Author: tut0ugh
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At least 67 militants were killed on Saturday (31 January) in multiple attacks across Pakistan’s southwestern province of Balochistan, officials said. The assaults also claimed the lives of 10 security personnel and 11 civilians, while 24 police officers were injured. Key developments: • Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the attacks, praising security forces for repelling…
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The UK and Japan have agreed to accelerate cooperation on cybersecurity and critical minerals, citing growing strategic pressure in the Indo-Pacific. During an overnight visit to Tokyo, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the partnership comes amid “geopolitical, economic and technological shocks” reshaping the global order. The visit followed talks in Beijing with Chinese President…
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Panama’s Supreme Court has annulled a long-standing port concession held by a unit of CK Hutchison Holdings, ruling that the contract to operate terminals at either end of the Panama Canal was unconstitutional. The unanimous decision follows lawsuits filed since 2021 and a 2025 government audit that alleged contractual irregularities and significant revenue losses. The…
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The United Nations is facing an “imminent financial collapse” that could disrupt operations by mid-2026, according to its Secretary-General António Guterres. In a letter to all 193 member states, Guterres warned that unpaid assessed contributions are undermining programme delivery and threatening the organisation’s financial stability. Key developments: • Only 77% of assessed contributions due for…
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The United States Department of State has approved new arms sales to Israel worth $6.67 billion, including 30 Apache attack helicopters and 3,250 light tactical vehicles. The approvals were notified to Congress on Friday (30 January) as regional tensions rise, including speculation over possible U.S. military action against Iran. The announcement also comes as Donald…
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Iran has reiterated that it remains open to diplomacy with the United States, while warning that negotiations cannot proceed under military pressure. Speaking alongside his counterpart Hakan Fidan in Türkiye, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran was prepared for “fair and equitable” talks but would respond forcefully to any attack. He stressed that Iran’s…
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The incoming Dutch government plans to introduce a surcharge on income and corporate taxes to raise around €5 billion annually for higher defence spending, coalition parties said on Friday (30 January). The measure — labelled a “freedom tax” — is intended to help the Netherlands meet updated NATO targets agreed in 2025. Key developments: •…
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South Africa and Israel have expelled each other’s senior diplomats, marking a further deterioration in relations. Pretoria declared Ariel Seidman, Israel’s chargé d’affaires, persona non grata, citing diplomatic breaches and social media attacks on President Cyril Ramaphosa. Israel responded by expelling Shaun Edward Byneveldt, South Africa’s most senior envoy, giving both diplomats 72 hours to…
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Foreign workers in Japan reached a record 2.57 million by end-October 2025, up 11.7% year on year, as labour shortages deepen amid demographic decline, according to health ministry data. The figures were released shortly after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced measures on foreign residents, combining tighter regulation with expanded Japanese-language access. Key developments • Foreign…
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UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has defended his four-day visit to China after US President Donald Trump warned it was “very dangerous” for Britain to deepen business ties with Beijing. Speaking during the trip, Starmer said the visit had delivered tangible commercial gains and argued the UK should not “stick its head in the…
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