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Pakistan targets 6.54% deficit with $50.45bn budget to unlock IMF funds
Pakistan’s finance minister has announced a budget deficit target of 6.54% of economic output for the upcoming fiscal year, starting July 1. This figure is slightly lower than the current year’s revised estimate of 7%. The budget aims to satisfy the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to secure the release of bailout funds for the crisis-stricken country, which is due to…
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South Korea summons China’s ambassador over ‘senseless’ US tilt accusation
South Korea’s foreign ministry has called on China’s ambassador, expressing concerns over comments made by the diplomat that accused Seoul of favouring the United States over China. This comes as tensions between Washington and Beijing escalate in the battle for global influence. On Friday, South Korean First Vice Foreign Minister Chang Ho-jin cautioned Chinese Ambassador Xing Haiming about his “senseless…
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US bans Chinese printer maker Ninestar, chemical firm over Uighur abuse links
In a move to combat human rights abuses in China, the US has imposed a ban on imports from Chinese printer manufacturer Ninestar Corp and chemical company Xingjang Zhongtai Chemical Co Ltd. The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has accused these companies of participating in business practices that target China’s Uighurs and other persecuted groups. Ninestar, which claims to…
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Blinken’s delayed China trip aims to mend strained US relations
Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, is reportedly planning a visit to China this month in an effort to mend the tense relationship between the two nations. According to unnamed US officials, Blinken is expected to arrive in Beijing on June 18 for discussions with high-ranking Chinese officials, including Foreign Minister Qin Gang and potentially President Xi Jinping. US…
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Newcastle secures £25m annual shirt deal with Saudi-backed Sela
Newcastle United has inked a lucrative multi-year shirt sponsorship agreement with Saudi events management firm Sela, following the lifting of a temporary ban on owner-related commercial deals. The sponsorship, reportedly valued at £25 million annually, comes as both organisations experience rapid growth. Sela is supported by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), which also owns an 80% stake in Newcastle…
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Boris Johnson resigns as MP, citing Partygate probe as reason
Boris Johnson, the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, has resigned from his position as a Member of Parliament, citing a parliamentary investigation into the “Partygate” scandal as the reason for his departure. The 58-year-old announced his resignation on Friday, causing an immediate by-election in his constituency and putting pressure on his successor, Rishi Sunak. The parliamentary inquiry was…
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US accuses Iran of aiding Russian drone factory near Moscow
The US government has accused Iran of assisting Russia in establishing a drone manufacturing facility near Moscow, indicating a deepening of their defence collaboration. According to a statement by White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, US intelligence has discovered that Iran has supplied material support for the plant, which could become operational early next year. Furthermore, US officials…
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Serbians demand interior minister resignation amid anti-violence protests
A wave of anti-government sentiment has swept through Serbia, with tens of thousands of citizens taking to the streets in Belgrade for the sixth time since May 3. This public outcry has been fueled by a perceived culture of violence, which many believe is responsible for the deaths of 18 individuals in two mass shootings. The protesters are calling for…
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Breaking Bad actor Mike Batayeh dies aged 52 from sudden heart attack
US actor and comedian Mike Batayeh, best known for his role in the hit series Breaking Bad, has passed away at the age of 52. His family informed TMZ that he died in his sleep on June 1 at his Michigan home, following a heart attack. Batayeh had no known history of heart problems, and his family described his passing…
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Officer rescues kidnapped woman after spotting ‘help me’ plea during traffic stop
A woman in South Carolina was rescued from her alleged kidnapper after mouthing “help me” to a police officer during a traffic stop. The incident occurred on 28 May when Officer Kayla Wallace stopped a white Jeep for running a red light. The distressed female driver informed Wallace that the male passenger, Collins Bates, 29 years old, had abducted her…
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Trump faces prison over classified files, obstructing investigation
Former US President Donald Trump faces criminal charges for the second time in recent months, this time concerning his handling of classified files after leaving the White House. Thousands of documents, including around 100 marked as classified, were seized in an FBI search at his Florida estate Mar-a-Lago last year. Legal experts suggest that Trump, who plans to run for…
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Ex-Trump aide charged over national security document mishandling
A former aide to ex-President Donald Trump, Walt Nauta, has been charged alongside Trump for the alleged mishandling of national security documents. Nauta, a US Navy veteran, served as a White House military valet during Trump’s presidency and later became his assistant at his Florida mansion after Trump left office. Nauta is facing six charges, including conspiracy to obstruct justice,…
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Backpack hero thwarts knife attack in Annecy, praised by Macron
A young man who has been hailed as a “hero with a backpack” in French media attempted to stop a knife attack in Annecy that left four children seriously injured. Henri, 24 years old, was captured on video chasing the suspect and using his bag to fend him off. As a Catholic pilgrim, he has been travelling around France visiting…
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Annecy knife attack: Child victims show positive recovery signs
Emmanuel Macron, the French President, has expressed optimism about the condition of child victims of a knife attack that took place in Annecy on Thursday. During his visit to the town, he mentioned that a young British girl had awoken after surgery, and a Dutch toddler was also said to be recovering. The suspect, a 31-year-old Syrian man with refugee…
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Ukrainian flood survivors rescued amid Russian occupation and destroyed bridges
The quaint southern Ukrainian village of Kardashynka, situated in the marshy lowlands of the Dnipro River’s eastern bank, remains under Russian occupation. Although the city of Kherson was liberated last November, destroyed bridges have prevented villagers from crossing the river. However, this week, amidst catastrophic floods, some villagers managed to make the journey as they were rescued. Maryna and Valentyna,…
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Ukraine’s counter-offensive escalates as Russian dam destruction causes floods
Ukraine’s long-awaited counter-offensive against Russian forces may have begun, as Russian President Vladimir Putin recently confirmed in a video interview. For weeks, Ukraine has been carrying out “shaping operations,” which involve long-range artillery and missile attacks on crucial Russian logistical targets. Small Ukrainian units have now moved towards Russian fortifications in southern Ukraine, southeast of Zaporizhzhia, indicating a possible shift…
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Mirror publisher apologises to actress Nikki Sanderson in hacking case
Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) has issued a court apology to former Coronation Street star Nikki Sanderson for using private investigators to gather stories about her. The apology was made during Sanderson’s ongoing High Court case against the publisher, where she is seeking damages for 37 articles published in the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror, and People newspapers between 1999 and 2009.…
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Teen dies in e-bike collision with ambulance after police pursuit
A tragic accident in Salford has left a 15-year-old boy dead after his e-bike collided with an ambulance. Saul Cookson was being followed by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) traffic officers when his e-bike crashed into a North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) vehicle. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has launched an investigation into the incident. Saul’s mother, Emma Frendo,…
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Boris Johnson’s resignation honours list rewards allies with peerages and knighthoods
Boris Johnson’s resignation honours list has been released, with some of his closest allies, including Priti Patel and Jacob Rees-Mogg, receiving peerages and other awards. The list was published just hours before Johnson stepped down as an MP. Simon Clarke and Rees-Mogg were both knighted, while Patel was made a dame. Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen and London Assembly member…
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Boris Johnson resigns as MP amid Partygate report controversy
Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced his immediate resignation as a Conservative MP following receipt of an advance copy of the Partygate report. The MP-led Privileges Committee investigated whether Johnson misled Parliament regarding lockdown-breaching parties at Downing Street. In response, Johnson accused the inquiry of attempting to “drive me out” and claimed the process was “the very definition of…
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Arrest made in search for missing 21-year-old Northern Ireland woman
Authorities in Northern Ireland are intensifying their search for Chloe Mitchell, a 21-year-old woman who has been missing for a week. Mitchell was last seen on CCTV in Ballymena town centre, County Antrim, on June 3. A 26-year-old man has been arrested in Lurgan, County Armagh, and is cooperating with the investigation. Mitchell is now considered a high-risk missing person,…
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Boris Johnson resigns as MP, blaming ‘anti-democratic’ privileges committee
In a surprising move, Boris Johnson has resigned as an MP, citing the Privileges Committee’s investigation into his statements about Downing Street parties as the reason for his departure. He accused the committee, chaired by Harriet Harman, of showing “egregious bias” and using the proceedings against him to drive him out of parliament. The cross-party Commons committee, which began its…
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Backpack hero saves children in French park stabbing rampage
A 24-year-old man has been praised as the “backpack hero” for confronting a suspect who had stabbed a British girl and five others in a French park, using his bag as a shield. Henri, who was on a nine-month Catholic pilgrimage around France’s cathedrals, acted on instinct to protect the children present during the attack. Four children, aged between 22…
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Nadine Dorries resigns as MP, triggering Mid Bedfordshire by-election
Nadine Dorries, former Conservative minister and close ally of Boris Johnson, has declared her resignation as an MP, effective immediately. Dorries, who previously served as the culture secretary, stated that it had been an honour to serve in Mid Bedfordshire and that it is now time for someone else to take over. The Tories currently hold a 24,000 majority in…
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Boris Johnson resigns as MP, claims witch hunt forces departure
In a surprising move, former Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced his immediate resignation as MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, a position he has held since 2015. Johnson claims that he is being “driven out” of politics by the Privileges Committee, which he accuses of using proceedings against him to force him out of Parliament. In a lengthy statement,…
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Boris Johnson quits as MP, triggering by-election
Boris Johnson has revealed his decision to resign as an MP, effective immediately, following the receipt of a report investigating whether he lied to MPs about partygate. In a scathing statement, the ex-prime minister claimed that the privileges committee was intent on using the proceedings against him to force him out of parliament. As a result, Johnson informed his association…
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Penang achieves 47% progress in 5 years towards 2030 Vision goals
Penang has made significant progress in its five-year plan after launching the Penang 2030 Vision, with 47% of the 210 projects and programmes implemented. Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow stated that the state government would continue to work towards making the Penang 2030 Vision a reality, with a focus on digital transformation, resilience, efficient data usage, and meeting the needs…
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Anwar urges journalists to initiate ideas, elevate Malaysia’s democratic capabilities
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has emphasised the crucial role journalists and the media play in Malaysia, stating that they have a responsibility to not only report accurate news but also to guide and initiate ideas for nation-building. He encouraged media practitioners to freely express their views and provide constructive criticism to the country’s leadership for improved governance. Anwar expressed his…
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Turkey’s first female central bank governor signals shift to conventional policies
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has appointed Hafize Gaye Erkan, a former US-based bank executive, as the first female governor of the country’s central bank. The move signals a potential shift towards more conventional economic policies under Erdogan’s administration. Erkan, 41 years old, is a former co-chief executive officer of the First Republic Bank and holds a Princeton education. Erdogan…
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Pakistan aims for $50bn budget to tackle economic crisis, unlock IMF funds
Pakistan’s government is set to present its annual budget, focusing on the nation’s precarious economic situation and the upcoming national elections. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar plans to propose a budget exceeding 14 trillion rupees (US$50bn), aiming for a 3.5% growth and a reduction in inflation to 21% from a record 38%. The government also hopes to generate over 9 trillion…
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US-Mexico border robot dogs escalate AI-driven surveillance threat
The US Department of Homeland Security’s announcement last year of deploying “robot dogs” along the US-Mexico border has raised concerns about the increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in border security operations. The programme aims to enhance the presence of US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and reduce human exposure to life-threatening hazards in the harsh Southwest landscape. The growing…
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UK net migration hits record high amid government efforts to reduce arrivals
Net migration to the United Kingdom has reached a record high, as the government grapples with reducing the number of arrivals. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) disclosed that 606,000 people arrived in 2022, marking a 24% increase compared to the previous year. In 2015, just before the Brexit referendum, net migration stood at approximately 330,000. Jay Lindop, director of…
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Ukraine counter-offensive targets Zaporizhzhia to regain Sea of Azov access
Ukrainian forces have reportedly launched attacks against Russian troops in the strategic southern Zaporizhzhia region, according to Russian officials and military bloggers. The Ukrainian military, supported by tanks, artillery, and drones, is said to be pushing south of the town of Orikhiv for a second consecutive night. A high-ranking Ukrainian defence official claimed that their enemy was in an “active…
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Teen arrested after serious assault at Devon private school
A violent assault at Blundell’s School in Tiverton, Devon, has left three individuals, including two students, in hospital with serious injuries. Local authorities have assured parents that the incident was isolated and that there is no wider risk to the community. A 16-year-old boy from Tiverton has been arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm with intent. Superintendent Antony…
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Labour MP Bambos Charalambous suspended amid conduct complaint
Labour MP Bambos Charalambous has been suspended from his position as shadow minister following a complaint regarding his conduct. The Labour Party has initiated an investigation after receiving a formal complaint through their internal process. Charalambous acknowledged the allegation on Twitter, stating that it is essential for the Labour Party to conduct a proper investigation.
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Mirror newspapers apologise to Nikki Sanderson for hiring private investigators
Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) has issued a court apology to former Coronation Street actress Nikki Sanderson after admitting to using private investigators to obtain stories about her. The publisher’s barrister expressed their “unequivocal apologies” and assured that such actions would not happen again. Sanderson is currently pursuing a High Court case against the newspapers, seeking damages for 37 articles published…
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Osborne’s advisory firm involved in $75bn Activision-Microsoft deal
The advisory firm Robey Warshaw, where former chancellor George Osborne is a partner, has secured a significant role in the US$75 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft. Robey Warshaw, established by British investment bankers Sir Simon Robey and Simon Warshaw, has been enlisted to advise the Call of Duty developer, Activision. Although the firm’s involvement in the takeover has…
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