The ANC party that freed South Africa from apartheid loses its 30-year majority in landmark election

JOHANNESBURG — The African National Congress party lost its parliamentary majority in a historic election result Saturday that puts South Africa on a new political path for the first time since the end of the apartheid system of white minority rule 30 years ago. With more than 99% of votes counted, the once-dominant ANC had received just over 40%…

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Chinese defense minister accuses U.S. of causing friction with its support for Taiwan and Philippines

SINGAPORE — China’s defense minister on Sunday acknowledged the importance of newly renewed military-to-military communications with the United States as tensions escalate in the Asia-Pacific, while at the same time accusing Washington of causing the friction with its support for Taiwan and the Philippines. “We will not allow anyone to bring geopolitical conflicts or any…

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Students walk out of University of Chicago graduation as school withholds 4 diplomas over protests

CHICAGO — Dozens of students protesting the war in Gaza walked out of the University of Chicago’s commencement Saturday as the school withheld the diplomas of four seniors over their involvement with a pro-Palestinian encampment. The disruption to the rainy two-hour outdoor ceremony was brief, with shouts, boos and calls to “Stop Genocide.” A crowd of students walked…

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Vietnam’s arrest of reformist labor official could disturb bid for better trade terms with the U.S.

BANGKOK — A senior Vietnamese official with the country’s labor ministry was arrested for “deliberately disclosing state secrets,” police announced on Thursday, a development that analysts say could hurt Vietnam’s efforts to obtain more favorable trade terms for exports to the United States. There were no further details about lawyer Nguyen Van Binh’s arrest — beyond the…

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The U.S. is now Germany’s biggest trading partner — taking over from China

After years of China being Germany’s main trading partner, the United States appears to be quietly taking that top spot as the year progresses. Combined exports and imports between Germany and the U.S. totaled 63 billion euros ($68 billion) between January and March 2024. Meanwhile, trade between Germany and China came to just below 60 billion euros, according to CNBC calculations. Reuters…

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