US AND RUSSIA BEGIN UKRAINE TALKS IN SAUDI

The US and Russia are beginning talks in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.

Russia's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio are in Riyadh for discussions Washington says will find out if Moscow is 'serious' about an end to the conflict.

Neither Ukraine nor any European nations have been invited to the talks.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer says Europe and the US need to put Kyiv in the best position possible for negotiations.

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China anger as US amends wording on Taiwan independence

INTRO:  China accused the United States on Monday of a "serious regression" in its position on Taiwan, after the State Department updated the Taiwan section of its website to remove a reference to the independence of the Beijing-claimed island.

The move has been welcomed by Taiwan, with its Foreign Minister thanking the US for what he called "positive, Taiwan-friendly wordings". Laura Westbrook has more.

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WHITE HOUSE ASKS US SUPREME COURT TO RULE ON FIRING OF AGENCY HEAD

President Donald Trump is seeking approval from the US Supreme Court to remove the leader of an independent ethics agency.

Hampton Dellinger, who oversees the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, an agency dedicated to safeguarding government employees who report misconduct, is challenging his dismissal.

Mitch McCann reports

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Millions affected by extreme weather across United States

Powerful storms have battered vast swathes of America's southeast, causing multiple fatalities and leaving hundreds of thousands of homes without power.

US President Donald Trump has approved a request for disaster relief funding.

But more extreme weather is expected in the days ahead. 

Benji Hyer reports. 

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U.S. Secretary of State to hold talks on Ukraine with Russian Foreign Minister in Saudi

INTRO:

The US wants rights to half of Ukraine's mineral deposits, as part of a potential future deal to ensure their security. Ukraine's President is due to meet the leader of Turkey on Tuesday. As US officials are in Saudi Arabia, meeting Russian officials.

Caroline Malone reports. 

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UN seeks $6 billion to fund Sudan crisis

The United Nations says it needs six billion dollars this year to fund
humanitarian operations in Sudan.
The world body says this significant increase in the 2025 budget is
partly due to the funding shortfall as a result of U.S President,
Donald Trump's pause in global funding.
Jody Jacobs reports from the United Nations in New York.

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Dozens killed in Mali illegal gold mine collapse

In Mali, dozens of people have been killed in an illegal gold mine collapse.

At least 40 bodies - including those of many women and a baby - have been retrieved during rescue efforts.


It's raising safety concerns at gold mining sites in the West African nation.


Correspondent Nabil Ahmed Rufai reports.

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Dozens killed in Mali illegal gold mine collapse

In Mali, dozens of people have been killed in an illegal gold mine collapse.

At least 40 bodies - including those of many women and a baby - have been retrieved during rescue efforts.

It's raising safety concerns at gold mining sites in the West African nation.

Correspondent Nabil Ahmed Rufai reports.

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PM Says UK Ready To Deploy Peacekeepers To Ukraine If Deal Reached

The UK Prime Minister has said that he is ready to deploy British troops to Ukraine in peacekeeping efforts, should a deal be reached to end the war between Russia and Ukraine. 

Talks between the US and Russia are set to begin this week, with European leaders meeting in Paris on Monday to discuss Ukraine and wider defence policy. 

Simon Gaitán reports. 

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A World bank delegation arrives in Islamabad

Intro:

A World Bank delegation is in Pakistan to discuss a $40 billion loan for the next ten years.

The visit- the first in two decades- comes as Islamabad works to shore up its financial partnerships at a time when its economy is struggling.

Hira Mustafa has more.

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RADIO: DRC CONDEMNS M23 ADVANCE

INTRO:

The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo has condemned the M23 rebels for seizing the eastern city of Bukavu and violating a ceasefire called by regional leaders at a recent summit in Tanzania. The rebels marched into Bukavu on Saturday night after government forces withdrew from the area. Chris Ocamringa has more from Kinshasa..

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RUSSIA & U.S. OFFICIALS MEET IN SAUDI BUT UKRAINIANS NOT INVITED

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is in the Middle East but has not been invited to talks between the US and Russia.

He's in the UAE and is later due to travel to Saudi Arabia where on Tuesday officials from Washington and Moscow will discuss ending the war in Ukraine.

Stuart Smith reports.

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Trump administration bullish over phase two of Gaza ceasefire deal

U.S. President Donald Trump's Special Envoy to the Middle East says negotiations over moving into phase two of the Gaza ceasefire deal will start this week.

The first phase is set to expire in early March - but splits remain in Israel's governing coalition over whether to continue the ceasefire or restart military operations in the enclave.

Giles Gibson reports from Tel Aviv.

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UK: 'READY' TO DEPLOY PEACEKEEPING TROOPS IN UKRAINE

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer says he's "ready and willing" to deploy British peacekeeping troops to Ukraine if a deal is made with Russia.

The prime minister will be among the European leaders at an emergency summit in Paris later.

Keir Starmer says any peace deal must safeguard Ukraine's sovereignty over the long term.

Former deputy chief of UK defence staff Lieutenant General Sir Simon Mayall says Britain will need a huge shift on defence spending.

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European leaders' summit on Ukraine and Europe's security

European leaders are meeting in Paris on Monday for emergency talks on support for Ukraine and the wider security picture in Europe.

The summit comes as US and Russian officials prepare to hold talks in Saudi Arabia on ending the war in Ukraine.

Ross Cullen reports.

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President Trump says Putin wants to 'stop fighting' in Ukraine

Ahead of talks between US and Russian officials, American President Donald Trump says Vladimir Putin wants to 'stop the conflict' in Ukraine.

President Trump says the two had a long and 'hard' talk on the Ukrainian conflict.

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India's opposition calls for resignation of railway minister after deadly stampede in New Delhi

In New Delhi - calls are growing for the resignation of India's railway minister - a day after 18 people were killed in a stampede at an overcrowded railway station in the capital city.


The youngest victim was seven years old and the oldest 79.



A probe is underway but the opposition claims the government is suppressing details of the tragedy, as Sreoshi Mukherjee reports... 

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Third plane lands in India carrying deportees amid Donald Trump's crackdown

A US military plane has arrived in India with a third batch of deportees as part of President Donald Trump's crackdown on illegal migrants.

The deportations are in focus after a political row broke out in India over the treatment of citizens, some of whom were shackled on one of the flights.

Rebecca Bundhun reports from Mumbai.

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US-Russia talks to end Ukraine war

US Secretary of State Macro Rubio and senior Trump administration advisors are en route to Saudi Arabia to hold talks with Russian officials about ending the war in Ukraine.

The White House's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz are also being sent on behalf of President Donald Trump.

But Ukraine, which was invaded by Russia three years ago, won't have a seat at this negotiating table — and no invitation was granted to any European nations either.

Benji Hyer reports.

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U.S. Disaster Assistance Response Teams no longer able to operate due to USAID slash

Moves to close the U.S. international aid agency are now preventing global disaster response teams from operating.

As part of a mega efficiency push, digital support employees are among the latest to be terminated by the administration's DOGE department.

Caroline Malone reports.

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