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Trump Clinches Breakthrough Armenia–Azerbaijan Peace Agreement

Shasi Kumar
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Trump Clinches Breakthrough Armenia–Azerbaijan Peace Agreement

Washington, USA — In a dramatic diplomatic breakthrough, U.S. President Donald Trump has brokered a landmark peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia, ending decades of hostilities over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.

On Friday, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev and Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met at the White House to sign the historic accord, with Trump standing as a witness. Calling the deal “historic” and “long overdue,” Trump declared that both nations had committed to ending armed conflict “forever,” replacing it with “business, cooperation, and friendship.”

“Thirty-five years they fought, and now they are friends,” Trump said, hailing the agreement as a personal diplomatic triumph.

A Corridor for Peace
Central to the deal is the long-disputed transit link between Azerbaijan and its Nakhchivan exclave, passing through Armenian territory. Years of negotiations had stalled over control of the route—at times bringing the countries to the brink of renewed war.

Under the new agreement, a major rail and road corridor will be built, officially named the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity.” The corridor is expected to boost trade, reconnect communities, and provide a tangible symbol of reconciliation.

Aliyev praised the breakthrough, crediting Trump for achieving in six months what decades of talks had failed to deliver:

“We lost many years to wars and bloodshed, but today we start a new chapter. President Trump has done a miracle.”

Pashinyan called the accord a “significant milestone” that would allow both nations to focus on development and cooperation.

Beyond Peace — New Partnerships
The White House also announced that Trump had signed separate agreements with both countries, expanding cooperation in energy, technology, and artificial intelligence.

Analysts say the deal marks a major geopolitical shift in the South Caucasus. For decades, Russia had been the primary mediator, with President Vladimir Putin brokering the last truce. This time, however, both Armenia and Azerbaijan chose a U.S.-led peace framework—pushing aside Moscow’s proposals and reducing Russia’s influence in a region it has dominated for over a century.

Trump is expected to meet Putin in Alaska next week for further talks on regional security.

Ending a Long and Bloody Dispute
The Armenia–Azerbaijan conflict began in the late 1980s over Nagorno-Karabakh, an enclave internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan but populated largely by ethnic Armenians.

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Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the two nations fought a six-year war ending in 1994, leaving Armenia in control of much of the region. Azerbaijan regained significant territory in a 2020 war and in October 2023 launched a final military operation, forcing separatist forces to disarm and dissolving the enclave’s self-proclaimed government.

Friday’s agreement aims to end this cycle of violence permanently, with all three leaders expressing hope that it will usher in a new era of peace, economic growth, and regional integration in the Caucasus.

SOURCE : AGENCIES VIA AZ & DT |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |

Bus accident in Kenya claims 25 lives of mourners returning from a funeral

Marietta Reformado
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Bus accident in Kenya claims 25 lives of mourners returning from a funeral

Nairobi, Kenya — A bus carrying mourners home from a funeral in southwestern Kenya overturned and plunged into a ditch on Friday evening, killing at least 25 people and injuring several others, authorities confirmed.

The accident occurred along the Kisumu-Kakamega Highway as the vehicle, travelling from Kakamega to Kisumu, approached a roundabout at high speed. According to Peter Maina, the regional traffic enforcement officer for Nyanza province, the driver lost control and veered into a roadside ditch. A 10-year-old girl was among the victims.

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Initially, 29 people were reported injured, but four later died in hospital, said Fredrick Ouma Oluga, Kenya’s principal secretary for medical services. Officials said the passengers had attended a burial in Nyahera and were heading to Nyakach, about 62 km (38.5 miles) away. All are believed to be from the same extended family.

The bus, a secondary school vehicle, had no students on board and was being used for funeral transport.

The tragedy has sparked fresh calls for stronger road safety measures in a region notorious for deadly crashes. Kenya’s Ministry of Health launched an urgent blood drive for survivors and extended condolences to the bereaved.

President William Ruto urged swift action against “any acts of negligence” and called for strict enforcement of traffic rules nationwide. The National Transport and Safety Authority said it will assist in investigating the cause of the accident.

Deadly road crashes are common in Kenya, where poor road conditions, speeding, and reckless driving often contribute to fatalities.

In a separate incident on Thursday, nine people were killed in Naivasha, Nakuru County, when a bus carrying 32 workers crashed at a railway crossing, underscoring the country’s persistent road safety crisis.

SOURCE : AGENCIES VIA AP NEWS |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |

Do you know Locke, California America’s Only Town Built by Chinese for Chinese

Diplomat Times
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Do you know Locke, California America’s Only Town Built by Chinese for Chinese

California, USA — Fifty miles south of Sacramento, where the Sacramento River winds through canals, marshes, and farmland fed by Sierra Nevada rains, lies the California Delta — a tranquil region shaped by immigrant labor. Amid its vineyards and family-owned farms stands Locke, a town unique in American history: the only settlement built by Chinese people for Chinese people.

Locke’s narrow Main Street, lined with weathered wooden buildings and overhanging balconies, recalls its heyday in the 1920s, when more than 600 Chinese residents lived and worked here. The town bustled with grocery stores, restaurants, a Chinese-owned movie theater, hotels, herbal medicine shops, gambling parlors, and boarding houses.

Chinese workers first arrived in the Delta in the 1860s, many from the Sze Yap and Chungshan districts of Guangdong Province. Between 3,000 and 4,000 laborers were contracted to build hundreds of miles of levees under the 1861 Swamp and Overflow Act, reclaiming 88,000 acres of marshland for farming. Many stayed, working as farmhands and tenant farmers.

Beginning in 1872, California passed laws barring Chinese from owning land or obtaining business licenses. The 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act further halted immigration and naturalization until its repeal in 1943. In 1913, California enacted the Alien Land Law, prohibiting “aliens ineligible for citizenship” from owning agricultural land or holding leases longer than three years.

Despite these restrictions, Chinese laborers built a thriving Chinatown in Walnut Grove, a mile south of Locke. By 1880, its 814 residents included over 100 Chinese from Guangdong and a small Japanese community. But on October 7, 1915, a fire destroyed the Chinatown, displacing hundreds.

Some Sze Yap Chinese and Japanese families rebuilt in Walnut Grove through lease agreements with local landlords. Others, like prominent businessman Lee Bing — also known as “Charlie” — moved on. One of the few Chinese immigrants fluent in English, Bing had arrived in the US penniless, built a gambling house in 1908, and expanded into hardware, dry goods, barbering, billiards, and herbal medicine. The fire wiped out all seven of his businesses.

That same year, Bing led a group of Chungshan merchants who leased land from George Locke to build a new town — originally called Lockeport. Under the Alien Land Law, they could not purchase the land, but they erected homes, shops, and community institutions. By the mid-1920s, Locke thrived on the asparagus boom and railroad expansion, but was also known for its vice industry, including gambling halls, speakeasies, opium dens, and brothels.

After World War II, the Delta’s Chinese population dwindled as younger generations pursued education and careers outside agriculture. When the state shut down gambling in the 1950s, Locke’s economy faltered, and its population declined sharply.

Today, with around 60 residents, Locke endures as a living monument to Chinese American resilience — a place born out of discrimination and hardship, yet rich in history and cultural legacy.

SOURCE : BBC & Locke Foundation |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |

OpenAI launches GPT-5, its most advanced AI Model yet

Diplomat Times
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OpenAI launches GPT-5, its most advanced AI Model yet

New York, USA – United States tech company OpenAI unveiled its most advanced artificial intelligence model, GPT-5, during a livestreamed presentation on Thursday. The new model will be progressively and freely rolled out to all ChatGPT users, with a focus on business and developer applications.

“This goes beyond ‘vibe coding,’” said one of the developers, referring to users who build digital services from scratch using language models.

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GPT-5 can generate programs from simple instructions and complete complex engineering workflows.

According to OpenAI, GPT-5 is the most reliable and factual model the company has ever produced.

One of its major improvements is a lower rate of so-called “hallucinations,” incorrect or fabricated answers, and the ability to recognize when it cannot complete a task, reducing speculative or inaccurate results.

Altman also emphasized its use in healthcare, one of the most popular ChatGPT categories, and featured a cancer patient who used the AI to better understand her condition and make informed treatment decisions.

OpenAI revealed that ChatGPT has reached 700 million users, including 5 million paid subscribers. The company highlighted the growing number of enterprises across multiple sectors adopting its technologies, while promoting ChatGPT Enterprise, its premium business service.

Microsoft, OpenAI’s key partner, confirmed that GPT-5 was trained on its Azure platform and will be integrated into a wide range of products for consumers and developers alike.

Additionally, OpenAI introduced three GPT-5 versions via its API, tailored to meet different development needs. The launch positions OpenAI at the forefront of the global race toward artificial superintelligence, a goal increasingly seen as within reach.

SOURCE : AGENCIES VIA EFE. |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |

Flash Floods Devastate Himalayan Village in Uttarakhand, India — 4 Dead, Dozens Missing Including Soldiers

Diplomat Times
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Flash Floods Devastate Himalayan Village in Uttarakhand, India — 4 Dead, Dozens Missing Including Soldiers

Lucknow, India — Rescuers are racing against time in the remote Himalayan village of Dharali, Uttarakhand, where powerful flash floods triggered by a cloudburst killed at least four people and left dozens missing, including 11 Indian Army personnel.

The disaster struck Tuesday afternoon, when torrential rains unleashed a wall of water down the steep mountain slopes, sweeping away homes, roads, and a bustling local market. By Wednesday, rescue teams—comprising the Indian Army and the National Disaster Response Force—were combing through debris and sludge to locate survivors.

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“The search for others is still underway,” said Dilip Singh, a senior disaster management official. “So far, we have rescued 60 people and moved them to safety, but poor weather, damaged roads, and the rugged terrain are slowing down our efforts.”

The floods also struck an army base in nearby Harsil, about 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) from Dharali, where 11 soldiers are reported missing. “Conditions are extremely challenging, but our teams are staying put,” said Lt. Col. Manish Srivastava, a defense spokesperson.

The catastrophe is the latest in a series of weather-related disasters that have battered the fragile Himalayan region in recent years. Uttarakhand is particularly vulnerable to sudden, intense cloudbursts during the monsoon season, which often trigger deadly landslides and flash floods.

Geologist S.P. Sati warned that Dharali lies in a highly unstable zone. “This village sits on a ticking time bomb,” he said, citing a history of similar cloudburst events in 1864, 2013, and 2014. In the 2013 Uttarakhand floods, over 6,000 people died and 4,500 villages were impacted.

Experts link the increasing frequency of such events to climate change and unregulated development in the ecologically sensitive region.

“The whole of Dharali village was wiped out,” said local lawmaker Lokendra Bisht, who owns a homestay in the area. “People ran for their lives, but the floodwaters came so fast, there was nothing anyone could do.”

With monsoon rains continuing across the region, authorities fear more such disasters may follow in the coming weeks.

SOURCE : AGENCIES VIA AP NEWS |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |

Trump to increase tariffs on India because it continues to buy Russian oil

Diplomat Times
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Trump to increase tariffs on India because it continues to buy Russian oil

Washington, USA – United States President Donald Trump announced Monday that he will increase tariffs on Indian exports because the country continues to buy Russian oil.

“India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits,” Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social.

“They don’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine. Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA,” he added.

India, the world’s third-largest crude oil importer, adopted a neutral and pragmatic stance in the Ukraine war, and went from importing less than 2% of its oil from Russia to more than a third, making Moscow its main supplier, thanks to discounts offered by the Kremlin.

As part of his trade war, Trump imposed a 25% tariff on key Indian products. Although officially linked to alleged trade imbalances between the two countries, the president has also connected that levy to India’s energy trade with Russia.

Despite mounting US pressure, the Indian government has defended the import of Russian oil as a decision in the “national interest” and an action that has contributed to global energy stability.

Trump, increasingly frustrated by the refusal of his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, to stop the fighting in Ukraine, issued a new ten-day ultimatum to the Kremlin on Tuesday to declare a truce.

SOURCE : EFE. |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |

Ceasefire Between Thailand and Cambodia Announced: Can It Bring Lasting Peace?

Diplomat Times
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Ceasefire Between Thailand and Cambodia Announced: Can It Bring Lasting Peace?

Putrajaya, Malaysia – In a breakthrough to end the region’s most intense border violence in over a decade, Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to an “immediate and unconditional” ceasefire, effective midnight Monday, following five days of deadly clashes that left at least 36 people dead and displaced more than 270,000 residents along the shared border.

The ceasefire was brokered during emergency peace talks held in Malaysia’s administrative capital, Putrajaya, hosted by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Acting Thai Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet both agreed to halt hostilities, raising cautious hopes for a return to peace.

“This is a vital first step towards de-escalation and the restoration of peace and security,” Anwar said, adding that a meeting between Thai and Cambodian military commanders is scheduled for Tuesday.

Roots of the Conflict

The latest fighting, which erupted on July 24, stems from long-standing disputes over colonial-era border demarcations, particularly around historical sites like the Prasat Ta Moan Thom temple. A February incident—when Thai police allegedly blocked Cambodian tourists from singing their national anthem at the site—fueled resentment. Tensions escalated further in May, when a Cambodian soldier was killed.

Since then, more than 138,000 Thai nationals have been evacuated from border provinces, while over 20,000 Cambodians have been displaced, according to officials on both sides.

Statements from Rival Leaders

In a joint press conference following the talks, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet expressed optimism:

“We have a very good meeting and very good results … we hope to stop immediately the fighting that has caused many lives lost, injuries and displacement.”

Thailand’s acting PM Phumtham Wechayachai, who had earlier expressed doubts over Cambodia’s intentions, stated:

“Thailand has agreed to a ceasefire that will be carried out successfully in good faith by both sides.”

The three nations released a joint statement confirming that their defense ministries have been instructed to develop a ceasefire monitoring mechanism, including verification and reporting protocols. They also agreed to convene the General Border Committee on August 4 in Cambodia.

Ongoing Clashes Despite Agreement

Even as leaders met in Malaysia, sporadic fighting reportedly continued. Al Jazeera’s Tony Cheng, reporting from Thailand’s Surin province, noted:

“There are so many people who have been affected by this, and they just want to go home so badly.”

US and China’s Role in the Deal

The ceasefire negotiations also saw high-level international involvement. Cambodia’s PM Hun Manet confirmed the talks were “co-organised by the United States” with Chinese participation. Both powers have significant economic and political stakes in the region.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio welcomed the truce, saying:

“The United States applauds the ceasefire declaration between Cambodia and Thailand.”

Former US President Donald Trump, in phone calls over the weekend with both leaders, reportedly pressured them by threatening to suspend trade deals unless the conflict was resolved.

“We’re not going to make a trade deal unless you settle the war,” Trump warned, citing potential 36% tariffs on both nations starting August 1.

Both Thai and Cambodian leaders acknowledged the roles played by Malaysia, the US, and China in facilitating the ceasefire.

What’s Next?

While the ceasefire offers a much-needed pause in hostilities, analysts caution that long-term peace will depend on resolving the underlying territorial disputes and implementing effective ceasefire monitoring mechanisms.

All eyes now turn to the upcoming military commanders’ meeting and the August 4 border committee session, which could shape the future of Thai-Cambodian relations.

SOURCE : AGENCIES VIA AL JAZEERA |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |

Bangkok Market Massacre: Ex-Security Guard Kills 5, Takes Own Life Amid Personal Feud

Zarawee Kitirong
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Bangkok Market Massacre: Ex-Security Guard Kills 5, Takes Own Life Amid Personal Feud

Bangkok, Thailand – A tragic mass shooting unfolded at a busy fresh food market in northern Bangkok on Monday, leaving five people dead and two others injured after a gunman opened fire before taking his own life, authorities confirmed.

The attacker, identified as a 61-year-old former security guard, stormed the Or Tor Kor Market—located opposite the popular Chatuchak Weekend Market—around midday. According to a police statement, the victims included four current security guards and a market vendor. Two women were also reported wounded.

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Police officials said the gunman acted out of a personal grudge, targeting individuals he apparently knew. Deputy police chief of Bang Sue district, Worapat Sukthai, stated the assailant had told a taxi driver beforehand of his intention to “shoot all the guards.”

Eyewitness video circulating on social media shows the suspect dressed in a white cap, black shirt, and camouflage shorts, moving swiftly through the market’s parking area as panicked bystanders lay still or fled for safety.

The gunman was later found dead on a bench inside the market, having turned the weapon on himself.

The incident has shocked the local community and reignited concerns over gun violence in Thailand, where despite restrictive firearm laws, gun ownership remains high. According to the Small Arms Survey, the country has over 10 million firearms—around 15 per 100 residents—of which over 4 million are believed to be unregistered.

This latest attack follows a string of mass shootings in Thailand in recent years, including the October 2023 tragedy at Bangkok’s Siam Paragon mall, where a teenage gunman killed three people using a modified blank pistol.

An ongoing investigation aims to uncover further details surrounding Monday’s shooting and the motivations behind the gunman’s deadly rampage.

SOURCE : AGENCIES VIA EFE. |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |

Flash Floods Sweep Through Manila, Forcing Thousands to Flee

Marietta Reformado
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Flash Floods Sweep Through Manila, Forcing Thousands to Flee

Manila, Philippines – Torrential rains and widespread flooding brought the Philippine capital to a standstill on Tuesday, forcing the evacuation of thousands and compounding the devastation left by Typhoon Wipha, which battered northern parts of the country last week.

More than 23,000 residents of Quezon City—one of the largest cities in Metro Manila—sought refuge in evacuation centers, according to Bianca Perez, spokesperson for the city’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office. Rising floodwaters inundated homes and swamped major roads, triggering a citywide emergency response.

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The La Mesa Dam, which supplies water to Manila and nearby areas, exceeded capacity and overflowed, worsening flooding across the metropolis, especially in Quezon City.

In response, the Malacañang Palace suspended all classes and non-essential government work in Metro Manila, Zambales, Pampanga, and other northern regions.

The Civil Aviation Authority also confirmed that at least a dozen domestic flights were cancelled due to the weather, stranding travelers across the country.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that at least six people have died and six remain missing, due to the combined effects of Typhoon Wipha—locally named Crising—and seasonal monsoon rains.

The Philippines, which sees an average of 20 typhoons annually, is still recovering from last year’s streak of six tropical storms in under a month, which killed 164 people and caused nearly $500,000 in damages, displacing over 650,000 people.

Authorities are closely monitoring two new low-pressure areas in the Philippine Sea, with at least one system likely to develop into a cyclone within the next 24 hours, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

As rain continues to batter the country, officials urge residents in flood-prone and landslide-risk zones to remain vigilant and follow evacuation orders.

SOURCE : AGENCIES VIA EFE. |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |

13 Killed, 20 Injured as Bus Carrying Mine Workers Crashes into Ravine in Russia’s Yakutia Region

Diplomat Times
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13 Killed, 20 Injured as Bus Carrying Mine Workers Crashes into Ravine in Russia’s Yakutia Region

Yakutia, Russia – At least 13 people were killed and 20 others injured in the early hours of Monday when a bus transporting mine workers plunged into a ravine in Russia’s remote Yakutia region, local authorities confirmed.

The crash occurred around 3:20 a.m. local time on an industrial road near the Denisovsky Mining and Processing Plant, which specializes in coal mining. According to the regional Interior Ministry, the bus veered off the road and tumbled approximately 25 meters (82 feet) into a ravine after the driver apparently lost control of the vehicle.

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Graphic images released by officials show the bus overturned next to a muddy pool of water, its wheels facing the sky, with a mangled guardrail marking the point of impact above the ravine.

Authorities have launched a criminal investigation into possible negligence, a common factor cited in the country’s frequent industrial accidents, where lax safety standards and oversight often come under scrutiny.

The victims were employees of the Denisovsky plant, and officials noted that most of the injured have been transported to nearby medical facilities for treatment.

In response to the tragedy, local authorities declared Tuesday a day of mourning, as families and the wider community grapple with the devastating loss.

This incident adds to a long list of workplace and transport-related fatalities in Russia’s industrial zones, raising fresh concerns about safety regulations in remote and high-risk regions.

SOURCE : AGENCIES |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |

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