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(Reuters) – Russian and Indonesian ships practiced freeing a vessel captured by terrorists and fought unmanned boats during the first joint naval exercises between the two countries in the Java Sea, Russia’s RIA state news agency reported on Monday. The joint exercise, which started last week, came as newly inaugurated Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto pledged …

Russian, Indonesian navies hold joint counter-terrorism drills Read More »

(Refiles to clarify it was COP29 presidency that declined to comment) By Mohammad Yunus Yawar, Charlotte Greenfield and Gloria Dickie KABUL (Reuters) – Afghan Taliban officials will attend a major United Nations climate conference that starts next week, the Afghan Foreign Ministry said on Sunday, the first time they have attended since the former insurgents …

Taliban administration officials to attend UN climate conference in Azerbaijan Read More »

(This Nov. 9 story has been corrected to say that Marshall Islands are the chair of the High Ambition Coalition for Climate, in paragraph 30) By Gloria Dickie and Kate Abnett (Reuters) – Nearly 200 countries will gather next week for the U.N. climate summit, COP29. Reaching a consensus for a deal among so many …

Who are the key voices at the COP29 climate summit in Baku? Read More »

BEIJING (Reuters) -China rejected Philippine maritime claims on Sunday, saying new legislation “severely infringes on” Beijing’s territorial sovereignty and rights in the South China Sea, and vowing to protect its own interests. Philippine President Ferdinand Marco Jr signed two laws on Friday to define the country’s maritime entitlements and set designated sea lanes and air …

China opposes new Philippine maritime law, vows to protect South China Sea ‘sovereignty’ Read More »

By Saleem Ahmed QUETTA, Pakistan (Reuters) -At least 24 people were killed and more than 40 injured in a bomb blast on Saturday at a railway station in the city of Quetta in southwestern Pakistan, police and other officials said. Quetta is the capital of Balochistan province, which is grappling with a surge in strikes …

At least 24 killed in Pakistan train station bomb blast, police say Read More »

NEW DELHI (Reuters) – Toxic smog has shrouded Pakistan’s eastern city of Lahore for days as surging pollution spurs authorities to curb activities and set up a panel to oversee preventive efforts. Here is a look at what causes the hazardous air, and how the government is tackling it. WHERE IS LAHORE? The capital of …

Factbox-How is Lahore, the world’s most polluted city, battling toxic air? Read More »

By Ariba Shahid KARACHI (Reuters) – Unprecedented air pollution levels in Pakistan’s second-largest city of Lahore prompted authorities to take emergency measures on Sunday, including issuing work-from-home mandates and closing primary schools. The city held the top spot on a real-time list of the world’s most polluted cities on Sunday after recording its highest ever …

Lahore air pollution hits historic high, forcing school closures Read More »