Noontime News Recap: Congo Ebola toll climbs as Hormuz hit and tariff tensions deepen
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has worsened sharply, with confirmed cases rising to 4,945 and deaths reaching 2,325 as health authorities struggle to contain the spread. 🔗
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In the Middle East, a ship was hit in the Strait of Hormuz as Iran's top negotiator said the waterway would remain shut, raising fresh concern over one of the world's most sensitive shipping routes. 🔗
Also in the region, eight air strikes hit the runway at Abu al Duhur military base in Syria's Idlib province, damaging the airfield but causing no reported casualties. In Damascus, a court sentenced Wassim al Assad to death after convicting him of multiple murders and of murder accompanied by torture and brutality. 🔗 🔗
In the occupied West Bank, three Palestinian families in Qusra, south of Nablus, have remained trapped in their homes for more than a week during a siege by Israeli settlers. 🔗
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Security tensions also widened in Asia Pacific, where Australia and Japan's defence ministers met in Canberra to discuss regional concerns after Donald Trump ordered a substantial reduction in planned joint drills with South Korea. 🔗 🔗
South Korea has responded by renewing its push to bring wartime operational control back to Seoul, arguing the latest cut in exercises underlines the need for greater national control over its own defence. 🔗
Russia has warned the United Kingdom it will face consequences after reports that British made drones were used in strikes on targets inside mainland Russia. Separately, Russian state banker Andrey Klepach has been removed as chief economist at VEB after warning that the war in Ukraine was driving up costs for the state. 🔗 🔗
In a separate defence move, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed the Mecca Pact, a defence agreement under which an attack on one signatory would be treated as an attack on all, although the text has not yet been published. 🔗
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Canada is meanwhile racing to avert looming 50 percent US tariffs on a broad range of exports, with officials making a last ditch effort to secure a reprieve before the measures take effect. 🔗
Sources in this recap
- 🔗 DR Congo Ebola outbreak worsens as deaths rise to 2,325 and cases reach 4,945
- 🔗 Ship hit in the Strait of Hormuz as Iran's top negotiator says passage will remain shut
- 🔗 Canada races to avert looming 50% US tariffs on exports
- 🔗 Eight air strikes hit Abu al-Duhur airbase in Syria's Idlib province
- 🔗 Qusra siege enters second week as families remain trapped in West Bank homes
- 🔗 Trump scales back US drills with South Korea as allied ministers meet in Canberra
- 🔗 Russia warns UK over reports of British-made drones used in strikes on mainland Russia
- 🔗 Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan sign Mecca defence pact as text remains unpublished
- 🔗 Damascus court sentences Wassim al-Assad to death over murders and war crimes
- 🔗 Russian state banker removed after warning war costs are rising
- 🔗 South Korea renews push for wartime command transfer after Trump cuts joint drills
#Ebola #Hormuz #tariffs #defence #Congo #breakingrecap #recapnoon
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