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Elizabeth Taylor's estate is applauding Taylor Swift for giving the late Hollywood legend a big-time shoutout in a new music video. Taylor dropped the music vid for her hit single "Elizabeth Taylor" this week, and
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Kim Kardashian and her mom, Kris Jenner, were shut down in their fight to keep information about their secret 2023 settlement with Ray J from the public, TMZ has learned. According to court docs obtained
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Pack your kilts, 'cause a few members of Congress are takin' in the sights of Scotland! We got this photo of a pack of tourists that includes Virginia Rep. John McGuire, Wisconsin Rep. Derrick Van
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Tiger Woods Seeking Treatment After DUI Arrest Published March 31, 2026 3:43 PM PDT Tiger Woods just broke his silence following his DUI arrest ... saying he is seeking treatment. "I know and understand the
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'Summer House' Kyle Cooke Rocked By Amanda & West Romance ... Double Betrayal Cuts Deep Published March 31, 2026 2:39 PM PDT Kyle Cooke got hit with a brutal one-two punch -- his ex-wife moved
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Cheng Li-wun, the chairwoman of Taiwan's largest opposition party KMT. (Reuters/File Photo) At a time of international turbulence the world does not need a crisis over Taiwan, the leader of the island's largest opposition party said Wednesday ahead of a trip to China, adding she is seeking reconciliation.Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of the Kuomintang (KMT), is travelling to China starting Tuesday for six days at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping.China views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and has ramped up its military and political pressure against the government of President Lai Ching-te, who Beijing views as a "separatist". He says only Taiwan's people can decide their future.Speaking at a weekly party meeting in Taipei, Cheng said of her trip that Taiwanese people do not want Taiwan to be one of the world's most dangerous flashpoints."What we are promoting is peace and reconciliation, including reconciliation between the ruling and opposition parties within Taiwan, and reconciliation and peace across the Taiwan Strait," she said."No one wants to see the Taiwan Strait once again fall into a tense military crisis at a time when the international situation is already turbulent."Cheng's trip comes against the backdrop of a stalled $40bn supplemental defence budget, as Taiwan's opposition-dominated parliament holds up Lai's US-backed proposal, with the KMT insisting it supports defence — but not "blank cheques."Taiwan's China-policy making Mainland Affairs Council said this week that China's desire to "annex" the island would never change just because of interactions between a political party or particular person.Earlier Wednesday in Beijing, Zhang Han, a spokesperson for China's Taiwan Affairs Office did not give further details on Cheng's trip, which will take in Beijing, Shanghai and the eastern province of Jiangsu.Zhang told reporters that the visit reflects the commitment of the Communist Party and KMT to "seek peace".Since last month — and the outbreak of war in the Middle East — China has renewed its push to sell Taiwan on the benefits of rule from Beijing, touting energy security and even a proposed "rapid transit link" across the strait."Peaceful reunification will create enormous opportunities for Taiwan's economic and social development and bring tangible benefits to the broad masses of Taiwan compatriots — this is its greatest appeal," Zhang told the same news conference.Opinion polls in Taiwan have repeatedly shown minimal support for accepting Beijing’s sovereignty under its "one country, two systems" model.China has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control.
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Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Thereza Lazaro (left), Iranian ambassador to the Philippines Yousef Esmaeilzadeh (centre) and Philippine Secretary of Energy Sharon Garin posing for a photo during a bilateral meeting in Manila Wednesday. (AFP)
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South Korean President Lee Jae Myung shakes hands with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto during their meeting at the Presidential Blue House in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday. (Reuters) South Korean President Lee Jae Myung held talks Wednesday with Indonesian leader Prabowo Subianto, discussing energy security and agreeing to expand cooperation in areas such as defence, Lee's office said.The summit talks followed a welcome ceremony at the presidential Blue House in Seoul. "We view Indonesia's stable role in supplying key energy resources such as LNG and coal as very reassuring," Lee said in a statement, calling for closer cooperation on energy supply and resource security amid the global uncertainty triggered by the conflict in the Middle East.In a joint statement, South Korea and Indonesia pledged to accelerate the launch of high-level energy security dialogue and public-private cooperation channels, emphasising the need to keep global energy supply chains stable and minimise disruptions to the flow of energy and essential goods.Indonesia is the world's largest exporter of thermal coal, while South Korea has been among the five biggest importers of the fuel in recent years, according to Korean government data.South Korea also imported about 2.1mn tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Indonesia in 2025, data showed. The Indonesian president arrived in Seoul from Japan where Jakarta agreed to step up coordination with Tokyo on energy security.Prabowo described South Korea and Indonesia as natural partners with "complementary roles", pointing to South Korea's industrial and technological strengths and Indonesia's abundant resources and large market.South Korea's exports to Indonesia stood at $7bn in 2025, while imports were $11.3bn, trade data showed.Lee and Prabowo also oversaw the signing of multiple preliminary agreements, including support for projects in renewable energy and data centres as the countries elevate their relationship into a strategic partnership.Prabowo, a former general, also said that strong defence capabilities were essential, saying peace and stability required "robust security and defence."No deals were announced on defence cooperation, but in the joint statement the leaders confirmed the countries' joint project to develop South Korea's homegrown KF-21 fighter jet, underway for over a decade, is on track for completion in June 2026.They committed to cooperate on a follow-up project — called IF-21 — as well as other defence items such as trainer aircraft, anti-tank guided missile systems and ammunition.Korea Aerospace Industries last month said it was in talks with Indonesia on a potential sale of KF-21 fighter jets, but said no decisions had been made. Media reports said that Jakarta was considering purchasing an initial batch of 16 aircraft.South Korea expects Indonesia to complete a payment related to the joint development programme by the end of this year, an official told Reuters. The countries were expected to also strengthen co-operation in new growth areas such as artificial intelligence, infrastructure, shipbuilding, nuclear power, energy conversion, and cultural industries, the Blue House said in an earlier statement. Related Story
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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. (Reuters/File Photo) US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday said there will have to be a transition phase in Venezuela and the country will need free and fair elections, though he added that there needs to be patience until that point is reached."Ultimately, there will have to be a transition phase," Rubio said in an interview on Fox News Channel's "Hannity" show. "There will have to be free and fair elections in Venezuela. And that point has to come.""We have to be patient, but we also can't be complacent."The US military seized Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a deadly raid in January that was ordered by President Donald Trump. The United Nations' human rights office has said the raid was a violation of international law.At the time, Trump said Washington would "run" Venezuela. Maduro's former vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, subsequently took over and has been governing the country under US oversight.Following US moves in Venezuela, Trump has talked of acting against Cuba and pressuring its leadership.Rubio said in Tuesday's interview that Cuba needed economic and political reforms and Washington would soon have more news on that country."So I think Cuba is in need of two things, economic reforms and political reforms, you cannot fix their economy if you don't change their system of government," Rubio said.The US cut off Venezuela's oil exports to Cuba after toppling Maduro in early January and Trump threatened to apply punishing tariffs on any other country that sent crude to Cuba.Cuba's energy crisis has caused blackouts across the country of 10mn. Health officials say the crisis has increased the mortality risk for cancer patients, especially children.Human rights experts say Trump's focus on exploiting Venezuelan oil and his threats against Cuba echoed an imperialist approach. Related Story
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Firefighters work at the site of a postal distribution centre of Nova Post company hit by a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Lutsk, Wednesday.(Reuters) Russia fired hundreds of drones at Ukraine Wednesday, killing at least five people and destroying a postal terminal, Ukrainian officials said.The attacks came a day after the Kremlin rejected a Ukrainian proposal for a temporary ceasefire over the Easter holiday.Diplomatic efforts to end Russia's four-year invasion have stalled in recent months, in part because the United States has shifted its focus towards the war with Iran.Zelensky said Wednesday he had had a "positive" call with US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner about reviving the peace process.The two sides had agreed to "strengthen security guarantees", he added, without elaborating."Ukraine is doing everything it can to support efforts for peace," Zelensky said in his evening address.Russia fired 339 drones at Ukraine overnight, and more than 360 drones during the day, according to the Ukrainian air force.A Russian drone killed four people in the central Cherkasy region. An earlier drone strike on a car in Ukraine's frontline Kherson region killed a woman and badly wounded two other people, regional authorities said.Ukraine's Nova Poshta mailing company published an image showing a warehouse in the western city of Lutsk in flames following a Russian attack, thick smoke pouring from its roof.Russia meanwhile stepped up pressure on the front line, claiming Wednesday to have taken two villages in eastern Ukraine and fully captured the Lugansk region, which its forces had already largely occupied.Zelensky described the situation on the front as "quite tense" in an earlier social media post. Related Story
