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UN cuts 2026 global growth forecast to 2.5%; developing-country inflation to hit 5.2%
UN mid-2026 update flags one of the weakest non-crisis growth years this century; West Asia GDP to plunge from 3.6% to 1.4% on energy and conflict shocks.
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US Senate advances Iran war powers resolution 50–47 in rare Republican rebuke of Trump
Procedural vote clears chamber as Republicans break ranks; Schumer warns of "toddler with a loaded gun" but measure still faces House and veto hurdles.
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Ebola death toll in DR Congo rises to at least 120
Bundibugyo outbreak in Ituri has killed 120, up from 80 when WHO declared a global health emergency on May 17; three new treatment centres planned.
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Iran Army Warns of 'New Fronts' Against US if Attacks Resume
Iran's army warned Tuesday it would 'open new fronts' against the US if attacks resume, after Trump paused a planned strike to allow Pakistani-mediated talks.
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US offers quarter of Iran's frozen funds in latest peace proposal — Reuters
Iran's revised proposal via Pakistan sees Washington willing to release a quarter of frozen Iranian assets and accept supervised peaceful nuclear activity.
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Putin arrives in Beijing for two-day Xi summit as China hosts Russia, US leaders in same month
Russian President Vladimir Putin landed in Beijing for two-day talks with Xi Jinping covering the US-Iran war, energy and the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline.
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Putin Arrives in Beijing for Two-Day Xi Visit Amid US-Iran War
Putin lands in Beijing for two-day Xi talks on US-Iran war, energy and Power of Siberia 2, marking China hosting all four other P5 leaders within months.
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Seven multilateral banks pledge coordinated support for countries hit by Middle East spillover
MDBs commit to fast-disbursing budget support, supply-chain financing and MSME working capital for economies hit by inflation, food and energy shocks.
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Sri Lanka Opens Talks With Israel to Free Detained Sumud Flotilla Member Sameera Mehboob
FM Vijitha Herath says Colombo is interceding with Israel to free activist Sameera Mehboob, detained after the latest Gaza flotilla interception.
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Thailand cuts visa-free stay from 60 to 30 days over scam, abuse concerns
Cabinet reverses 2024 expansion; some nationalities limited to 15 days. Move comes as Q1 arrivals fell 3.4% and Middle East travellers dropped 30%.
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Trump pauses scheduled Iran attack after Saudi and Qatari intervention
US president cancels imminent strike at request of Saudi Crown Prince and Qatari Emir; warns full-scale assault remains ready if deal not reached.
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Wang Yi outlines four pillars for China-US 'strategic stability' after Xi-Trump summit
FM Wang Yi describes the Xi-Trump talks as a nine-hour 'historic' meeting and confirms Xi will visit the US in autumn; APEC and G20 to anchor cooperation.
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Adani Enterprises to pay US$275 million to US Treasury over Iran sanctions case
Adani Enterprises agreed to pay US$275 million to settle US Treasury claims of Iran sanctions violations, with SEC and DOJ resolutions also advancing.
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Hantavirus-hit cruise ship MV Hondius docks at Rotterdam for disinfection
MV Hondius docked at Rotterdam Monday as Dutch authorities prepare quarantine for 25 crew and two medical staff after three Andes virus deaths off Cape Verde.
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Global oil stocks declining 'very fast', IEA chief warns
IEA chief Fatih Birol says commercial inventories are depleting rapidly even as 32 member countries release 426 million barrels of strategic reserves.
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Israeli Navy intercepts Global Sumud Flotilla off Cyprus, Sri Lankan participant aboard
Commandos boarded vessels of the 50-boat Gaza-bound flotilla off Cyprus on Monday; Sri Lankan participant Sameera Mahboobdeen is part of the fleet.
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Kenya transport paralysed as matatu strike erupts over Hormuz-driven fuel hike
Privately owned minibuses across Kenya struck Monday after a 23.5% diesel price hike triggered by Iran's effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
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Maldives recovery operation locates four Italian divers' bodies in Vaavu Atoll cave
Bodies of all four missing Italian divers located inside Vaavu Atoll cave after Maldives-led search; recovery dives continue. One rescue diver died Saturday.
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Oil prices hit two-week high after UAE Barakah nuclear plant drone strike
Brent climbed to $110.70 a barrel and WTI to $107.26 on Monday as the UAE Barakah attack and stalled US-Iran talks deepened Hormuz disruption fears.
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Sri Lanka High Commission in Singapore warns nationals against visa overstaying
The mission warned Sri Lankans that overstaying a Singapore visa or immigration pass carries arrest, prosecution, fines, deportation and possible imprisonment.
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Trump warns 'clock is ticking' as Iran nuclear talks hit impasse
Trump issues a stark Truth Social ultimatum to Tehran as Iran demands Hormuz sovereignty and the US insists on uranium transfer, leaving talks at an impasse.
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UN demands Israel prevent acts of 'genocide' in Gaza, flags ethnic cleansing
A UN rights office report says Israel's actions since October 2023 amount in many cases to war crimes and indicate ethnic cleansing in Gaza and the West Bank.
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US offers to suspend Iran oil sanctions during talks; Tehran demands full removal — Tasnim
Tasnim report says the new draft would waive OFAC oil sanctions during talks, but Iran wants complete removal as a condition for any final deal.
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Veteran Sri Lankan Journalist DBS Jeyaraj Dies in Canada at 72
Tamil political analyst D.B.S. Jeyaraj, widely read for decades on Sri Lanka's civil war and post-war reconciliation, has died at 72.