By Sarah Morland MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Residents in south-western Mexico on Saturday evacuated from homes flooded by the remnants of Hurricane John that ravaged the Pacific coastline for a week, bringing deadly floods and landslides that left 22 people reported dead. In Guerrero, the worst-hit state and one of Mexico’s poorest, 18 people were killed, according to local media, many due to mudslides that crushed houses. To the south, local media reported three deaths […]
International
China says US missile deployment in Philippines undermines peace
SHANGHAI (Reuters) – Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the U.S. deployment of intermediate-range missiles in the Philippines “undermines regional peace and stability”, the foreign ministry said on Sunday. Speaking to South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul in New York on Saturday, Wang also called for avoiding “war or chaos on the Korean Peninsula”, the ministry said in a post on its website. The U.S. deployed the Typhon system, which can be equipped with cruise […]
Kremlin says Russia’s updated nuclear doctrine is being formalised
MOSCOW (Reuters) – The Kremlin said on Sunday that amendments to Russia’s nuclear doctrine had been prepared and were about to be formalised, meaning the relevant documents setting out the circumstances in which nuclear arms can be used by Moscow will be updated. President Vladimir Putin warned the West on Wednesday that under proposed changes to the doctrine Russia could use nuclear arms if it was struck with conventional missiles and would consider any assault […]
Nepal closes schools as deaths from heavy rains hit 129
By Gopal Sharma KATHMANDU (Reuters) -Nepal has shut schools for three days after landslides and floods triggered by two days of heavy rain across the Himalayan nation killed 129 people, with 62 missing, officials said on Sunday. The floods brought traffic and normal activity to a standstill in the Kathmandu valley, where 37 deaths were recorded in a region home to 4 million people and the capital. Authorities said students and their parents faced difficulties […]
US, Asia-Pacific nations hold joint maritime exercises in South China Sea
By Neil Jerome Morales MANILA (Reuters) – The armed forces of five countries conducted joint maritime exercises in a portion of the South China Sea on Saturday as China carried out its own military drills in the disputed waterway. The exercises involving the Philippines, United States, Australia, Japan and – for the first time – New Zealand took place in Manila’s exclusive economic zone and sought to improve the militaries’ interoperability, the Philippine armed forces […]
US southeast faces daunting task cleaning up from Helene; death toll rises
By Rich McKay, Joseph Ax and Andrew Hay ATLANTA (Reuters) – Authorities across a wide swath of the southeastern United States faced the daunting task on Saturday of cleaning up from Hurricane Helene, one of the most powerful to hit the country, as the death toll continued to rise. At least 43 deaths were reported by late on Friday, and officials feared still more bodies would be discovered across several states. Helene, downgraded late on […]
Lebanon’s Nasrallah led Hezbollah to become regional force
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, whose death was announced on Saturday, led the Lebanese group through decades of conflict with Israel, overseeing its transformation into a military force with regional sway and becoming one of the most prominent Arab figures in generations – with Iranian backing. Hezbollah said in a statement that Nasrallah had been killed, but it did not say how. The Israeli military said earlier it had killed Nasrallah in […]
Iran’s Supreme Leader moved to secure location under heightened security, sources say
DUBAI (Reuters) – Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been transferred to a secure location inside the country with heightened security measures in place, two regional officials briefed by Tehran told Reuters. The sources said Iran was in constant contact with Lebanon’s Hezbollah and other regional proxy groups to determine the next step after Israel announced that it had killed Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah in a strike on south Beirut on Friday. (Dubai […]
Lebanon’s Hezbollah confirms leader Nasrallah killed
DUBAI (Reuters) -Lebanon’s Hezbollah confirmed on Saturday that its leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah was killed. The group said in a statement it would continue its battle against Israel “in support of Gaza and Palestine, and in defence of Lebanon and its steadfast and honourable people”. Israel said earlier on Saturday it had killed Nasrallah in an airstrike in Beirut’s southern suburbs a day earlier. Hezbollah’s Al-Manar TV started airing Koran verses after the announcement of […]
Israeli military says it has killed Hezbollah chief Nasrallah
By Ari Rabinovitch and Maya Gebeily JERUSALEM/BEIRUT (Reuters) -Israel said on Saturday it had killed Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah in an airstrike in Beirut’s southern suburbs a day earlier in what would be a devastating blow to the group as it reels from an escalating campaign of Israeli attacks. Reuters could not immediately reach Hezbollah officials for comment. The Iran-backed Hezbollah has yet to issue any statement on the status of Nasrallah, its leader […]
Israel says it has secured $8.7 billion U.S. aid package
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel said on Thursday it had secured an $8.7 billion aid package from the United States to support its ongoing military efforts and to maintain a qualitative military edge in the region. The package includes $3.5 billion for essential wartime procurement, which has already been received and earmarked for critical military purchases, and $5.2 billion designated for air defense systems including the Iron Dome anti-missile system, David’s Sling and an advanced laser […]
Japan’s LDP picks new leader to replace outgoing PM Kishida
By Sakura Murakami and John Geddie TOKYO (Reuters) -Japan’s ruling party will hold one of the most unpredictable leadership contests in decades on Friday, a race that could result in Japan’s youngest or first female premier, or see a popular veteran succeed in his fifth and final leadership bid. The scramble to replace current premier Fumio Kishida was sparked in August when he announced his intention to step down over a series of scandals that […]