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WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Indo-Pacific coordinator Kurt Campbell said on Tuesday that lines of communication with China “are opening up,” but the potential for miscalculation as Chinese military forces increasingly operate near U.S. forces is real and growing. Campbell made the remarks at a Hudson Institute think tank event, stressing that maintaining “appropriate diplomacy” with …

Potential for miscalculation with China is real and growing -U.S. official Read More »

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The United Nations General Assembly elected Algeria, Guyana, Sierra Leone, Slovenia and South Korea to the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday for two-year terms starting on Jan. 1, 2024, while Belarus – allied with Russia in its invasion of Ukraine – was denied a spot. Algeria, Guyana, Sierra Leone and South …

Five nations elected to U.N. Security Council, but Belarus denied Read More »

By Abd Rahman Muchtar SPERMONDE ISLANDS, Indonesia (Reuters) – For nearly two decades, Indonesian marine scientist Syafyudin Yusuf has worked with former poachers to rehabilitate coral reefs destroyed by their use of dynamite for fishing. They have restored to health 11.5 hectares (roughly 30 acres) of corals around a group of 120 islands known as …

Indonesian scientist works with poachers to restore coral reefs Read More »

By Ruma Paul DHAKA (Reuters) -A searing heatwave in Bangladesh spurred the closure of primary schools this week and triggered frequent power cuts, worsening conditions for residents unable to run fans to cool themselves as weather officials warned relief was not imminent. The maximum temperature soared to nearly 41 degrees Celsius (105.8 Fahrenheit) from 32C …

Heatwave in Bangladesh leads to school closures, power cuts Read More »

By Asif Shahzad and Ariba Shahid ISLAMABAD (Reuters) -Pakistan on Tuesday approved an estimated 3.5% GDP growth target for its 2023-24 financial year budget, the country’s Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal said. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government is set to present the annual budget on Friday, at a time when the South Asian country faces its …

Pakistan approves 3.5% GDP growth target for FY 2023-24 budget – minister Read More »

BEIJING (Reuters) -China and Russia conducted a joint air patrol on Tuesday over the Sea of Japan and East China Sea for a sixth time since 2019, prompting neighbouring South Korea to scramble fighter jets. China’s defence ministry said the patrol was part of the two militaries’ annual cooperation plan. South Korea scrambled fighter jets, …

China, Russia launch joint air patrol, alarms South Korea Read More »

By Asif Shahzad ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Hammad Azhar, who has served as Pakistan’s finance and energy minister, says police and plain-clothed officials have burst into his home six times in recent weeks, smashed his belongings and threatened his 82-year-old father, warning that his daughter would be abducted. Last weekend, he said police and “unknown people” …

Repeated arrests, filthy cells: Inside Pakistan’s crackdown Read More »