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Swiss region to vote on cost of 'blasphemous' Eurovision 2025

Basel voters will decide Sunday on whether to spend tens of millions of dollars to host the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest, with opponents decrying a "waste" of public funds for a "blasphemous" music performance.

Adani plunges in Mumbai on founder's charges as Asian markets retreat

Shares in Indian conglomerate Adani tanked on Thursday after its industrialist owner Gautam Adani was charged by US prosecutors with handing out more than $250 million in bribes for key contracts.

India's Adani Enterprises tanks after founder's US charges

Shares in India's Adani Enterprises slumped 10 percent at Thursday's open after US prosecutors charged billionaire industrialist founder Gautam Adani with paying hundreds of millions of dollars in bribes and hiding the payments from investors.

Canada AI project hopes to help reverse mass insect extinction

Researchers in Canada are using artificial intelligence to monitor the ongoing mass extinction of insects, hoping to collect data that can help reverse species collapse and avert catastrophe for the planet.

Dollar strengthens, stocks mostly flat over lack of triggers

Global stocks were mostly flat or lower Wednesday while the dollar strengthened ahead of an eagerly anticipated report from artificial intelligence giant Nvidia that showed it crushed its earnings expectations.

Xi urges peace in Ukraine, ceasefire in Gaza during Brazil visit

Chinese leader Xi Jinping urged "more voices" to end the Ukraine war and a ceasefire in Gaza, as he conducted a state visit to Brazil's capital, Chinese state media said.

Musk outlines plans for mass cuts as Trump 'efficiency' czar

Elon Musk outlined plans Wednesday for his new role as "efficiency" czar -- signaling an assault on federal spending and staffing that would be backed by President-elect Donald Trump's executive powers and a conservative Supreme Court.

US House speaker backs bathroom ban on trans woman elected to Congress

The speaker of the US House of Representatives came out Wednesday against letting a newly elected transgender woman use the women's restroom at the legislature.

Italy joins US in recognizing Venezuelan opposition candidate as 'president-elect'

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Wednesday recognized Venezuelan opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia as the president-elect of the country, a day after the United States officially did the same.

Mali junta chief sacks PM and government

Mali's junta chief on Wednesday sacked civilian Prime Minister Choguel Kokalla Maiga and the government, days after Maiga issued a rare criticism of the military rulers.

Aid groups express horror at US mines for Ukraine

The US decision to send landmines to Ukraine is "not justifiable", aid groups have told AFP, highlighting the long-term impact on civilians of the internationally banned weapons supposed to help slow Russia's advance.

Ukraine reportedly fires UK Storm Shadow missiles into Russia

Ukraine has fired UK-supplied Storm Shadow missiles into Russia for the first time, British media reported Wednesday, after being given the green light from London.

Macron praises EU-Chile trade agreement on Latin America tour

French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday hailed a recently upgraded EU-Chile free trade agreement as he met counterpart Gabriel Boric in Santiago on the last leg of a Latin America tour.

Musk details mass cuts to US federal spending and staff

Elon Musk outlined plans Wednesday for his new role as "efficiency" czar -- signaling an assault on federal spending and staffing that would be backed by President-elect Donald Trump's executive powers and a conservative Supreme Court.

Ryanair threatens to drop 10 French airports over tax hike

Low-cost airline Ryanair threatened Wednesday to stop serving 10 French regional airports if the government goes forward with a proposed tax hike.

US vetoes Gaza ceasefire call at UN

The United States on Wednesday vetoed a UN Security Council push to call for a ceasefire in Gaza that Washington said would have emboldened Hamas.

US cites new Russian tactics for decision to supply landmines to Ukraine

The US decision to send anti-personnel landmines to Ukraine -- in a major policy shift -- was triggered by a change in Russian battlefield tactics favoring infantry over mechanized units, US Defense Secretary Loyd Austin said Wednesday.

Under-fire Spain minister defends agencies' role in floods

Spain's under-fire ecological transition minister, a candidate for a top European Commission post, said Wednesday that questioning the role of state agencies during the country's devastating floods was "dangerous".

Trump names loyalist Matthew Whitaker as NATO ambassador

President-elect Donald Trump, who has long criticized NATO as overly reliant on American money, on Wednesday nominated loyalist Matthew Whitaker to the crucial post of ambassador to the alliance.

UN watchdog chief welcomes Iran nuclear gesture as Western powers seek censure

European powers and the United States have submitted a resolution censuring Iran for its lack of cooperation on its nuclear dossier, despite the head of the UN watchdog on Wednesday welcoming "a concrete step" by Iran to cap its uranium stockpile.

Hezbollah says Israel 'cannot impose conditions' for truce

Hezbollah's leader delivered a defiant speech on Wednesday saying Israel cannot impose its conditions for a truce, as US envoy Amos Hochstein headed from Lebanon to Israel to try to end the war.

Ukraine criticises Western allies for embassy closures

Ukraine on Wednesday called on its Western allies not to fuel tension inside the country, after a string of embassies in Kyiv announced they would close, citing the threat of a "massive air attack" on the capital.

French farmers lift border blockade after talks with PM

French farmers protesting pay and conditions and a prospective EU-Latin America trade deal on Wednesday lifted a blockade on the Spanish border after an expression of support from Prime Minister Michel Barnier.

US envoy heading to Israel to press for truce with Hezbollah

US envoy Amos Hochstein announced he would head to Israel on Wednesday after spending two days in Lebanon trying to hammer out a deal for a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hezbollah.

UN nuclear chief welcomes Iran's 'concrete step' on uranium stockpile

UN atomic watchdog chief Rafael Grossi on Wednesday welcomed Iran's "concrete step" on agreeing to cap its stockpile of highly enriched uranium after Tehran implemented preparatory steps to stop adding to its inventory.

Western powers move to censure Iran at UN nuclear meet

European powers and the United States have submitted a resolution censuring Iran for its poor cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog, diplomats told AFP on Wednesday, as Tehran warned of a "proportionate" response if it passes.

US envoy presses Israel-Hezbollah truce bid in Lebanon visit

US envoy Amos Hochstein was in Lebanon Wednesday, seeking to hammer out a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hezbollah, as the militant group battled Israeli troops in the south of the country.

Stock markets gain, dollar higher before Nvidia earnings

Major European and Asian stock markets mostly gained and the dollar firmed against main rivals Wednesday following a positive lead from Wall Street, as all eyes turned to upcoming results from artificial-intelligence giant Nvidia.

New WHO financing mechanism put to the test

The WHO announced late Tuesday that it had raised nearly $4 billion through a new financing mechanism, aimed at securing predictable funding, as shifting political winds threaten cuts from Washington.

Kremlin says US 'doing everything' to prolong 'war' in Ukraine

Russia on Wednesday accused the US of prolonging the "war in Ukraine" by stepping up weapons deliveries to Kyiv ahead of Donald Trump's return to the White House.

N. Korea's latest weapon? Bombarding South with noise

Gunshots, screams, eerie laughter: South Korea's border island Ganghwa is being bombarded nightly with blood-curdling sounds, part of a new campaign by the nuclear-armed North that is driving residents to despair.

'Kidnapped' Uganda opposition figure Besigye to appear at military court: lawyer

Leading Ugandan opposition figure Kizza Besigye is due to appear before a military court on Wednesday, his lawyer said, after his reported abduction in neighbouring Kenya.

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