Moscow claims ‘external forces’ seeking to escalate violence in Syria

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Statement comes as Ukrainian intelligence says Russia will send mercenaries to support flagging troops allied to Damascus

Moscow has condemned “external forces” seeking to escalate violence in Syria, despite reports from Ukrainian military intelligence that Russia is to send mercenaries to support flagging troops allied to Damascus.

The Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova blamed outside actors for instigating a recent sweeping insurgent offensive, after Islamist militants spearheaded by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) took control of the city of Aleppo at the weekend in a shock advance.

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Cuba’s national grid collapses again, leaving millions without power

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Blackouts reported across country as government grapples with economic crisis, fuel shortages and hurricanes

Cuba’s national electrical system collapsed early on Wednesday morning after the country’s largest power plant failed, the government said, the latest of several such failures as the island’s grid falls into disarray amid fuel shortages, natural disaster and economic crisis.

The country’s energy and mines ministry said the Antonio Guiteras power plant in Matanzas, the island’s top electricity producer, had shut down at about 2am, prompting the grid collapse.

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Iran releases Nobel peace laureate Mohammadi on medical leave, says lawyer

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Temporary release is inadequate, activist’s family and supporters say, urging her unconditional release

Iran has released the Nobel peace laureate Narges Mohammadi, jailed since November 2021, for three weeks on medical grounds, her lawyer posted on social media.

“Based on the advice of the examining doctor, the public prosecutor suspended the jail sentence against Narges Mohammadi for three weeks and she was released from prison,” Mostafa Nili said on X.

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South Korea is reeling after spending hours under a surprise martial law declaration – Business Insider

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  1. South Korea is reeling after spending hours under a surprise martial law declaration  Business Insider
  2. Martial law reversed in South Korea after president’s surprise decree sent shockwaves  CNN
  3. Who is Yoon Suk Yeol, the controversial South Korean president who tried and failed to impose martial law?  The Guardian
  4. What to know about South Korea’s short-lived and chaotic period of martial law  The Associated Press
  5. For Some Koreans, Martial Law Stirs Harrowing Memories of Gwangju Uprising  The New York Times
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Will the far right in France seize the chance to topple the government?

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Triggered by an austerity budget, a no-confidence vote threatens fresh instability – and Macron’s future

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With threats mounting inside and outside the EU’s borders and Germany in paralysis, the last thing Europe needed was fresh upheaval besetting its other big power. Yet that is exactly what France is facing with a no-confidence vote expected today that could bring down the government.

The shaky minority administration assembled by Prime Minister Michel Barnier only three months ago began to wobble badly on Monday after he triggered an extraordinary constitutional mechanism to force through an austerity budget.

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Up to 100 ‘suspicious incidents’ in Europe can be attributed to Russia, Czech minister says

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Czech foreign minister says Europe ‘needs to send a strong signal to Moscow that this won’t be tolerated’

A senior European diplomat said that up to 100 “suspicious incidents” in Europe this year could be attributed to Russia, as western officials grapple with how to respond to suspected Russian sabotage attempts.

Speaking ahead of a meeting with Nato counterparts in Brussels, the Czech foreign minister, Jan Lipavský, stressed that Europe “needs to send a strong signal to Moscow that this won’t be tolerated”.

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Russia sees ‘no grounds for negotiations’ with Ukraine, Putin spokesperson says – ABC News

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  1. Russia sees 'no grounds for negotiations' with Ukraine, Putin spokesperson says  ABC News
  2. Vladimir Putin does not want a peace deal. He wants to destroy Ukraine.  Atlantic Council
  3. Video: Russian minister says chances of compromise with Ukraine are ‘zero’  CNN
  4. Russia says ‘many’ countries eager to host Ukraine talks but no grounds yet  Al Jazeera English
  5. Russia Says West Wants Ukraine Ceasefire To Rearm Kyiv  The Moscow Times
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South Korea crisis live: motion to impeach President Yoon submitted, say opposition parties

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Opposition Democratic party lawmakers have called on Yoon Suk Yeol to resign immediately or they would seek his impeachment

South Korea’s finance ministry has said it stood ready to deploy “unlimited” liquidity into financial markets after President Yoon Suk Yeol lifted a martial law declaration he imposed overnight that pushed the won to multi-year lows, Reuters reports.

The announcement came after finance minister Choi Sang-mok and Bank of Korea governor Rhee Chang-yong held emergency talks overnight, and as the central bank board abruptly met to approve rescue measures for the local credit market.

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UK interest rates to fall more slowly than expected after budget, claims report

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Government’s spending and borrowing plans mean rates will stay higher for longer, according to OECD

UK interest rates will fall by less than expected over the next two years after Rachel Reeves revealed significant spending and borrowing plans in the budget, according to an influential report.

In its annual economic survey, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) said UK inflation would also surpass previous forecasts next year, and upgraded growth projections for the economy, because of boost from October’s budget.

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Rail renationalisation should reduce delays but may not cut fares, says UK minister

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Heidi Alexander refuses to confirm cost of setting up Great British Railways but insists it is lower than fees paid to train operators

The renationalising of train companies will not necessarily bring cheaper rail fares but should reduce cancellations and late trains, the UK transport secretary has suggested.

South Western Railway is to become the first train operator nationalised under the Labour government, ministers announced on Wednesday. Greater Anglia and C2C will also be brought into public ownership next year.

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Rio Tinto investor urges mining giant to drop primary London listing

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Hedge fund with £197m stake leads push to prioritise Sydney exchange as FTSE 100 firm outlines ambitious copper production targets

An activist investor in Rio Tinto has demanded the miner scrap its primary London listing and focus on Australia, as the FTSE 100 firm outlined its long-term investment strategy.

Palliser Capital called on the metals and minerals firm to drop its “outdated” dual listing structure across the London and Sydney financial markets.

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English pupils do better than expected in international maths and science tests

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England maintained good maths scores and improved in science, coming ninth and fifth among 70 countries

English pupils have made a strong showing in the latest round of prestigious international tests, maintaining their scores in maths and improving in science, a subject in which they rose to fifth in the league tables.

They were among students from 70 countries who participated in the 2023 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (Timss), which takes place every four years, providing education policymakers with international comparisons.

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Australian primary students score best ever result in global maths and science test, despite pandemic disruption

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Timss report finds year 4 students ranked equal fifth internationally out of 58 countries, up from ninth in 2019

Australian primary school students have recorded their best ever results in an international maths and science assessment, curbing concerns about lockdowns disrupting learning.

The 2023 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (Timss), released by the Australian Council for Educational Research (Acer) late on Wednesday, analysed the skills of year 4 and 8 students.

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