Zelensky ready for talks with Putin to end war
WASHINGTON, Aug 19 (AFP): Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday he was willing to meet directly with his Russian counterpart to end the war.Speaking to reporters after talks with US President Donald Trump and several European leaders at the White House, Zelensky said he was ready for what would be...
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Record 383 UN aid workers killed in 2024
GENEVA, Aug 19 (AFP): A record 383 aid workers were killed in 2024, the United Nations said Tuesday, branding the figures and lack of accountability a "shameful indictment" of international apathy-and warned this year's toll was equally disturbing.The 2024 figure was up 31 percent on the year before, the UN...
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Modi to visit China later in Aug
NEW DELHI, Aug 19 (AFP): Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit China later in August, his security chief said Tuesday during talks with Beijing's foreign minister in New Delhi.Modi will attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit opening on August 31 in Tianjin, his first visit to China since 2018,...
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Mediators await formal Israeli response
DUBAI, Aug 19 (BBC): Arab mediators are awaiting a formal response from Israel after Hamas said it had accepted a new proposal for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal.The plan was presented by Qatar and Egypt, which are trying to avert a major new Israeli offensive to occupy Gaza...
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Conservative leader set to win by-polls in Canada
TORONTO, Aug 19 (BBC): Canada's Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre is projected to win a crucial by-election in the province of Alberta to secure a new Parliament seat after losing his constituency in the last general election.With final ballots still being counted, Poilievre leads with 80.4% of the vote in the...
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Toll from Pak floods close to 400
BAR DALORI, Aug 19 (AFP): Rescuers and residents resumed searching on Tuesday for survivors as the death toll from five days of torrential rain rose to almost 400, with authorities warning monsoon downpours would continue until the weekend.Torrential rains across Pakistan's north have caused flooding and landslides that have swept...
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US deploys warships near Venezuela
NEW YORK, Aug 19 (Reuters): Three US Aegis guided-missile destroyers will arrive off the coast of Venezuela in the next 36 hours as part of an effort to address threats from Latin American drug cartels, two sources briefed on the matter said on Monday.President Donald Trump has wanted to use...
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300-yr-old violin to star at UK music festival
LONDON, Aug 19 (AFP): One of the most valuable violins in the world, crafted three centuries ago and once owned by composer Niccolo Paganini, is to be played at a top UK classical music festival.The violin, known as the Carrodus, is one of only around 150 made by Giuseppe Guarneri...
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