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Embattled French PM gets boost from Socialists over budget

French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou will Monday force through France's budget without a vote, a move set to prompt a no-confidence motion from the left in the bitterly divided parliament.

Trump trade threats overshadow European defence meet

The threat of a transatlantic trade war loomed large Monday over a gathering of European leaders aimed at boosting the continent's defences in the face of an aggressive Russia.

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UK unveils 'counter-terror style' police powers to stop migrants

The UK government introduced legislation Thursday designed to give law enforcement officials "counter-terror style powers" to break up gangs bringing irregular migrants across the Channel in flimsy boats.

France hands over last base in Chad amid withdrawal

The French army has handed over its last base in Chad in a military ceremony in the capital N'Djamena, the general staffs of both countries announced Thursday.

Syria, Qatar discuss reconstruction during emir's visit

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said discussions with a Qatari delegation in Damascus Thursday included reconstruction in the war-torn country, during the first visit by a head of state since Bashar al-Assad's ouster.

Gaza militants hand over eight more hostages

Palestinian militants on Thursday freed three Israeli hostages and five foreigners captured in the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel as the third hostage-prisoner exchange of the Gaza ceasefire got under way.

Top Palestinian militant to be freed in Israel prisoner exchange

Zakaria Zubeidi, a former leader of a Palestinian militant group jailed for attacks that killed several Israelis, is to be released Thursday as part of the Gaza ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.

Top Palestinian militant freed in Israel prisoner exchange

Zakaria Zubeidi, a former leader of a Palestinian militant group jailed for attacks that killed several Israelis, was released Thursday as part of the Gaza ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.

EU vows 'action plan' for beleaguered auto sector

The EU promised Thursday an "action plan" to help the bloc's beleaguered auto sector as it held talks with industry leaders who have sounded the alarm over emissions fines and Chinese competition.

Victory for mafia waste victims in Italy's 'Land of Fires'

Europe's top rights court on Thursday ruled that Italy had failed to protect nearly three million people living in a region blighted by toxic waste dumped by the mafia and gave the government two years to fix the situation.

Philippines to remove US missile system if China ends 'coercive behaviour'

President Ferdinand Marcos said Thursday his government will remove a US missile system from the Philippines if Beijing ends its "aggressive and coercive behaviour" in the contested South China Sea and ceases claiming Filipino territory.

Koran burner shot dead in Sweden

A man who repeatedly burnt the Koran in 2023 in Sweden, sparking outrage in Muslim countries, has been shot dead, media reported Thursday as police confirmed a man died in a shooting the day before.

Hamas hands over woman hostage as third exchange begins

Palestinian militant group Hamas on Thursday handed over Israeli woman hostage Agam Berger, a soldier, as a third hostage-prisoner exchange got under way, an AFP journalist reported.

Fury over prices in Croatia sparks growing retailer boycotts

Fed up with paying ever increasing prices at grocery stores and shopping outlets, Croatians have begun channeling their anger into a nascent boycott movement targeting retailers that shows signs of spreading across the Balkans.

Israel cuts ties with UN aid agency supporting Palestinians

Israel will cut ties with the UN agency for Palestinian refugees on Thursday following accusations it provided cover for Hamas militants, a move likely to hamper delivery of its vital services after 15 months of war in Gaza.

Israel, Hamas poised for third hostage-prisoner exchange

Israel and Hamas were set to carry out their third hostage-prisoner exchange on Thursday, with three Israelis and five Thai captives slated for release as part of a ceasefire deal aimed at ending the Gaza war.

Afghan women cricketers reunite in first game after fleeing Taliban

Afghanistan's women cricketers on Thursday played their first game since fleeing the Taliban three years ago, a charity match in Australia that captain Nahida Sapan said she hoped would spark "a movement for change".

Asian markets diverge in thin trade, with AI impact in focus

Asian equities were mixed in another holiday-thinned trading day Thursday, with investors digesting broadly positive tech earnings that came days after the upheaval caused by China's DeepSeek explosion onto the global AI scene.

DR Congo leader says troops mounting 'vigorous' response to M23 advance

DR Congo's President Felix Tshisekedi insisted Wednesday that his troops were mounting a "vigorous" military response as Rwanda-backed fighters advanced in the east of the country.

'Uncertainty never ends' as deal to free Cuba prisoners unravels under Trump

Just two weeks ago, Cubans celebrated the anticipated release of jailed protesters in a deal struck under US then-president Joe Biden. Now hope is waning for hundreds still behind bars after Donald Trump scrapped the agreement.

Salvadoran town hopes Trump brings 'good times' for bitcoin

Bitcoin enthusiasts seeking to turn a mountain town in El Salvador into a cryptocurrency haven hope that US President Donald Trump's return to the White House will boost their cause.

Scalded by Colombia row, Latin America treads carefully with Trump

Latin American leaders have canceled a summit to discuss Donald Trump's migrant crackdown, as the region weighs the risks of openly confronting the firebrand US president.

Trump's environment pick confirmed, drawing cheers from industry

President Donald Trump's nominee to head the US Environmental Protection Agency was confirmed by the Senate on Wednesday, drawing cheers from the fossil fuel industry and sparking alarm among green groups.

Trump commerce pick says favors broad tariffs, vows tough China stance

Donald Trump's commerce secretary nominee told his US Senate confirmation hearing Wednesday he favors "across-the-board" tariffs targeting countries rather than products, while signaling a hawkish China stance.

Trump unveils plan to detain 30,000 migrants at Guantanamo

US President Donald Trump unveiled a surprise plan Wednesday to detain thousands of undocumented migrants in Guantanamo Bay -- distracting from spiraling confusion after the White House withdrew a shock order to freeze federal funds.

Powell says US Fed in no hurry to cut rates after pause

The US Federal Reserve is in no "hurry" to adjust interest rates again, the central bank's chair Jerome Powell said Wednesday, after policymakers voted to pause rate cuts in the first decision since Donald Trump's White House return.

Rwanda-backed fighters advance in DR Congo

Rwanda-backed fighters advanced on a second front in their offensive across eastern DR Congo on Wednesday after seizing control of most of the key city of Goma during heavy fighting with the Congolese military.

Trump says will detain 30,000 migrants in Guantanamo

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he planned to detain 30,000 "criminal illegal aliens" at the notorious Guantanamo Bay military prison, used for holding terrorism suspects since the 9/11 attacks.

Trump says US will detain migrants in Guantanamo

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he planned to detain "criminal illegal aliens" at the notorious Guantanamo Bay military prison, used for holding terrorism suspects since the 9/11 attacks.

Syria authorities name Sharaa interim president: state media

Syria's new authorities announced Wednesday that Ahmed al-Sharaa, who took the helm after Bashar al-Assad's ouster last month, has been appointed interim president and tasked with forming a transitional legislature, state media reported.

White House sparks confusion over fate of unprecedented funding freeze

US President Donald Trump's bid to freeze trillions of dollars in federal funding was thrown into confusion Wednesday when the White House appeared to withdraw the controversial plan -- then minutes later insisted that it had not.

Trump's health pick RFK Jr grilled in critical Senate hearing

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced withering attacks from Democratic senators on Wednesday over his history of promoting vaccine misinformation and his newfound support for anti-abortion policies during a make-or-break confirmation hearing to become President Donald Trump's health secretary.

Romanian security contractors surrender amid DR Congo fighting

Dozens of Romanian security contractors in the eastern DR Congo crossed the border into neighbouring Rwanda on Wednesday to surrender to authorities following days of deadly fighting, according to Kigali.

US commerce secretary pick favors sweeping tariffs, hawkish China stance

Donald Trump's commerce secretary nominee said Wednesday that he favors "across-the-board" tariffs and a country-based approach rather than targeting products, signaling a hawkish China stance as he addressed US lawmakers on the president's punishing trade agenda.

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