Trump scales back military drills with South Korea because of ‘good friend’ Kim

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By Kang Jin-kyu, with Matthew Pennington in Washington AFP | Posted by TOE Donald Trump said he ordered the Pentagon to scale back “inappropriate and hostile” military drills with South Korea, hours before the exercises began on Monday. The US president cited his “good relationship” with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in his latest rebuke to long-standing alliances with Western partners. South Korean officials said the exercises had begun as planned and that they hoped the personal chemistry between Trump and Kim would bring them back to talks. North Korea has not responded publicly, though it has previously voiced anger at the regular joint manoeuvres, which take place in the South. The drills began as American allies in East Asia fret over North Korean displays of weapons capabilities and its growing alignment with Russia as well as traditional backer China. “Based on my very good relationship with Kim Jong Un, of North Korea, I ...
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Fire in Malaysia’s Sabah destroys 1,000 homes, thousands displaced

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A fire that tore through a Malaysian coastal settlement on Borneo Island destroyed about 1,000 homes and displaced over 9,000 people, authorities said.

The fire started early Sunday in the Sandakan district and spread rapidly through rows of wooden houses constructed on stilts above the sea, according to the fire and rescue department.

Officials said strong winds and the close proximity of the structures helped fuel the fire, while narrow access routes and low tide conditions made it harder for emergency crews to reach affected areas and contain the flames.

No deaths have been reported, though thousands of residents have been forced from their homes and moved to temporary shelter. The cause of the fire has not been confirmed and remains under investigation.

Water villages — informal settlements built over the sea — are found along much of the coastline of Sabah, one of the poorest states in Malaysia. The homes are tightly packed, made from combustible materials and often lack basic infrastructure. Many residents are from low-income or marginalized communities, including Indigenous groups and people without formal citizenship status.

Village head Sharif Hashim Sharif Iting was cited by Sabah’s Daily Express newspaper as saying the cause was a cooking fire that got out of control. The cause of the fire has not been confirmed and remains under investigation.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said federal and state agencies were coordinating relief efforts, with immediate assistance focused on displaced families.

SOURCE: AP AND AGENCIES



from The Times Of Earth https://ift.tt/VvDx8Ig

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