Author: tut0ugh
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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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Burkina Faso’s military-led authorities have issued a decree dissolving all political parties, extending restrictions imposed since successive coups in the Sahel state. The decision was approved by the council of ministers as the government tightens controls amid a protracted fight against insurgent groups linked to al-Qaeda and ISIL. Emile Zerbo, Interior Minister, said the move…
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Myanmar’s military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) has secured a decisive victory in the country’s three-phase general election, according to state media, following a tightly controlled process held amid civil conflict. Preliminary results show the USDP winning an overwhelming majority in both chambers of parliament, with the legislature expected to convene in March to…
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The United States has begun work on a major expansion of the Manda Bay military base in Kenya’s Lamu County, underscoring deepening security cooperation between Washington and Nairobi. The groundbreaking ceremony was led by US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, alongside US Africa Command (AFRICOM) Commander General Dagvin Anderson, during Landau’s official visit to…
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The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have agreed to a comprehensive ceasefire with Damascus and a gradual integration of their military and administrative structures into the Syrian state, Syrian officials confirmed on Friday (30 January). The deal follows recent clashes in which government forces retook most territory controlled by the SDF in northeastern Syria for…
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Niger’s military-led government has accused France, Benin, and Ivory Coast of backing an attack on a military base near Niamey’s international airport, while praising support from its “Russian partners”. Speaking on state television, General Abdourahamane Tiani, who led Niger’s July 2023 coup, blamed Emmanuel Macron, Patrice Talon, and Alassane Ouattara. No evidence was provided. The…
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