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East Timor Joins ASEAN As 11th Member In Landmark Move

East Timor Joins ASEAN As 11th Member In Landmark Move

October 26, 2025 3:34 am

The tiny Southeast Asian nation of Timor‑Leste (also known as East Timor) officially became the 11th member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at a formal ceremony held on 26 October 2025 in Kuala Lumpur. This milestone was marked by the raising of Timor-Leste’s flag alongside those of the other ten members. 

This accession is more than symbolic: for Timor-Leste, it opens the door to ASEAN’s free trade deals, investment flows and membership in a regional market of some 680 million people. Despite its modest economy, estimated at around US $2 billion compared with ASEAN’s collective …

Pakistan Afghanistan Ceasefire: Minister Warns Of “Open War”

Pakistan Afghanistan Ceasefire: Minister Warns Of “Open War”

October 25, 2025 6:30 pm

Officials from Pakistan and Afghanistan gathered in Istanbul beginning Saturday for a second round of negotiations aimed at cementing a recently brokered cease fire, with Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif warning that failure to reach an agreement could lead to “open war” between the neighbours. 

The diplomatic meeting in Turkiye follows a truce negotiated in Doha last week by Qatar and Turkey to stop deadly cross-border clashes that killed dozens and wounded hundreds. The discussions intend to move beyond the cease-fire and craft a lasting mechanism for preventing future violence.

Asif said from the Pakistani city of Sialkot, “We …

Trump Imposes Extra 10% Tariff On Canada Over Ad Row

Trump Imposes Extra 10% Tariff On Canada Over Ad Row

October 25, 2025 6:04 pm

President Donald Trump announced a fresh 10-percent tariff on Canadian goods following a dispute about an Ontario-province advertisement featuring former President Ronald Reagan. The move marks a sharp escalation in U.S.-Canada trade tensions.

In a social-media post on Saturday, Trump accused Canada of running a “FRAUD” advertisement during the World Series that he said misrepresented Reagan’s views. He wrote that the ad “was to be taken down, IMMEDIATELY,” yet “they let it run last night… knowing that it was a FRAUD.” As a result, “I am increasing the Tariff on Canada by 10% over and above what they are paying …

Catherine Connolly Elected President Of Ireland In Landslide

Catherine Connolly Elected President Of Ireland In Landslide

October 25, 2025 5:13 pm

Independent left-wing candidate Catherine Connolly has won Ireland’s presidential election with approximately 63 percent of the first-preference vote, officially becoming the country’s 10th president. Her victory over centre-right rival Heather Humphreys (who won about 29 percent) marks a notable shift in Irish politics. 

Connolly, 68, a former barrister and lawmaker from Galway, said at Dublin Castle that she would be “a president who listens, who reflects and who speaks when it’s necessary.” She added, “Together we can shape a new republic that values everybody.”

Backed by left-leaning parties including Sinn Féin, the Labour Party and the Social Democrats, Connolly campaigned …

Gaza Medical Evacuations Stall As Children Die Waiting

Gaza Medical Evacuations Stall As Children Die Waiting

October 25, 2025 3:57 pm

Children in Gaza are dying while waiting for life saving treatment outside the territory, as calls grow for Israel to allow more medical evacuations during the current ceasefire.

Health officials say thousands of critically injured or chronically ill people have been left in limbo. Many have conditions that doctors inside Gaza cannot treat because hospitals lack equipment, medicines and working facilities after more than a year of war.

On Wednesday, the World Health Organisation helped the first small group of patients leave since the pause in fighting began on ten October. Forty one people in urgent need of care travelled …

US Warship Deployment In Caribbean Raises Venezuela Tension

US Warship Deployment In Caribbean Raises Venezuela Tension

October 25, 2025 3:05 pm

The United States has sent the USS Gerald R Ford to the Caribbean, sharply increasing its military presence near Venezuela. Washington says the massive carrier and accompanying forces are part of its campaign against drug traffickers in the region.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has accused President Donald Trump of preparing a conflict. He claims the decision is meant to threaten his government rather than fight crime.

Maduro told state media that Washington promised to stay out of overseas conflicts yet is now “fabricating a war”. His comments follow a string of US air strikes on boats said to be …

Hundreds Honor Slain Cheerleader During Final Hospital Walk

Hundreds Honor Slain ‘Cheerleader’ During Final Hospital Walk

October 25, 2025 4:34 am

Students gather in Alabama hospital halls to bid farewell to 18-year-old Cheerleader Kimber Mills, who was fatally shot at a bonfire and became an organ donor.

Hundreds of students lined the corridors of an Alabama hospital this week to say a final goodbye to 18-year-old Cheerleader Kimber Mills, who was taken off life support after being shot during a weekend bonfire.

The emotional scene unfolded as Mills was wheeled into surgery for organ donation — a wish she had expressed before her death. Her family and classmates formed an “honor walk,” quietly paying tribute to the high school senior whose …

Croatia Mandatory Military Service Returns Amid Security Worries

Croatia Mandatory Military Service Returns Amid Security Worries

October 24, 2025 5:29 pm

Croatian lawmakers have voted to bring back compulsory military service for young men from next year. The government says the move will strengthen the country’s defence as conflicts continue in Europe and tension grows around the world.

The decision marks the end of a period that began in 2008 when Croatia stopped conscription while preparing to join NATO. Officials now argue that today’s risks require a larger pool of citizens with basic training.

Defence Minister Ivan Anusic told parliament that Croatia faces “a rise in various types of threats” that demand quick and effective action from society as a whole. …

U.S. Strike In Caribbean Kills Six Suspected Narco Terrorists

U.S. Strike In Caribbean Kills Six Suspected Narco Terrorists

October 24, 2025 4:04 pm

A United States military strike destroyed a vessel in the Caribbean overnight, killing six people Washington says were suspected members of the Tren de Aragua criminal group. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the operation on Friday, describing it as part of President Donald Trump’s expanding counter drug campaign in the region.

The Pentagon says the strike is the eleventh attack of its kind in recent months, as Washington increases missions aimed at intercepting maritime drug activity linked to organised crime networks.

Hegseth shared a short video on X showing a fast moving vessel in the water before being hit …

K-Pop Park Bom’s ‘$4.5 Quadrillion Lawsuit’ Sparks Confusion

K-Pop Park Bom’s ‘$4.5 Quadrillion Lawsuit’ Sparks Confusion

October 24, 2025 4:41 am

Singer Park Bom’s viral claim of a $4.5 quadrillion lawsuit against YG Entertainment was swiftly denied by her agency as fans questioned the bizarre post.

A viral social media post on Wednesday October 22, 2025, by K-Pop singer Park Bom claiming she had filed a $4.5 quadrillion lawsuit against her former management company, YG Entertainment, has ignited a wave of confusion and speculation across South Korea’s entertainment industry.

The extraordinary claim surfaced earlier this week when Bom, a member of the hit girl group 2NE1, shared what appeared to be a legal document on Instagram listing herself as a plaintiff

…
UNICAL: 62 Dentistry Students Transferred To Rivers University

UNICAL: 62 Dentistry Students Transferred To Rivers University

October 24, 2025 2:42 am

This move follows protests and intervention by regulators after UNICAL’s over-admission crisis exposed gaps in Nigeria’s higher education oversight.

The University of Calabar (UNICAL) has transferred 62 students from its Department of Dentistry to Rivers State University (RSU), ending months of uncertainty following the institution’s controversial over-admission crisis.

The decision comes after weeks of negotiations between UNICAL, the National Universities Commission (NUC), and the Nigerian Dental Association. Officials said the transfer aims to safeguard the academic progress of affected students after it was discovered that UNICAL’s dental program lacked full accreditation to accommodate the number of admitted candidates.

The issue

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Trump Ends Trade Talks With Canada After Reagan Ad clash

Trump Ends Trade Talks With Canada After Reagan Ad Clash

October 24, 2025 2:41 am

United States President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he is canceling all trade negotiations with Canada, pointing to an Ontario’s contentious ad which he described as “eregious” as the reason.

In a post on his social media site, he wrote “Because of their eregious behavior, ALL TRADE TALKS WITH CANADA ARE HEREBY

In addition to halting negotiations, the administration imposed a 35% tariff on Canadian imports, with the auto and metals industries being the most severely impacted: 25% for the auto industry, and 50% for the metal industry.

But even after raising these tariffs, Trump excluded goods covered under …

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