US bolsters forces in Middle East following series of attacks on US troops in Syria

The US has bolstered its military forces in the Middle East following a series of attacks on US troops in Syria attributed to Iranian-affiliated militias, the Pentagon said Friday.
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CDC to warn some travelers to watch for Marburg virus symptoms as it investigates outbreaks in Africa

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is sending personnel to Africa to help stop outbreaks of Marburg virus disease and urging travelers to certain countries to take precautions.
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Oscar Pistorius has been denied parole

South Africa's parole board is hearing early release submissions Friday for disgraced Paralympian Oscar Pistorius, who was jailed for shooting dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
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Japan joins the US and Europe in chipmaking curbs on China

Japan will restrict the overseas sale of chip manufacturing equipment, joining the United States and the Netherlands in curbing the export of key technology to China.
https://ift.tt/TCb9PyZ

Amsterdam asks 'wild' young male British tourists to 'stay away'

Amsterdam is asking young British men to "stay away" if they plan to visit the city to cut loose and "go wild".
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UK reaches its biggest trade deal since Brexit, joining trans-Pacific partnership

Britain has reached an agreement to join a major trans-Pacific partnership, calling it its biggest trade deal since Brexit.
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Asia's best restaurant for 2023 revealed

Bangkok has long been considered a world capital when it comes to street food. But these days, its fine dining scene is proving to be just as alluring.
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Why 2023 is the year to visit Mongolia

Due to its remoteness and short summer season, Mongolia has long been a destination overlooked by travelers.
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Convicted ISIS supporter sentenced to additional year in prison over meeting with 'American Taliban' John Lindh

A Virginia man convicted of providing support to ISIS in 2015 was sentenced Thursday to serve an additional year in prison for breaking his release conditions after meeting multiple times with John Walker Lindh, the so-called "American Taliban" and sharing ISIS propaganda online in encrypted chats.
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Amateur gold digger finds huge nugget worth $160,000 in Australia

An amateur gold digger has found an enormous gold nugget worth 240,000 AUD ($160,000) in Australia.
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Bolsonaro claims he won't lead opposition as he returns to Brazil for first time since riots

Brazil's former president Jair Bolsonaro on Wednesday claimed he would no longer lead the country's opposition as he boarded a flight home for the first time since his election defeat that culminated in thousands of his supporters rioting in protest at the result.
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Beijing warns of 'severe impact' on US-China relations as Taiwan's leader lands in New York

Taiwan's relationship with the United States has "never been closer," its President Tsai Ing-wen said after arriving in New York City Wednesday, as Beijing warned her visit could lead to "serious confrontation" between China and the US.
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Surreal landscapes, happy cities: Where to go in China in 2023

With China finally reopening to the world, it's time to dust off that travel wish list and start planning.
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Biden and Netanyahu trade barbs over plan to weaken Israeli courts

Israel's embattled Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu escalated a rare public dispute with US President Joe Biden on Tuesday, rejecting "pressure" from the White House after Biden criticized his controversial efforts to weaken the Israeli judiciary.
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It's official: now avoid credit card interest into 2024

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King Charles III to travel to Germany for first overseas visit as monarch

King Charles III's first overseas state visit will finally get underway on Wednesday when the British monarch lands in Germany with the Queen Consort for a three-day trip.
https://ift.tt/KY5XUGk

Taliban arrests prominent girls' education activist as repressive clampdown continues

A prominent activist for girls' education in Afghanistan was arrested by the Taliban on Monday, according to an official, the latest step in its repressive clampdown on the rights of Afghan women.
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Jet lag hits differently depending on your travel direction. Here are 6 tips to get over it

After a few difficult years of lockdowns and travel restrictions, people are finally winging their way across the globe again; families are being reunited and sights are being seen.
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How a European country plans rail revolution

In the Czech countryside, not far from Prague, a ghostly white train is speeding around and around a huge loop of track.
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Analysis: Why Israel's instability matters to the US

• Netanyahu says he will delay his judicial overhaul. But will that be enough for protesters? • Live Updates: Netanyahu not backing down over 'need for reform' • In Pictures: Protests erupt in Israel over judicial reform • Video: 'Never seen anything like this': CNN reporter on protests
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The teen who set off on a 20,000-mile cycle ride without asking his parents

He'd longed to go on a "crazy adventure" for years, and as Liam Garner's high school graduation day grew closer, the teenager was more determined than ever to make his escape.
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It's one of the world's best Chinese restaurants. But it's not in China

Inside a dimly lit dining room, chef Tomoya Kawada of Sazenka is drawing a yin-yang diagram on a notepad as he explains his dreams for the distant future.
https://ift.tt/8lRmTvh

Nearly 200 Rohingya people land by boat in Indonesia's Aceh

More than 180 Rohingya Muslims landed in Indonesia's Aceh province on Monday, officials said, the latest among hundreds who have fled by boat from desperate conditions in Myanmar and in camps in Bangladesh.
https://ift.tt/vgjHWOo

The celebrity jeweler bringing iconic, red-carpet pieces to sale

Beyoncé, Kim Kardashian, Blake Lively. These are just some of the names Lorraine Schwartz reels off as she points out items of exquisite jewelry kept in a row of glass vitrines.
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Elian Gonzalez's new chapter as a Cuban lawmaker

More than two decades after he was found clinging to an inner tube in the Straits of Florida, Elián González is taking on his most high profile role since the bitter custody battle that returned him to Cuba.
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Amtrak begins to restore service after server issues force cancellations

Amtrak is restoring service after a slew of train cancellations, primarily in the Midwest due to "a rail-industry control system that continues to experience intermittent communications issues," according to Amtrak spokesperson W. Kyle Anderson.
https://ift.tt/mJ0iXQ7

Banks aren't out of the woods yet and neither is the economy. Here's why

Markets seesawed severely this week when two of the US economy's most prominent leaders gave seemingly contradictory statements on the health of the banking sector. Expect more turbulence ahead.
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'World's longest' bus journey will take 56 days to cross Europe

Fancy spending two months traveling overland from Istanbul to London without ever having to get behind the wheel?
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Myanmar junta throws huge military parade days after new US sanctions

Myanmar's ruling military paraded an arsenal of weapons in the capital Naypyidaw on Monday, in a grand display of force days after the United States imposed fresh sanctions against the junta for inflicting "pain and suffering on the people of Burma."
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Nearly 8 million driver license numbers and passport numbers stolen in Australia

Digital payments and lending firm Latitude Holdings said on Monday that 7.9 million Australian and New Zealand driver license numbers were stolen in a large-scale information theft on March 16.
https://ift.tt/1RjscPg

North Korea launches at least two unidentified ballistic missile into waters off eastern Korean peninsula

North Korea launched at least one unidentified ballistic missile into the waters off the east coast of the Korean peninsula on Monday morning local time, according to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff.
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England hands Ukraine defeat on emotional night at Wembley Stadium

The sight of Ukrainian flags flying along Wembley Way -- the road approaching the iconic Wembley Stadium -- took on extra significance Sunday as Ukraine faced England in its Euro 2024 qualifier.
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Argentina FA training facility renamed after Lionel Messi

The Argentina national team's training facility has been renamed after talismanic captain Lionel Messi in recognition of his World Cup heroics and star-studded career, the country's football association (AFA) said on Saturday.
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Pope Francis expands Catholic Church sexual abuse law to cover lay leaders

Pope Francis has updated a 2019 church law governing clerical sexual abuse and extended it to include accountability for Catholic lay leaders of Vatican-approved religious organizations.
https://ift.tt/81rFYEm

Sicilian island sees record-high migrant arrivals by boat

A record of more than 2,000 migrants arrived on the Sicilian island of Lampedusa in the past day, an Italian official said on Saturday.
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Daylight savings row leaves Lebanon on brink of two timezones

Already facing one of the world's worst economic crises, the Lebanese people could soon face a new challenge -- two different timezones.
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Suspect in Haitian president's assassination accepts plea deal in Florida

A suspect in the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise, who was killed in his bedroom in July of 2021, accepted a plea agreement from US federal prosecutors on Friday.
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Parthenon fragments returned by the Vatican go on display in Greece

The Vatican has returned three fragments of the Parthenon sculptures kept by the Vatican for centuries to Greece.
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A threat to democracy or much-needed reform? Israel's judicial overhaul explained

For months hundreds of thousands of Israelis have been taking to the streets across the country to regularly protest far-reaching changes to the Israel's legal system some say threaten the country's democratic foundations.
https://ift.tt/8L1vSP4

Bayern Munich fires manager Julian Nagelsmann

Bayern Munich announced Friday it has fired club manager Julian Nagelsmann and will appoint Thomas Tuchel to the post, effective immediately.
https://ift.tt/pEOZmQz

Why the Syrian drone strikes and US retaliation may yet be a big deal

The US has conducted an airstrike in Syria against what it said were Iranian-affiliated facilities after a suspected Iranian drone struck a facility housing US personnel in the country, killing an American contractor and wounding five US service members.
https://ift.tt/YvrTM7a

Deutsche Bank, UBS stocks sink as European banking crisis fear returns

Europe's banking stocks tumbled Friday in a sign that investors are still nervous that the recent crises at some banks could spill over into the wider sector.
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King Charles state visit to France postponed amid violent pension protests

King Charles's state visit to France has been postponed amid planned protests planned next week over the French government's controversial pension reforms.
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Locks of Beethoven's hair reveal secret family history and health issues

Before composer Ludwig van Beethoven died on March 27, 1827, it was his wish that his ailments be studied and shared so "as far as possible at least the world will be reconciled to me after my death."
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Interpol confirms arrest of crypto fugitive Do Kwon in Montenegro

Interpol says a man arrested in Montenegro is Kwon Do-hyeong, also known as Do Kwon, the disgraced founder of a collapsed crypto company who is wanted in South Korea and the United States on fraud and other charges.
https://ift.tt/8rhALsW

Remember when Christian Bale wore makeup on the red carpet?

Remember when a 24-year-old Christian Bale wowed onlookers with this red carpet look featuring a shimmering sweep of silver eyeshadow that struck like lightning across his face?
https://ift.tt/XkpQIHm

India's Rahul Gandhi found guilty of defamation, given two-year sentence

A court in western India found opposition leader Rahul Gandhi guilty of defamation on Thursday for a speech he made in 2019 in which he referred to thieves as having the surname Modi, and sentenced him two years in prison.
https://ift.tt/mvuBSDU

Taiwan recalls ambassador from Honduras, prepares to lose another diplomatic ally to China

Taiwan announced Thursday it will recall its ambassador to Honduras as ties between the two worsen, with the Central American nation preparing to switch diplomatic recognition from the self-governing island to China.
https://ift.tt/KAZevmN

Beijing's population has declined for the first time in 19 years

Beijing, the sprawling Chinese capital and one of the world's biggest cities, saw its population drop last year for the first time in 19 years as the country grapples with a demographic crisis decades in the making.
https://ift.tt/0n96HJ4

Haiti soccer sexual abuse scandal: Impending defamation lawsuit could cost journalist $64,700 if he loses. He says he'll 'never give up'

An investigative journalist who detailed allegations of sexual abuse and harassment against the former Haitian Football Federation (FHF) president is now facing a defamation lawsuit designed to gag him, his lawyer tells CNN Sport.
https://ift.tt/Zgsx6hI

Question revealed for Australia's first referendum in 24 years

Australians have learned the question they'll be asked later this year in the country's first referendum in 24 years, a vote deemed so significant that the Prime Minister paused to gather his emotions Thursday as he announced the details.
https://ift.tt/pgP1o9z

Independent probe into alleged extrajudicial killings in Afghanistan by British military begins

A probe into whether UK soldiers stormed the houses of two innocent Afghan families and summarily executed their relatives began Wednesday, part of an effort by investigators looking into allegations of war crimes committed by the British Armed Forces in Afghanistan -- and the purported coverups that followed them.
https://ift.tt/m0B6TEu

UN and US join chorus of condemnation against Uganda's hardline anti-LGBT bill

The United Nations and United States on Wednesday added to international outrage over a hardline bill passed by Ugandan lawmakers that criminalizes simply identifying as LGBTQ+, prescribes a life sentence for convicted homosexuals and a death penalty for "aggravated homosexuality."
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The war in Yemen could get even more fierce as Saudi Arabia and Iran reconcile

A surprise agreement by regional archenemies Saudi Arabia and Iran this month has raised hopes that the Saudi war in Yemen may come to an end, after more than seven years of hostilities that saw tens of thousands of civilians killed or injured and the country left in ruins.
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Wall Street is thirsty for its next big investment opportunity: The West's vanishing water

Situated in the Sonoran Desert near the Arizona-California border is the tiny rural town of Cibola -- home to roughly 300 people, depending on the season.
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Boris Johnson to be quizzed by lawmakers over claims he misled parliament

Boris Johnson will on Wednesday hit back at claims he deliberately misled parliament while serving as British prime minister.
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Thailand to hold general election on May 14, poll body says

Thailand will hold elections on May 14, the national poll body said on Tuesday, a day after parliament was dissolved.
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Saudi Arabia releases dual US-Saudi citizen from prison after he posted critical tweets about the kingdom

Saudi Arabia released US-Saudi dual national Saad Ibrahim Almadi from prison, more than a year after he was arrested for tweets critical of the kingdom, Almadi's son, Ibrahim, told CNN.
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Israeli minister denies the existence of a Palestinian identity, inviting US rebuke

Israel's far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich denied the existence of a Palestinian people or nationhood over the weekend, prompting a rebuke from the United States just weeks after calling for a Palestinian town to be "erased."
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Taiwan's President to transit US on Central America trip, but no word on meeting with Speaker McCarthy

Taiwan confirmed Tuesday that President Tsai Ing-wen will transit the United States en route to Central America at the end of the month, but there was no word on whether a highly anticipated meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy will take place.
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London's Metropolitan Police lets predators flourish, review concludes

London's Metropolitan Police Service has allowed predatory behavior to flourish within its force and failed to adequately protect members of the public from abuse, as well as its own female staff, according to a review that accused the organization of perpetuating a misogynistic, sexist, racist and homophobic internal culture, according to PA news agency.
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World's longest canal reopens after dramatic makeover

When it comes to tourist attractions, a lot has happened in China over the last few years.
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France's government survives no-confidence votes

Two no-confidence votes against French President Emmanuel Macron's government have failed in the country's parliament, clearing the way for his hugely unpopular pension reforms to be implemented and sparking new protests in Paris.
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First Republic is a hot mess. The reason has a lot to do with its wealthy clientele

It may seem surprising that First Republic, a midsize bank catering to wealthy clients in coastal states, became such a danger to the American banking system that the government had to cudgel the industry to stage an intervention.
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Netanyahu government makes first climbdown on plan to weaken Israel's judiciary

The government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a change Monday to a key part of its controversial plans to overhaul the country's judicial system, marking its first climbdown in the face of massive public protests and international pressure, including from US President Joe Biden.
https://ift.tt/3euQIk6

Former Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou to make historic visit to mainland China

Taiwan's former president Ma Ying-jeou will visit mainland China next week, the first such trip by a former Taiwanese leader since the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949.
https://ift.tt/MBzpQPw

The world's greatest places of 2023, according to TIME

Gather round, some hot new travel inspo just dropped. TIME magazine has just released its annual list of the World's Greatest Places, and we're here to tell you the where, the why and the what behind its picks.
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Kim Jong Un talks up North Korea's nuclear capability as daughter watches missile test

North Korea must be ready to launch nuclear counter strikes at any time to deter war, state media quoted leader Kim Jong Un as saying on Monday, as he accused the United States and South Korea of expanding joint military drills near the country's doorstep.
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King Charles marks first Mother's Day since Queen's death

Britain's King Charles has remembered the late Queen on the first Mother's Day in the UK since her death.
https://ift.tt/uZXQzwH

Magnitude 6.8 earthquake leaves at least 16 dead, damages one of Ecuador's biggest cities

A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck near the southern town of Baláo in Ecuador Saturday afternoon, according to the United States Geological Survey.
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Imran Khan marks court presence as former Pakistan leader's supporters clash with police

Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan marked his presence at a much-awaited court appearance on Saturday in the capital city of Islamabad, leaving after the scheduled proceedings.
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French workers may have to retire at 64 and many are in uproar. Here's why

Impromptu protests broke out in Paris and across several French cities Thursday evening following a move by the government to force through reforms of the pension system that will push up the retirement age from 62 to 64.
https://ift.tt/uCLvgDw

Russian mercenary chief announces plans to recruit 30,000 more fighters

The chief of Russia's Wagner private military group Yevgeny Prigozhin announced on Saturday that he plans to recruit about 30,000 new fighters by mid-May, according to a voice message published on Telegram.
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Scientists parse another clue to possible origins of Covid-19

• Video: New analysis suggests Covid-19 link to raccoon dogs at Wuhan market • Frozen strawberries sold at Costco, Trader Joe's and Aldi recalled after hepatitis A infections • Popular weight-loss drug Ozempic is easy to get online. That's a problem
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UK Home Secretary visits Rwanda to discuss controversial deportation scheme

British Home Secretary Suella Braverman arrived in Rwanda on Saturday to discuss a controversial agreement which will see the UK deport asylum seekers deemed to have arrived illegally to the African nation.
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Finding a brighter future for Tanzania's child domestic workers

Mercy Esther was eight years old when she left home.
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Turkey was devastated by an earthquake. Here's what that means for tourism

It was shaping up to be a golden year for tourism in Turkey. With favorable exchange rates sweetening the deal for visitors, the country's beautiful beaches, historic cities and geological wonders were poised for a post-pandemic tourism revival.
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Opinion: Inside Saddam Hussein's 'chamber of horrors,' I reflect on 20 years since the Iraq War

Two decades ago, on March 19, 2003, then-President George W. Bush ordered the US invasion of Iraq. A week later, near Najaf, a city in southern Iraq, then-US Major General David Petraeus turned to the American journalist Rick Atkinson and asked him a simple question: "Tell me how this ends." That remains an excellent question.
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Nigerians to vote in governorship polls as ruling party scrambles to regain lost ground in key states

Nigerians will on Saturday vote in delayed governorship polls, weeks after a controversial and disputed presidential election.
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Unlike last year, this tax season has been going smoothly

The past two tax-filing seasons were fraught with aggravations, delays, last-minute changes and huge backlogs at the IRS. But by comparison, this year's tax-filing season has been going relatively smoothly, tax preparers say.
https://ift.tt/Caz86XW

A quake of unthinkable proportions is due in Istanbul. Residents ask if the city is prepared

For more than five weeks, Turkey has grappled with the aftermath of a devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake in the country's south-east. But further afield, in its biggest and most populous city, pressure is mounting on authorities to prepare for the possibility of another natural disaster of unthinkable proportions.
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Swell life: China's surf scene is heating up

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US agrees to sell 220 Tomahawk missiles to Australia

The US State Department has approved Australia's request to buy up to 220 long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles to arm its navy ships and the US nuclear-powered submarines it agreed to buy this week.
https://ift.tt/Fv2ZJzD

French government sparks fury as it forces through higher retirement age

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At least 4 Palestinians killed in IDF operation in Jenin

At least four Palestinians were killed on Thursday and 23 others injured after an Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) operation in Jenin, in the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian Authority Health Ministry. At least five of the injured are in critical condition, the health ministry added.
https://ift.tt/B36yVKa

Photographer took 40,000 shots to capture these extraordinary birds

"I'm willing, more than most people, to go through some discomfort."
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Experts: this is the best cash back card of 2022

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Violent clashes erupt in Naples ahead of Napoli's Champions League match against Frankfurt

Violent clashes erupted in the Italian city of Naples on Wednesday as ticketless German soccer fans descended on the city for a key Champions League match which they had been banned from attending.
https://ift.tt/Mgkrlfx

'Everything is gone': Malawi devastated by cyclone that killed hundreds

Tropical Cyclone Freddy is losing strength after it ripped through southern Malawi, killing at least 225 people, but the resulting devastation has left survivors trapped and fighting for survival.
https://ift.tt/E5bhlVB

During Ethiopia visit, Blinken discusses need for accountability for atrocities

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday pressed Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on accountability for atrocities committed by all parties throughout the yearslong conflict in northern Ethiopia.
https://ift.tt/Y3SbWaN

Iga Swiatek: World No.1 calls for more support for Ukrainian tennis players

World No.1 Iga Świątek has called for more support for Ukrainian players from the Women's Tennis Association (WTA), adding that "everything we discuss in tennis is about Belarusian and Russian players."
https://ift.tt/C3RgNr8

Lie-flat economy cabin concept could revolutionize air travel

From a cabin concept that completely eradicates the middle seat to a swanky design that takes single-aisle aircraft business class to a new level, this year's Crystal Cabin Awards shortlist offers an exciting glimpse at aviation's potential future.
https://ift.tt/7RzK3mA

China has shattered the assumption of US dominance in the Middle East

With a grandiose diplomatic flourish China brokered a rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran, in the process upending US calculus in the Gulf and beyond.
https://ift.tt/euhka1D

Ireland women's rugby team switch to dark shorts amid period anxieties

The Ireland women's rugby team has made a permanent switch from white to navy shorts in response to players' concerns about period anxieties.
https://ift.tt/oix1Me9

The gigantic metal monoliths standing in the desert

Out in the hot, shimmering desert sands of western Qatar, something alien, colossal and very weird looms over the horizon.
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Malawi death toll from Cyclone Freddy rises to 190

At least 190 people have died after Tropical Cyclone Freddy ripped through southern Malawi, the country's Department of Disaster Management Affairs said Tuesday.
https://ift.tt/q4xW5lb

Xi's tightens grip, hardens stance on US: Key takeaways from China's annual political meetings

China's most important annual political meetings wrapped up Monday, leaving leader Xi Jinping firmly at the helm of a superpower that appears more eager to push back against the United States than at any time in decades.
https://ift.tt/XIVsGH1

Japan court orders retrial of longest-serving death row convict over 1966 murder case

The world's longest-serving death row convict was on Monday granted a retrial by a Japanese court in the latest twist in a legal saga dating back to the 1960s.
https://ift.tt/VwhAnl1

Gary Lineker will be allowed back on BBC after impartiality storm

Gary Lineker will resume his duties on the BBC's flagship soccer show after an impartiality storm over his criticism of the government's asylum policy that plunged Britain's public broadcaster into scheduling chaos over the weekend.
https://ift.tt/Qvwyb4o

11 dead and 16 missing in Malawi as Cyclone Freddy takes hold

At least 11 people were confirmed dead on Monday after a deadly tropical storm slammed into southern Malawi, leaving many injured and unaccounted for, local authorities told CNN.
https://ift.tt/LSGbVqQ

Saudi oil giant Aramco becomes latest energy firm to post record profits

Saudi Arabian oil giant Aramco on Sunday reported a record annual net profit of $161.1 billion for 2022, up 46% from the year earlier, on higher energy prices, increased volumes sold and improved margins for refined products.
https://ift.tt/D1B5724

Nobel Prize-winning Japanese novelist Kenzaburo Oe dies at 88

Japanese Nobel Prize-winning author Kenzaburo Oe, a writer who was renowned for a strong pacifist stance that weaved its way into much of his work, has died of "old age", his publisher confirmed Monday.
https://ift.tt/1ztZuGv

Taiwan says soldier who went missing has been found in China

A Taiwanese soldier who went missing last week from an island near the Chinese coast has been found in mainland China, a Taiwan official said on Monday, raising the possibility of a highly unusual defection amid heightened tensions across the Taiwan Strait.
https://ift.tt/v8k4DIG

Xi Jinping vows to make China's military a 'great wall of steel' in first speech of new presidential term

China's leader Xi Jinping on Monday vowed to bolster national security and build the military into a "great wall of steel," in the first speech of his precedent-breaking third term as president.
https://ift.tt/LkNt7Cz

UK ramps up defense spending by $6 billion ahead of key AUKUS submarine announcement

The United Kingdom will ramp up defense spending by $6 billion to "fortify" against growing threats from Russia and China, the country's leader announced on the eve of highly anticipated talks with AUKUS partners, the United States and Australia.
https://ift.tt/L5N2Q8i

North Korea fires submarine missiles ahead of largest US-South Korea military drills in years

North Korea launched two missiles from a submarine in waters off its east coast over the weekend, according to state media, and vowed to take "the toughest counteraction" against the largest joint military drills by the United States and South Korea in years that kick off Monday.
https://ift.tt/qNwdCh6

After a tragic shipwreck, no peace for the dead or living

Two weeks after a boat packed with migrants sank off the coast of southern Italy, there is still no peace for the living or the dead, and the missing -- mostly children -- continue to wash up on the beaches.
https://ift.tt/2Z13ySW

BTS agency HYBE ends takeover battle for K-pop pioneer SM Entertainment

BTS agency HYBE says it has called off a takeover bid for SM Entertainment, ending weeks of corporate mudslinging that has dominated headlines in South Korea.
https://ift.tt/Gnbi9w0

Iran arrests more than 100 people over suspected poisonings of schoolgirls

Iran has arrested more than 100 people "in connection with" the suspected poisoning of hundreds of schoolgirls across the country, according to the state-run IRNA news agency.
https://ift.tt/gwv9MbQ

Soccer game falls into chaos after presenter is sidelined for immigration policy comments

The BBC's weekend soccer coverage has been plunged into chaos following its announcement Gary Lineker would "step back" from presenting, after he became embroiled in an impartiality row when he criticized British government policy on Twitter.
https://ift.tt/ft9v0pK

Opinion: China's new role: relationship coach on the world stage

It was the handshake heard round the world. Indeed, the agreement between long-time foes Saudi Arabia and Iran to bury the hatchet and re-establish diplomatic relations after years of confrontation and religious hostility, must inevitably take a back seat to the venue and the peacemaker who brokered this landmark pact.
https://ift.tt/1t7FRiQ

Authorities urge Japanese theme park to crack down on visitors taking lewd selfies

Japanese authorities have vowed to take action following reports that visitors to a theme park showcasing scenes from beloved animated films have been taking indecent photographs of themselves with statues of the characters.
https://ift.tt/Y6mAOPZ

The US helped prevent AIDS from being a death sentence in Africa. Now the epidemic is at a crossroads

Fourteen-year-old Philasande Dayimani carries a burden that no child should carry.
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Chinese city proposes lockdowns for flu -- and faces a backlash

A Chinese city has sparked a backlash on social media after saying it would consider the use of lockdowns in the event of an influenza outbreak.
https://ift.tt/8SQ90dO

China appoints Li Qiang, a trusted ally of Xi Jinping, as premier

China's rubber-stamp legislature has appointed Li Qiang, a long-time aide of leader Xi Jinping, as premier, the man tasked with reviving the world's second-largest economy after three years of zero-Covid restrictions.
https://ift.tt/UyzanCH

Why the future looks bright for Victoria Beckham

With her second runway show at Paris Fashion Week behind her, Victoria Beckham appears to be ushering in an exciting new era for her eponymous label, nearly 15 years since it launched.
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UN reveals plan to salvage oil from stricken supertanker

The United Nations has released a plan to offload 1 million barrels of oil off a rusting supertanker that has been moored off the coast of Yemen for more than 30 years.
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Xi Jinping's norm-busting third term as China's president rubber stamped

Xi Jinping's unprecedented third term as China's president was officially rubber stamped by the country's political elite on Friday, solidifying his control and making him the longest-serving head of state of Communist China since its founding in 1949.
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British coach suspended for using 'industrial language,' mocking people with disabilities

British high jump coach Fayaaz "Fuzz" Caan has been handed a three-year suspension following a UK Athletics (UKA) disciplinary investigation into his conduct, the sport's national governing body has announced.
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2 dead after foiled $32.5 million airport heist in Chile

A foiled multimillion-dollar heist at Chile's largest airport has left two dead, officials said Wednesday.
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Greek prime minister promises to fix chronic railway deficiencies as public anger grows

Greece's prime minister has promised to improve the safety standards of the country's railway system following its deadliest train crash on record which sparked mass protests.
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Credit Suisse delays annual report after 'late call' from the SEC

Credit Suisse can't catch a break.
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The number of available jobs in the US shrank in January

There's a slight chill running through the US labor market, but the temperature is still too high for the Federal Reserve.
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Japanese police arrest 3 for taking part in 'sushi terrorism' pranks

Police in central Japan have arrested three people for taking part in pranks at a sushi conveyor belt restaurant.
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Georgia protests over foreign agents bill continue into second day

Tens of thousands of people gathered outside the Georgian parliament on Wednesday in the second day of protests in capital city Tbilisi over a draft "foreign agents" bill that critics fear could drive a wedge between the Caucasian nation and Europe.
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US intel chiefs say China likely to press Taiwan and seek to undercut US

US Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines told Congress Wednesday that Chinese President Xi Jinping is likely to press Taiwan and try to undercut US influence in the coming years as he begins a third term as president.
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Russia releases trailer for first feature-length movie filmed in space

The space race has expanded to new frontiers in recent years, moving into business, tourism ... and now cinema.
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Freddy set to be world's longest-lasting tropical cyclone as it threatens to hit Mozambique a second time

Deadly Tropical Cyclone Freddy is set to break records for the longest-lasting storm of its kind as it appears on course to hit Mozambique for a second time, more than two weeks after the first.
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Yellow duck calendars land Thai man jail term for insulting monarchy

A political activist arrested in Thailand for selling satirical calendars featuring yellow ducks has been sentenced to two years in prison for insulting King Maha Vajiralongkorn, a legal assistance group has said.
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China's 'attacks' unite region against Beijing, US ambassador to Japan says

China should not be surprised Washington and its allies in Asia are deepening military ties given Beijing's aggressive behavior toward many of its neighbors, the US ambassador to Japan said Wednesday in an exclusive interview with CNN.
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Why El Salvador's president Nayib Bukele wants everyone to know about his new prison

Last week, El Salvador's president Nayib Bukele posted a typically divisive video on Twitter. To the sound of thrilling fast-paced music, it showed hundreds of detainees being transferred to a new "megaprison" officially named the Center for Confining Terrorism. Constructed last year to host the Central American country's burgeoning prison population, it is the largest prison in the Americas, with capacity for 40,000 inmates.
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Two dead, 16 injured in train derailment in Egypt

At least two people were killed, and 16 others were injured after a train derailed north of Cairo on Tuesday, according to Egypt's Health Ministry.
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One of India's trash mountains is on fire again and residents are choking on its toxic fumes

Firefighters in the southern Indian city of Kochi were toiling Tuesday to control toxic fumes from spreading after a landfill burst into flames five days ago, cloaking the area in a thick haze and choking residents.
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Six Palestinians killed in Israeli raid targeting suspect in shooting of settler brothers

Israeli forces staged a daylight raid into Jenin in the occupied West Bank targeting the suspect in the killing of two Jewish settlers, leaving the suspect and at least five other Palestinian men dead, officials on both sides said Tuesday.
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You can now live on a cruise ship for $30,000 per year

Have you ever dreamed of giving it all up, leaving it all behind and hitting the road to escape all your responsibilities?
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Thailand jails five poachers for killing tiger and her cub

A court in western Thailand on Monday sentenced five poachers to prison terms of five years each for killing a female tiger and her cub in a national park last year.
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Tiffany & Co. unveils BTS star Jimin as brand ambassador

As luxury brands continue to court South Korea's booming luxury market, Tiffany & Co. has unveiled K-pop star Jimin as its newest brand ambassador.
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US imposes visa sanction on Syrian military official over massacre that killed at least 41 unarmed civilians

The US State Department on Monday imposed a visa sanction on a Syrian military official whom it says killed at least 41 unarmed civilians in a neighborhood of Damascus in April 2013.
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King invites Harry and Meghan to coronation, but it's unclear if they'll go

Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, have received an invite to the coronation of King Charles III -- but the couple have yet to confirm if they will attend, the Duke's spokesperson told CNN on Sunday.
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London police officer who killed Sarah Everard sentenced for indecent exposure

Wayne Couzens, the former London police officer who abducted, raped and murdered 33-year-old Sarah Everard in 2021, has been sentenced to 19 further months in prison for indecent exposure incidents that took place while he was serving in the force.
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Analysis: China sets lowest GDP growth target in decades as Beijing tightens its belt

China's outgoing Premier Li Keqiang has announced the country's lowest GDP growth target in decades, highlighting the domestic and global challenges the world's second largest economy still faces despite its decision late last year to ditch draconian anti-Covid measures.
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US allies South Korea and Japan make deal to ease strains over wartime labor dispute

South Korea on Monday announced a deal to compensate victims of forced labor by Japan during its occupation of Korea as the two United States allies try to smooth relations in the face of an increasingly turbulent Indo-Pacific security situation.
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Hidden passage discovered in 4,500-year-old Great Pyramid of Giza

A hidden corridor nine meters (30 feet) long has been discovered close to the main entrance of the 4,500-year-old Great Pyramid of Giza, and this could lead to further findings, Egyptian antiquities officials said on Thursday.
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Fire rips through Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladesh leaving thousands homeless

A massive fire has ripped through a Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladesh's southern district of Cox's Bazar on Sunday, leaving around 12,000 people homeless, local Superintendent of Police Mohammad Mahfuzul Islam told CNN.
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Turkey is blocking NATO's expansion. That could backfire

When Sweden and Finland declared their intention to join NATO last May, it was seen by many as a poke in the eye for Russia and evidence of a shift in European thinking. Historically, both countries had committed to non-alignment with NATO as a way of avoiding provoking Moscow. The invasion of Ukraine changed that. 
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Greek prime minister apologizes over train collision amid public fury

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has apologized for one of the country's worst train crashes in years, saying "We cannot, will not, and must not hide behind human error."
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Sub-Saharan African countries repatriating citizens from Tunisia after its president made 'shocking' statements

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China to spend $224 billion on its military

• The 4 men tapped to run China's economy • City claims to have destroyed 1B pieces of personal data collected for Covid control • US Navy reconnaissance flight over Taiwan Strait draws angry response from China
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Hong Kong model's death, dismemberment resurfaces memories of past horrors

The postcard image of Hong Kong is one of glitzy skyscrapers against lush mountains, dim sum restaurants and investment bankers in suits.
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Travel roundup: Europe will start charging for entry in 2024

• Flight attendant's secrets for long flights
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Holy oil to anoint King Charles III on his coronation, has been consecrated in Jerusalem

The sacred oil that will be used to anoint King Charles III at his coronation May 6, has been consecrated at a Christian holy site in Jerusalem, Buckingham Palace has announced.
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North Korea's food shortage could take a deadly turn

Concerns about North Korea's chronic food shortages are growing, with multiple sources suggesting this week that deaths due to starvation are likely.
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Harry and Meghan asked to vacate residence gifted by the late Queen

• Lea Michele's 'Funny Girl' run to end as Broadway musical plans to close later this year • Jenna Ortega wishes her generation was better represented in stories: 'We can be smart' • Travis Scott and his lawyer expected to meet with NYPD next week after assault accusation
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Colombia plans to send 70 'cocaine hippos' to India and Mexico, governor says

Colombia plans to fly dozens of its "cocaine hippos" -- the descendents of drug trafficker Pablo Escobar's private menagerie -- to new homes in India and Mexico in a bid to control their booming population, according to the local governor.
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Fire at Indonesian fuel storage station kills at least 16

At least 16 people were killed in a fire at a fuel storage station in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta, CNN affiliate CNN Indonesia reported on Friday.
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King Charles' meeting with EU chief is being criticized. Here's why

Royals speak through actions more than words, which often leaves royal commentators reading into what they do without the benefit of an explanation. This week, it came down to a handshake.
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Tesla to build next plant in Mexico

Tesla's next vehicle assembly plant will be in Mexico near Monterrey, CEO Elon Musk announced Wednesday.
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South Korea doesn't need nuclear weapons to face the North, prime minister says

South Korea doesn't need nuclear arms to deter the threat from North Korea, the country's Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said in an exclusive interview with CNN -- even as public opinion swings the other way amid Asia's accelerating arms race.
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US agency assessment backing Covid lab leak theory raises more questions than answers -- and backlash from China

The US Department of Energy's assessment that Covid-19 most likely emerged due to a laboratory accident in China has reignited fierce debate and attention on the question of how the pandemic began.
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Chinese city claims to have destroyed 1 billion pieces of personal data collected for Covid control

A Chinese city says it has destroyed a billion pieces of personal data collected during the pandemic, as local governments gradually dismantle their coronavirus surveillance and tracking systems after abandoning the country's controversial zero-Covid policy.
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When disaster strikes, this CNN Hero springs into action

At home in Anchorage, Alaska, nurse Teresa Gray was playing a board game with her children when she heard about the massive earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria on February 6.
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Death toll from rail disaster rises to 57 as anger boils in Greece

Anger in Greece over poor railway safety grew on Thursday as the death toll from one of the country's worst train crashes in recent years reached 57.
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A flight attendant's secrets to surviving long-haul flights

Any air travel can be stressful, but facing down a long-haul flight can be especially intimidating.
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Australia's Aboriginal LGBTQ community takes center stage at Sydney WorldPride

At a temporary Aboriginal gathering space dubbed Marri Madung Butbut — or "Many Brave Hearts" in the language of Sydney's original inhabitants, the Gadigal people — eight performers emerged through lasers and lights that appear to move and thrust to the electronic beat.
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Longing for the 'golden age' of air travel? Be careful what you wish for

Long lines at security checkpoints, tiny plastic cups of soda, small bags of pretzels, planes filled to capacity, fees attached to every amenity -- all reflect the realities of 21st century commercial air travel. It's no wonder that many travelers have become nostalgic for the so-called "golden age" of air travel in the United States.
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Near bomb-grade level uranium found in Iranian nuclear plant, says IAEA report

Uranium particles enriched to near bomb-grade levels have been found at an Iranian nuclear facility, according to the UN's nuclear watchdog, as the US warned that Tehran's ability to build a nuclear bomb was accelerating.
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Putin ally Lukashenko meets Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing

Chinese leader Xi Jinping met with Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko -- a close ally of Vladimir Putin -- on Wednesday, in a state visit that comes as the West warns China against providing lethal aid for Putin's war in Ukraine.
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Who is Nigeria's new President-elect Bola Tinubu?

Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the winner of a closely fought contest for Nigeria's presidency. But who is the man who will lead Africa's largest economy -- as well as inherit its plethora of economic and security crises?
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Japan births fall to record low as population crisis deepens

The number of births registered in Japan plummeted to another record low last year -- the latest worrying statistic in a decades-long decline that the country's authorities have failed to reverse despite their extensive efforts.
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Nestlé to close factory, office in Myanmar

Nestlé has announced that it will close its sole factory and head office in Yangon, Myanmar's largest city, as it switches to a more "sustainable" business model amid ongoing turmoil in the country.
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