russia denials

KYIV — Ukraine says it has recaptured ground in Bakhmut, a rare advance after months of grinding Russian gains in the eastern city.Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said Ukrainian forces advanced

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Gaza rockets hit settlement near Jerusalem amid fresh Israeli air strikes

GAZA — Israeli fighter jets pounded targets in the Gaza Strip and more rockets were launched into Israel by Palestinians as the deadly confrontation continued for a fourth straight day.Reports said rockets

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Imran Khan to be released from custody, court rules

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan's ex-prime minister Imran Khan has been freed from custody, a day after the Supreme Court ruled his dramatic arrest on corruption charges was illegal.Judges released Khan on

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Elon Musk says he has appointed new Twitter boss

WASHINGTON — Elon Musk says that he has found a new chief executive to lead Twitter.He announced the news on the social media platform, which he bought last year for $44bn (£35.2bn).Musk did not name

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Uneasy calm in El Paso as Title 42 comes to an end

EL PASO, Texas — Thousands of migrants rushed to the US-Mexico border just hours before a Trump-era policy that allowed for their swift removal expired.As the policy -- known as Title 42 -- neared its

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Russia denies advances by Ukrainian forces along front line

KYIV — Russia's defense ministry has denied reports by pro-Russian sources that Ukrainian soldiers have made advances on the front line in east Ukraine.Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner mercenary

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Dozens injured, including children, in Finland bridge collapse

HELSINKI — Two dozen people, many of them schoolchildren, were injured when a temporary pedestrian bridge collapsed in the southern Finnish city of Espoo on Thursday, police and media said.Police said

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Texas braces for worst as Title 42 deadline looms

EL PASO — A record number of migrants — more than 10,000 — were recently apprehended at the US-Mexico border in a 24-hour period, fueling fears over what comes next when a controversial immigration

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Israeli air strike kills missile commander in Gaza

GAZA — A pre-dawn Israeli air strike on an apartment in the Gaza Strip has killed a top Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) commander and one other person.A warplane attacked an apartment on the fifth floor

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Violence and mass arrests in Pakistan as Imran Khan charged with corruption

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan has pleaded not guilty to corruption charges a day after his arrest sparked nationwide protests. Eight people have died nationwide in the protests

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Israel and Gaza fighters in heaviest fighting for months

TEL AVIV/ GAZA STRIP — Israel said Palestinians in Gaza have fired more than 400 rockets at it, and that its military has hit about 110 militant targets in Gaza, in the heaviest fighting in nine months.Six

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French journalist killed near Bakhmut

KYIV — A 32-year-old French journalist has been killed while reporting from the war zone in eastern Ukraine.Arman Soldin, who worked for AFP news agency, died on Tuesday after being hit by rocket fire

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Tense mood grips Pakistan ahead of Imran Khan hearing

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan remains on edge ahead of former prime minister Imran Khan's hearing on corruption charges, a day after his dramatic arrest.Local media have reported at least two deaths amid

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Japan in talks to open a NATO office as Ukraine war makes world less stable, foreign minister says

TOKYO — Japan is in talks to open a NATO liaison office, the first of its kind in Asia, the country’s foreign minister told CNN in an exclusive interview on Wednesday, saying Russia’s invasion of

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Mass protests across Pakistan after ex-PM Imran’s arrest

ISLAMABAD — Violent clashes have broken out in Pakistan between security forces and supporters of former prime minister Imran Khan after he was arrested on Tuesday.Protests are erupting nationwide, and

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The Kerala Story: West Bengal ban on 'Islamic State' film sparks row

NEW DELHI — India's West Bengal state has banned a new film that shows three women from the country joining the Islamic State (IS) group, saying it has the potential to incite violence.The Kerala

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Anger grows in Serbia despite crackdown on gun ownership

BELGRADE — Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has demanded a 90% reduction of firearms in circulation after back-to-back mass shootings last week.Police officers in Serbia are being deployed to all

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Jury hears closing remarks in Donald Trump civil rape case

NEW YORK — A lawyer for a writer accusing Donald Trump of rape in a civil trial urged a jury to hold the ex-president liable for the alleged assault."No one, not even a former president, is above

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Ukraine says it downed Russian cruise missiles aimed at Kyiv

KYIV — Ukrainian officials say air defenses downed 15 Russian cruise missiles which were launched overnight against the capital, Kyiv.No casualties were reported from the attack, according to Serhiy

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Canada declares Chinese diplomat 'persona non grata'

OTTAWA — The Canadian government has expelled a Toronto-based Chinese diplomat who was allegedly involved in a scheme to intimidate a member of parliament.China is accused of seeking to target lawmaker

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Young radicals shaking up Thai politics

BANGKOK — In a cramped shophouse in one of Bangkok's nondescript outer suburbs, a small group of volunteers feverishly pack leaflets in preparation for the daily ritual of canvassing for votes.This

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22 dead after tourist boat capsizes in Kerala

MALAPPURAM — At least 22 people died after a tourist boat carrying around 40 passengers capsized near Tanur in southern India Sunday evening, police and local media reported.The death toll is likely

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Midwives scramble to ensure safe deliveries amid violence in Sudan

KHARTOUM — As catastrophe grips Sudan, the UN agency for reproductive health is stepping up support, with midwives playing a key role in helping provide safe deliveries amid growing violence.“Health

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Labour and Lib Dems take seats from Tories in England local elections

LONDON — Labour and the Lib Dems made gains at the expense of the Conservatives across England, as local election results rolled in.Heavy Conservative local election losses represent a “clear rejection”

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Wagner boss ‘promised ammunition’ after retreat threat

MOSCOW — Russia’s Wagner Group boss says Moscow has agreed to his demands for more ammunition, days after he threatened to withdraw his men from Bakhmut.On Thursday, Yevgeny Prigozhin attacked his

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Arab League re-admits Syria

CAIRO — The Arab League Ministerial Council decided on Sunday that delegations of the Syrian Government could resume participating in meetings of the organization and its apparatuses effective from Sunday. The

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King Charles III crowned as Britain's 40th Monarch

LONDON — In the country's first coronation service in nearly 70 years, Britain's King Charles III was crowned on Saturday along with Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey, the site of nearly a millennium

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Australians demonstrate against plans to build nuclear-powered submarines

CANBERRA —Thousands of Australians took to the streets on Saturday in the town of Port Kembla in the east protesting government plans to build nuclear-powered submarines.The submarines are to be built

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Jean Carroll, Trump rest their cases in civil rape trial

NEW YORK — Attorneys for E. Jean Carroll and Donald Trump rested their respective cases in the battery and defamation trial against the former president in Manhattan federal court on Thursday evening.Carroll,

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Russia accused of using phosphorus bombs in Bakhmut

KYIV —Ukraine has accused Russia of attacking the besieged city of Bakhmut with phosphorus munitions.In drone footage released by Ukraine’s military, Bakhmut can be seen ablaze as what appears to be

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King Charles III crowned as Britain's Britain's 40th Monarch

LONDON — In the country's first coronation service in nearly 70 years, Britain's King Charles III was crowned on Saturday along with Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey, the site of nearly a millennium

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Vietnam objects to Australian coin with war-era yellow flag

SINGAPORE — Vietnam has strongly protested against Australia's issuance of a coin with an image of the yellow flag of South Vietnam.Vietnam said the coin defies positive trends in bilateral ties

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WHO says Covid-19 is no longer a global health emergency

GENEVA — Covid-19 is no longer a global health emergency, the World Health Organization said on Friday.WHO’s International Health Regulations Emergency Committee discussed the pandemic on Thursday

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$2 billion Rwandan airport could help African aviation take off

KIGALI — Some 40 kilometers south of the Rwandan capital of Kigali in the Bugesera District, construction vehicles and high-visibility vests swarm across an arid expanse of land.Here, two strips of tarmac

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Man dies from gunshot wounds during Napoli’s Serie A celebrations

NAPLES — A 26-year-old man has died as a result of gunshot wounds sustained during celebrations by soccer fans in Naples, Italy, after Napoli won its first Serie A title in 33 years on Thursday, Napoli

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Polarized politics are tearing Pakistan apart

ISLAMABAD — The stakes have never been higher in Pakistan.Its economy is on the brink, society is politically polarized, millions are still recovering from last year's devastating floods, terror

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Several teachers killed in Pakistan school shooting

ISLAMABAD — At least eight school teachers were killed in two separate incidents on Thursday in northwestern Pakistan, police said.Both incidents took place in the Parachinar area of Kurram tribal district

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China tourism rebounds above pre-pandemic levels

BEIJING — China's domestic tourism rebounded above pre-pandemic levels during the five-day May Day break.Tourists made 274m trips within the country during the holiday period, China's Ministry

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Moscow accuses US of being behind alleged Kremlin drone attack

MOSCOW — Russia has accused Washington of being behind what it says was a drone attack on the Kremlin and an assassination attempt against President Vladimir Putin, the latest in a series of extraordinary

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Laos activist Anousa Luangsuphom survived cafe shooting, rights group says

SINGAPORE — A Laos political activist who was reported to have died after being shot point blank in the face and chest is alive, activists say.The family of Anousa Luangsuphom, 25, has told Human Rights

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Curfew in Indian state after protests turn violent

NEW DELHI — The north-eastern Indian state of Manipur is under tight security after a tribal agitation ended in violence.Tribal groups were protesting against the demand for affirmative action by the

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Erdogan rival Kilicdaroglu promises peace and democracy

IZMIR, Turkey — Danger comes in many forms.For Turkey's long-time leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, it comes in the shape of a former civil servant, given to making heart emojis with his hands.Kemal Kilicdaroglu,

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Conference examines Nakba consequence on Palestine equation in Europe

BRUSSELS — A conference on Nakba, the catastrophe in Palestine, held in Brussels called for intensive work to update the European citizens, parliamentarians, decision-makers and governments on the reality

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Israel strikes Gaza Strip in response to rocket barrage following Khader Adnan’s death

GAZA — Israeli military conducted strikes on the Gaza Strip late Tuesday after Islamic Jihad militants there fired rockets toward Israel following the death of a prominent Palestinian activist in an

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Russia scales back Victory Day celebrations

MOSCOW — Several Russian cities have announced they will scale back this year's Victory Day celebrations.Russian authorities have cited security reasons and attacks from pro-Ukrainian forces for

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Eight children, school guard dead in Belgrade school shooting

BELGRADE — Eight teenagers and a guard were killed early Wednesday after a boy opened fire at a school in central Belgrade, according to a statement by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.Another six pupils

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China Covid whistleblower returns home to Wuhan after jail

BEIJING — Fang Bin, who documented the initial Covid outbreak in the Chinese city of Wuhan, has been freed from jail after three years, sources told the BBC.Fang is one of several so-called citizen journalists

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Missing Australian fisherman's body found in crocodile

SYDNEY — The body of an Australian man who vanished while fishing with friends has been found inside a crocodile.Kevin Darmody was last seen at Kennedy's Bend - well-known saltwater crocodile habitat

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Seven bodies found in US search for missing teens, say Oklahoma police

OKMULGEE — Seven bodies have been found on a property in a small town in rural Oklahoma during a search for two missing teenagers, authorities say.Police said they believe the teenagers they were looking

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Bulgarian research vessel RSV 421 returns home after 127-day voyage to Antarctica

SOFIA — After a 127-day voyage to the Bulgarian base on Livingston Island and back, the first Bulgarian naval research vessel Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii (RSV 421) returned home, docking Tuesday at the Varna

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New record as 456,000 Indians take flights in a day

NEW DELHI — India's domestic air traffic has hit a record high, with 456,082 passengers flying on a single day.The milestone, which was reached on 30 April, came as 2,978 flights took off across

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Brawls break out as Turks vote in pivotal election overseas

PARIS — Several clashes between opponents and supporters of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan were reported in France on Monday.Brawls broke out at polling stations in the southern French city of

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May Day protests in France leave dozens of police officers injured

PARIS — At least 108 police officers have been injured in clashes across France with protesters angry at pension reforms, the interior minister has said.Gérald Darmanin said such a large number of police

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Explosion in Russian border region derails freight train

MOSCOW — An explosion in the Russian border region of Bryansk derailed a freight train on Monday, authorities said.Local governor Alexander Bogomaz said an explosive device went off along the Bryansk-Unecha

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Russia launches pre-dawn missile attack on Ukraine

KYIV — Russia has launched a series of missile and artillery attacks on Ukraine, the second pre-dawn attack in three days.One person died in Kherson region and 25 people - including three children -

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