SEOUL – North Korea sounded a bellicose note in its first communication with the outside world since the death of leader Kim Jong-il, saying its confrontational stance against South Korea would not change and labelling its opponents “foolish”.
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MADRID – Spain’s new government said yesterday that this year’s budget deficit would be much larger than expected and announced a slew of surprise tax hikes and wage freezes that could drag the country back to the centre of the euro zone debt crisis.
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DES MOINES, Iowa – The long and sometimes quirky drama of electing a U.S. president, marked by obscure rules and long-held traditions, begins on Tuesday in more than 800 schools, libraries, churches and homes across Iowa.
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TEHRAN – Iran will fire long-range missiles during a naval drill in the Gulf today, a semi-official news agency reported, a show of force at a time when Iran has threatened to close shipping lanes if the West imposes sanctions on its oil exports.
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GAZA/JERUSALEM – Israel killed the leader of an al Qaeda-inspired faction in the Gaza Strip yesterday, accusing him of involvement in firing rockets and a planned attack on the Jewish state from the neighbouring Egyptian Sinai.
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MURMANSK, Russia – Russia said yesterday it had doused a raging blaze aboard a nuclear submarine after nearly a full day and night, by partially submerging the vessel after battling the flames with water from helicopters and tug boats.
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ABUJA – Nigerian security services are considering making contact with moderate members of shadowy Islamist sect Boko Haram via “back channels”, even though explicit talks are officially ruled out, the national security adviser said yesterday.
