World News

WASHINGTON – US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin will travel to Israel, Germany, Britain and the Nato headquarters in Belgium in the coming week for talks with government and military leaders, the Pentagon announced Thursday (April 8). The…
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JERUSALEM – Israel briefly came to a standstill on Thursday (April 8) with the morning bustle halted for two minutes at 10am (3pm Singapore time) as sirens blared to honour the victims of the Holocaust. In an annual ritual, pedestrians…
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LONDON – Britain confirmed on Thursday (April 8) that it could no longer recognise Myanmar’s ambassador in London after the ruling junta issued formal notification that he had been withdrawn for supporting the deposed government. UK…
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ANKARA – Turkey called in China’s ambassador on Tuesday (April 6) after his embassy said it had “the right to respond” to Turkish opposition leaders who criticised China’s treatment of Uighur Muslims, when they issued statements referring…
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WASHINGTON – The International Monetary Fund upgraded its global economic growth forecast for the second time in three months, while warning about widening inequality and a divergence between advanced and lesser-developed economies. The…
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NEW YORK/WASHINGTON – The US Supreme Court on Monday (April 5) brought an end to a legal fight over former president Donald Trump’s effort to block critics from following his now-frozen Twitter account, deciding the dispute was moot and…
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RIYADH – Saudi authorities said Monday (April 5) only people immunised against Covid-19 will be allowed to perform the year-round umrah pilgrimage from the start of Ramadan, the holy fasting month for Muslims. The haj and umrah ministry…
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WASHINGTON – The United States expects indirect talks with Iran that begin on Tuesday (April 6) about both sides resuming compliance with the 2015 Iran nuclear deal to be “difficult” and does not foresee any early breakthrough. “We don’t…
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MOSCOW – Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday (April 5) gave final approval to legislation allowing him to hold office for two additional six-year terms, giving himself the possibility to stay in power until 2036. The 68-year-old…
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JERUSALEM – Israel’s legal and political dramas converge Monday (April 5), with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu due in court for his corruption trial and the president to launch talks to help form a government. Judges have ordered…
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