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15-06-2024 PRETORIA: A coalition deal has been confirmed that will see Cyril Ramaphosa re-elected as president. The leader of the second largest party, which is part of the deal, calls this a ‘new chapter’ for the country. The new MPs have been sworn in after the 29 May election. That …

14-06-2024 CITY OF VICTORIA: Hong Kong has cancelled the passports of six pro-democracy activists who are in exile overseas under its newly-enacted domestic security law, calling them “lawless wanted criminals”. The government said that in addition to the cancellation of the “absconders’” travel documents, the six were also banned from …

14-06-2024 APULIA/ PUGLIA: Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) countries Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States are meeting for a three-day summit to discuss global affairs in the southern Italian region of Puglia (Apulia). Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he expects “important decisions” …

14-06-2024 UNITED NATIONS: A record-breaking 120 million people have been forced to flee their homes by war, violence and persecution, the 12th year in a row the number has increased, the UN refugee agency said. The global displaced population is now equivalent to that of Japan, the agency said. New …

14-06-2024 CAIRO/ GAZA CITY: Hamas has pushed back after being criticized by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken for not yet accepting a ceasefire proposal, saying it had shown “positivity” towards the negotiations. The group said it had “dealt positively… with the latest proposal and all proposals to reach a …

14-06-2024 KUWAIT CITY/ NEW DELHI: At least 40 Indians are among 50 people killed in a fire at a residential building in the Kuwaiti city of Mangaf, India’s foreign ministry has said. The fire broke out on Wednesday in a building where dozens of workers stayed. Video shared on social …

14-06-2024 BUENOS AIRES: Argentina’s Senate has narrowly approved President Javier Milei’s controversial economic reform package, with the vote taking place as violent clashes raged between protesters and riot police outside Congress. Demonstrators in Buenos Aires who say the measures will hurt millions of Argentines threw petrol bombs and stones, setting …

14-06-2024 MAKKAH: Hundreds of thousands of Muslims have flocked to the Saudi holy city of Makkah for the Hajj pilgrimage, as the religious festivities of Zil Hajj commenced last week. One of the world’s largest annual religious gatherings officially begins Friday, and the officials in Saudi Arabia are trying to …

13-06-2024 CUPERTINO/ NEW YORK: Apple once again became the world’s most valuable company on Wednesday, dethroning Microsoft from the top spot, as the iPhone maker pushed ahead in a race to dominate artificial intelligence technology. Its shares rose more than 2% to $211.75, giving it a market valuation of $3.25 …

13-06-2024 Bureau Report + Agencies NEW DELHI/ MUMBAI: India’s monsoon rains have lost momentum after covering western regions ahead of schedule, and their arrival in northern and central states could be delayed, extending a heatwave in the grain-growing plains, two senior weather officials told media. Summer rains, critical to spur …