Author: National Tone

Republican Kevin McCarthy was elected as the speaker of the US House of Representatives on Saturday after five days of chaotic voting. But his elevation comes after conceding major concessions to an ultraconservative bloc of the party. The 57-year-old representative from California suffered one final humiliation when Representative Matt Gaetz withheld his vote on the 14th ballot as midnight approached, prompting a scuffle in which fellow Republican Mike Rogers had to be physically pulled away. McCarthy’s victory in the 15th ballot ended the deepest congressional dysfunction in more than 160 years. But it sharply illustrated the difficulties he will face…

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Protesters demand resignation of President Dina Boluarte, who took office last month after the removal of Pedro Castillo.Dozens of anti-government protesters have clashed with police in southern Peru amid renewed unrest in the wake of the removal and detention of former President Pedro Castillo. The protesters attempted to take over the airport and police used tear gas to disperse them, the Reuters news agency reported. Demonstrators set fire to a police tank outside the Inca Manco Capac airport in Juliaca, in Peru’s Puno region late on Friday, according to local media reports and images circulating on social media. Demonstrations against…

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Islamabad, Pakistan – Pakistan’s new army chief has held talks with top Saudi officials, including the defence minister, on his first official trip to the Gulf kingdom as the South Asian country faces an unprecedented economic crisis. General Syed Asim Munir, who took charge in November, has followed in the footsteps of his predecessors in visiting Saudi Arabia – a close defence and economic ally – on his maiden overseas trip. He will also visit the United Arab Emirates during the nearly one-week trip. “The COAS will be meeting the senior leadership of both brotherly countries to discuss matters of…

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The Philadelphia Phillies have acquired all-star reliever Gregory Soto from the Detroit Tigers in a five-player trade, the team announced Saturday. .acf-block-preview .instagram-twitter-container width: 340px; margin: 0 auto; In addition to Soto, Philadelphia would also receive utility player Kody Clemens while sending infielder/outfielder Nick Maton, outfielder Matt Vierling and catcher Donny Sands to the Tigers. Soto, an AL All-Star the last two years, had career highs with 30 saves and 64 games last season with 60 strikeouts in 60.1 innings. The 27-year-old left-hander has a career record of 8-20 with 50 saves in 186 appearances over four years with the…

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Crewe and AFC Wimbledon offered a distinct lack of quality in front of goal as their clash at Gresty Road ended in a goalless stalemate.Home forward Bassala Sambou’s second-half effort, which struck a post, was the closest either side came to an opener. The only time the Dons troubled goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo was a shot on the turn from Josh Davison early in the game, which was easily held by the young Arsenal loanee.Crewe took more than half an hour to post an effort on goal with Lachlan Brook letting fly from 25 yards, only for the Brentford loanee’s effort…

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The Shan State Progress Party, United Wa State Party and National Democratic Alliance Army have attended elections talks.Myanmar’s military government has held talks with three ethnic armed groups on staging elections in areas under rebel control, a spokesman for one of the groups has said. Leaders from the Shan State Progress Party (SSPP), United Wa State Party (UWSP) and National Democratic Alliance Army – which have largely stayed out of a growing conflict that has gripped the country since the military staged a coup in February 2021 – are holding three days of talks in the capital, Naypyidaw, state media…

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Arsenal have completed the signing of Denmark midfielder Kathrine Kuhl from FC Nordsjaelland.After three seasons in the Danish Elitedivisionen, 19-year-old Kuhl has made the switch to the Women’s Super League to join Jonas Eidevall’s side. “I’m very excited and am looking forward to playing for Arsenal. It’s a big step for me,” said Kuhl.”I feel like there are so many great things around the club; all the fans and the community, it’s like a sisterhood in some way. So, I’m looking forward to being a part of that.”Kuhl has scored two goals and registered four assists in 12 appearances for…

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Two men hanged after being convicted of killing member of the paramilitary Basij force during continuing protests sparked by the death in custody of Hadis Najafi last year.Tehran, Iran – Two men have been hanged in Iran after being convicted of killing a member of the paramilitary Basij force during protests to mark the 40th day since the death of a protester Hadis Najafi last year. Mohammad Mehdi Karami and Mohammad Hosseini were executed in the early hours of Saturday, days after the country’s Supreme Court confirmed their sentences for “corruption on Earth”, according to the official news outlet of…

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France head coach Didier Deschamps has extended his contract until 2026.It was widely speculated Deschamps would step down after the World Cup in Qatar but he has now agreed to remain in the role for the next three-and-a-half years. Deschamps will now take France into next summer’s Euros in Germany with his contract taking him up until the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico.The France Football Federation issued a statement on Saturday which read: “The French Football Federation and Noël Le Graët, its president, are pleased to announce the extension of Didier Deschamps at the head of…

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Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams has pulled out of this month’s Australian Open due to injury, the organisers of the season’s first Grand Slam said on Saturday.Williams was set to play her 22nd Australian Open after being awarded a wildcard to the tournament, which runs January 16 to 29. The 42-year-old American, twice a finalist at Melbourne Park who is now ranked outside the top 1,000, was preparing for the tournament at the Auckland Classic where she got injured.”Venus Williams has withdrawn from the Australian Open due to an injury sustained at the ASB Classic in New Zealand,” the…

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