North Korea appears to have sent more troops to Russia to back its war against Ukraine, Seoul says – The Associated Press

  1. North Korea appears to have sent more troops to Russia to back its war against Ukraine, Seoul says  The Associated Press
  2. North Korea Is Sending More Troops to Russia, South Korea’s Spy Agency Says  The New York Times
  3. ‘Specialist’ North Korean Reinforcements Sent to Kursk  Kyiv Post
  4. Ukraine Issues Update on North Korean Involvement in Russia War  Newsweek
  5. North Korea has sent more troops to Russia, South's spy agency says  BBC.com
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Austrian Parties Reach Deal to Form Government Without Far Right – The New York Times

  1. Austrian Parties Reach Deal to Form Government Without Far Right  The New York Times
  2. Austria is getting a new coalition government without the far-right election winner  The Associated Press
  3. Austrian parties agree on coalition government without far-right party  The Washington Post
  4. Austria's coalition agreement: what are main policies in the parties' joint programme?  Reuters
  5. Far right gets shut out as Austrian government forms  POLITICO Europe
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Nael Barghouti, world’s longest-serving political prisoner, freed from Israeli jail – Middle East Eye

  1. Nael Barghouti, world's longest-serving political prisoner, freed from Israeli jail  Middle East Eye
  2. Longest held Palestinian prisoner released by Israel  Al Jazeera English
  3. Israel frees 643 Palestinians after Hamas delivers  DAWN.com
  4. Feb. 27: ‘Israel’s Going to Have to Decide What They’re Doing’  substack.com
  5. Longest-Serving Palestinian Prisoner Nael Barghouti Freed From Israeli Jail After 45 Years  NDTV
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Chinese Navy penetrates deep into the Tasman Sea – Naval News

  1. Chinese Navy penetrates deep into the Tasman Sea  Naval News
  2. China’s Military Puts Pacific on Notice as U.S. Priorities Shift  The New York Times
  3. Exclusive: Airline pilots surprised by Chinese live-fire warning near Australia, messages show  Reuters
  4. After U.S. Navy, Now Chinese PLA Navy “Mocks” New Zealand’s Nuclear-Free Policy Amid Fears Of Nuke Subs In The Region  EurAsian Times
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Jewish rocker moved after song played at Bibas funeral, reaches out to father – Ynetnews

  1. Jewish rocker moved after song played at Bibas funeral, reaches out to father  Ynetnews
  2. Netanyahu Stalls Stage 2 of the Gaza Cease-fire and Once Again Weaponizes Israel's Grief  Haaretz
  3. At Funeral for Shiri Bibas and Children, an Israeli Outpouring of Grief  The New York Times
  4. Body of Gazan woman that Hamas sent instead of Shiri Bibas returned  Yahoo
  5. Israel mourns slain hostages as ceasefire plan continues  CBS News
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Morocco’s King Mohammed VI urges nation to avoid slaughtering sheep during Eid al-Adha – BBC.com

  1. Morocco's King Mohammed VI urges nation to avoid slaughtering sheep during Eid al-Adha  BBC.com
  2. Drought-hit Morocco asks citizens not to slaughter sheep on Eid al-Adha  Reuters
  3. Morocco urges people to not buy sheep for Eid al-Adha celebrations  The Associated Press
  4. AP Trending SummaryBrief at 9:02 a.m. EST  The Star Beacon
  5. Morocco Cancels Eid Al Adha Due to Drought  Morocco World News
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Hamas Hands Over Four Bodies in Last Hostage Release of Current Cease-Fire Phase – The Wall Street Journal

  1. Hamas Hands Over Four Bodies in Last Hostage Release of Current Cease-Fire Phase  The Wall Street Journal
  2. Who Are the Deceased Hostages Hamas Said It Handed Over to Israel?  The New York Times
  3. Hamas releases bodies of 4 hostages as first phase of Gaza ceasefire nears end  CBS News
  4. Bibas family laid to rest as thousands of Israelis line the streets  NBC News
  5. Hamas hands over bodies of four hostages, Israel frees Palestinian prisoners  Reuters
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China says Taiwan drills ‘routine’, as Taipei details surge in military activity – Reuters

  1. China says Taiwan drills 'routine', as Taipei details surge in military activity  Reuters
  2. Taiwan tells China World War Two shows aggression will end in failure  Reuters
  3. Taiwan dispatches navy, air force after China launches live-fire drills with no warning  Fox News
  4. Chinese Warships, Fighters Hold Snap Live Fire Drills 40 Miles Off Taiwan, Say Officials  USNI News
  5. Taiwan condemns China over unannounced live-fire naval drills  Financial Times
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How many hostages are left in Gaza? – The Associated Press

  1. How many hostages are left in Gaza?  The Associated Press
  2. Israeli PM Netanyahu to hold security meeting after delegation returns from Cairo  Reuters
  3. Signs of Life From Underground: 24 Living Hostages Remain in Gaza. These Are Their Stories  Haaretz
  4. Who Are the Deceased Hostages Hamas Said It Handed Over to Israel?  The New York Times
  5. Brother of freed Israeli hostage says Hamas captors ate full meals and laughed as he was starved  CNN
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Indonesia’s Aceh province publicly canes two men for same-sex relationship – Reuters

  1. Indonesia's Aceh province publicly canes two men for same-sex relationship  Reuters
  2. 2 men were publicly caned for having sex with each other in Indonesia’s conservative Aceh  The Associated Press
  3. Two men publicly flogged in Indonesia for gay sex  Cedar Valley Daily Times
  4. Men sentenced to be flogged over 80 times in Indonesia for having gay sex  PinkNews
  5. Men caught having gay sex to be lashed 80 times  The Independent
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Indians throng last day of Maha Kumbh festival that drew 663 million – Reuters India

  1. Indians throng last day of Maha Kumbh festival that drew 663 million  Reuters India
  2. Maha Kumbh Mela, World’s Largest Religious Gathering, Comes to a Close  The New York Times
  3. Maha Kumbh 2025 ends today: Maha Shivratri rush at Sangam for final ‘snan’; police on alert in Prayagraj | 10 points  Hindustan Times
  4. "Whole World Is Surprised How...": PM Modi As Maha Kumbh Draws 66 Crore People  NDTV
  5. AI meets Maha Kumbh: Demystifying crowd-counting process at Prayagraj  India Today
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Pope Francis sleeps well as health shows slight improvement – Vatican News

  1. Pope Francis sleeps well as health shows slight improvement  Vatican News
  2. Pope’s Illness Is Surrounded by Intrigue Over Possible Resignation  The New York Times
  3. Pope Francis' slight kidney insufficiency has receded as he battles pneumonia, Vatican says  Fox News
  4. Pope Francis’ friends around Rome pray for him as he fights pneumonia  The Associated Press
  5. Pope resting peacefully on 14th day in hospital  ABC News
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Ita Buttrose’s emails ‘hammering’ top ABC executives instrumental in Antoinette Lattouf’s sacking, court hears

Court hears how journalist’s social media post on Gaza was seized upon as a ‘pretext’ to get rid of her in an ‘utterly abnormal’ fashion

Ita Buttrose’s emails “hammering” executives with complaints about Antoinette Lattouf’s social media presence were influential in her sacking, the federal court has heard in closing submissions.

Lattouf’s barrister, Oshie Fagir, argued the former chair was one of four ABC figureheads who played a pivotal role in the removal of the casual host from air, including the formal decision-maker, Chris Oliver-Taylor, the chief content officer at the broadcaster.

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Transgender US military personnel must be identified and stood down, says Pentagon memo

Being transgender is not compatible with service, court filing says, foreshadowing removal of people from service within 60 days

Transgender service members will be separated from the US military unless they receive an exemption, according to a Pentagon memo filed in court on Wednesday – essentially banning them from joining or serving in the armed forces.

Donald Trump signed an executive order in January that took aim at transgender troops in a personal way – at one point saying that a man identifying as a woman was “not consistent with the humility and selflessness required of a service member”.

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What Donald Trump’s closer ties to Russia mean for China – Financial Times

  1. What Donald Trump’s closer ties to Russia mean for China  Financial Times
  2. 'China is the real winner': Trump's reversal in Ukraine aids Beijing, Western officials say  NBC News
  3. Great Powers Don't Bluff | Opinion  Newsweek
  4. Trump’s Abrupt Turn to Russia—and Whether a U.S.-Russia Team Could Gain Any Sway in South and Southeast Asia  Council on Foreign Relations
  5. Trump's Russia Pivot Keeps China Guessing On Ukraine  Barron's
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‘I’m still dancing’: Derbyshire woman has 105th birthday rave at care home

Hilda Jackson and fellow residents partied with strobe lights, glowsticks and drum’n’bass from festival-headliner

It was a birthday party that would do even the most seasoned raver proud, with strobe lighting, glow sticks and a headline act who has played some of the biggest festivals in the UK.

The birthday girl sipped on champagne, while guests helped themselves to free-flowing cocktails from a pop-up bar run by Jägermeister. This was not an Instagram influencer’s Ibiza pool party, however – it was Hilda Jackson’s 105th-birthday rave in her Derbyshire care home.

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Ukraine’s economy could grow by 5% next year if hostilities end, EBRD says

European reconstruction bank will help rebuild country if peace is agreed but a lasting end to conflict is needed

The war-torn Ukrainian economy could expand by 5% next year if a ceasefire is agreed, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has predicted – but prospects for reconstruction depend on a lasting peace.

The London-based lender has invested $6.2bn (£4.9bn) in projects in Ukraine over the course of the three-year conflict.

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