NATO military chiefs meet as Finland and Sweden await accession green light

NATO Chiefs of defence are holding talks in Brussels focused on the alliance's long term defensive posture, as Russian invasion of Ukraine prompts a rethink of deployments on NATO's eastern flank.

Representatives of NATO members will be joined by partner countries including Finland and Sweden, a day after the two Nordic nations submitted their formal membership applications to the alliance.

Rosie Birchard reports from Brussels.

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Floods in India's Assam: more than 600,000 affected at least nine dead

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A flood in Assam has killed at least nine people and has affected more than six hundred thousand across the state.

1400 villages have been submerged under water.

Rescue efforts are on and nearly 48,000 people have been rescued.

India correspondent Ishan Garg tells us more.

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Australia – Assisted dying now legal in New South Wales.

The Australian state of New South Wales has passed voluntary assisted dying legislation.

The states parliament has given the bill the final stamp of approval after ten hours of debate on more than 100 amendments.

Shaun Bindley reports.

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Shanghai and Hong Kong further ease COVID-19 restrictions

Health authorities in Shanghai and Hong Kong are continuing to relax strict COVID-19 rules, in a bid to encourage an economic recovery. Businesses in both cities have been hit hard by extended lockdowns or restrictions amid virus outbreaks this year. 
Richard Kimber reports from Hong Kong.

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US markets post worse day since 2020 on inflation fears

The U.S. stock market has posted its worst day since 2020 as inflation
fears continue to spook investors.

This comes as a major US retailer posted a disappointing quarterly
earnings report.

William Denselow reports from New York.

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White House COVID-19 taskforce warn masks and new funding needed

Health officials warned on Wednesday that as many as a third of people living in the U.S. are in areas of such high COVID-19 transmission, they should consider wearing masks indoors.

Caroline Malone reports from Washington.

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US Soccer agrees equal pay for men and women

The US Soccer Federation has reached a deal to pay players in the
men's and women's national teams the same amount.

It's the end to a bitter six-year equal pay dispute.

Nick Harper reports from Washington.

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White House warns of North Korea tests during Biden Asia trip

The White House says there is a "genuine possibility" North Korea will
carry out a missile or nuclear test during President Joe Biden's trip
to Asia later this week.

Biden is making this first trip as President to the Indo-Pacific, with
visits to meet the leaders of South Korea and Japan.

He plans to reaffirm the US security alliances with both countries in
the face of growing competition from China.

But National Security Adviser Jack Sullivan told reporters at the
White House North Korea may show its displeasure at the President's
visit to the region.

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Ahead of the Asia trip, President Biden welcomes the leaders of
Finland and Sweden to the White House on Thursday.
Both countries have applied to join NATO but Turkey has signaled its
intention to block their accession.

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New York court to rule on elephant's rights

New York's top court is considering whether an elephant at the Bronx Zoo should be released because of a complaint that she is being held illegally.

The case is part of an effort by animal rights activists to expand the legal rights of animals.

US correspondent Ira Spitzer has more 

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UK FUEL PRICES REACH ANOTHER RECORD HIGH

Petrol prices in the UK have hit another record high. Retailers have been told the competitions watchdog is monitoring the situation, as consumers are hit with yet another cost-of-living pressure. Laura Makin-Isherwood has more from London.

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Primary results show Trump's influence over GOP

Republicans who sought to overturn the 2020 election have won primaries in two US states, reflecting the continued impact of former president Donald Trump's false claims that the election was rigged.

But Mr Trump's favoured candidates did not win everywhere as Kate Fisher reports from Washington.

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Russia expels diplomats from Spain and Italy

Russia has expelled over 50 European diplomats in what's being described as a tit-for-tat move.

Well over 300 Russian diplomats have been expelled from Europe alone since the invasion of Ukraine began, more could yet still be given their marching orders.

Chris Jones has more from Riga Latvia.

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Climate crisis broke fresh records last year: UN report

A new United Nations climate report reveals that the climate crisis
broke new records in 2021.

The world body estimates that the past seven years have been the
hottest ever recorded.

William Denselow reports from UN headquarters in New York.

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DRC REACTS TO UPDF PLANNED WITHDRAWAL

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Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo have said it is premature to discuss the withdrawal of Ugandan troops battling an Islamist militia in the east of the country.

Communications Minister, Patrick Muyaya made the remarks in reaction to a tweet by Uganda's Land Forces Commander indicating that they would pull out their troops from the eastern DRC in two weeks time. 

Chris Ocamringa has more from Kinshasa..

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Nigerian Govt. Tasks Facebook Against Hate Posts By Separatist Group, IPOB

The Nigerian government has tasked social media platform Facebook against allowing separatist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB from using it to incite violence and hatred in the country.

 

It says the group has been proscribed and classified as a terrorist organisation.

 

Correspondent Tesem Akende reports.

 

TAKE RADIO

 

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Almost half of new UK nurses trained abroad

Almost half of new nurses and midwives in the UK trained abroad, according to new data.

A new report from the Nursing and Midwifery Council also shows record numbers of nurses are leaving the profession.

Sally Patterson has more in London.

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Drought Ravages East Africa

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A new report by Oxfam and Save the Children  has found that the East African region is experiencing extreme hunger.

The humanitarian agencies warn one person is likely dying every 48 seconds in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia.

Isabel Nakirya reports.

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Fears over the fate of the 1K Ukrainian troops said to have surrendered from Azovstal steelworks

Nearly 1000 Ukrainian fighters have left the Azovstal steelworks over the past 2 days, says the Ukrainian government.

Most have now been taken to Russian controlled towns and there are now fears though over what their fate might be.

Chris Jones has more from Riga, Latvia.

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GERMAN OPPOSITION SLAMS SCHOLZ OVER UKRAINE

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has been slammed by his political opponents over his government's response to Ukraine. 

Germany's conservative opposition leader Friedrich Merz said the government isn't acting fast enough in getting heavy weaponry into the hands of the Ukrainian military. 

Trent Murray reports from Berlin 

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Finland and Sweden apply for NATO membership

Finland and Sweden have applied for membership of the NATO military alliance.

Ambassadors representing the two countries met with alliance chief Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday morning to officially hand over their letters of application.

Rosie Birchard reports from Brussels, where NATO is headquartered.

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