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As Russia looms, EU defence plans fail to quell joint borrowing calls
EU leaders on Thursday broadly welcomed a blueprint from Brussels to help ramp up defence spending to face Russia -- but a raft of countries pressed to go further and deploy joint borrowing.
France cancels modern 'Beauty and the Beast' for schoolkids
France's education ministry has cancelled an order for "Beauty and the Beast" with modern illustrations, saying a cartoonist's 21st-century version including a police sniffer dog and smartphones was inappropriate for tweens.
Ex-Scottish leader Sturgeon cleared in funds probe
Scotland's former leader Nicola Sturgeon was on Thursday cleared following a long-running investigation into the finances of the Scottish National Party (SNP), police said, as her former partner appeared in court charged with embezzlement.
Canada new PM Carney to call April 28 snap election: govt source
New Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to call snap elections on Sunday, sending voters to the polls on April 28, two government sources told AFP.
Arrested Istanbul mayor urges judges to act as protests resume
Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on Thursday urged the judiciary to take a stand against the Turkish government's misuse of the courts as protesters rallied for a second day over his shock arrest in a graft and terror probe.
EU says delaying tariffs on US goods two weeks to mid-April
The EU said Thursday its tariffs targeting American goods in retaliation for US levies on steel and aluminium would start in mid-April, two weeks later than planned, to give more time for dialogue.
Hamas fires at Tel Aviv in first riposte to deadly Israel assault
Hamas said it fired rockets at Israeli commercial hub Tel Aviv on Thursday in its first military response to the growing civilian death toll from Israel's resumption of air and ground operations in Gaza.
Battle for Khartoum wrecks key Sudan oil refinery
The once-pristine white oil tanks of Sudan's largest refinery have been blackened by nearly two years of devastating war, leaving the country heavily dependent on fuel imports it can ill afford.
European leaders and military brass meet over Ukraine peace plans
Senior military figures and European leaders gathered Thursday to thrash out plans for long-term peace in Ukraine, as the United States and Russia prepared for fresh talks on ending the war.
Stock markets retreat on revised US economic outlook
Major European and Asian stock markets retreated Thursday following a weaker-than-forecast US economic outlook and despite the Federal Reserve trying to calm fears over President Donald Trump's tariffs.
Philippine officials deny coordinating Duterte arrest with ICC
Philippine senators on Thursday grilled government officials over their decision to hand former president Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court last week, with the country's justice minister denying coordinating the arrest ahead of time.
Istanbul's mayor still held as new rally called
Istanbul's powerful mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, remained in police custody Thursday over graft and terror allegations after being held the day before, as his party called for more protests in Turkey's largest city.
'Some won't survive': US cuts threaten S.Africa's young HIV patients
For the past two months, Elsie has been receiving daily calls from desperate children surviving on HIV treatment whom she is not allowed to help.
Most Asian markets track Wall St gains as Fed soothes tariff fears
Most Asian equities rose Thursday after US Federal Reserve boss Jerome Powell suggested any increase in consumer prices caused by tariffs would likely be short-lived, even as the central bank slashed its growth outlook and hiked inflation expectations.
Spain eyes boom in 'neglected' strategic mining sector
Spain is aiming to tap its unexplored strategic mining resources as the European Union urgently seeks to ramp up production, but local resistance could frustrate the government's plans.
Iran frees French citizen after prison ordeal: Macron
Iranian authorities have released French citizen Olivier Grondeau, detained by the country since October 2022 on security charges, and he has returned to France, President Emmanuel Macron announced Thursday.
US happiness sinks as more Americans eat alone: survey
The United States fell to its lowest happiness ranking ever partly due to a rise in the number of Americans eating their meals alone, an annual UN-sponsored report said Thursday.
Military chiefs gather in UK to discuss Ukraine protections
Dozens of military chiefs from countries keen to help protect an eventual ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine will meet in Britain on Thursday to discuss planning for a peacekeeping force.
Canada canola farmers squeezed by trade wars on two fronts
To sow or not to sow? Canola farmers in Canada's vast western Prairies region have found themselves in the crossfire of trade wars with both the United States and China.
Trump brings the bling with Oval Office makeover
Donald Trump promised a new "Golden Age" for America. In the Oval Office, at least, he has lived up to his promise with a blingy makeover.
Pakistani drama breaks silence on blasphemy killings
An axe-wielding mob chases a terrified group; a daring Pakistani television drama has for the first time tackled the deeply sensitive issue of the dozens murdered for alleged blasphemy.
Israel restarts ground operations, issues 'last warning' to Gazans
Israel resumed ground operations in Gaza on Wednesday and issued what it called a "last warning" for Palestinians to return hostages and remove Hamas from power.
Trump order to dismantle Education Dept expected Thursday: reports
US President Donald Trump is expected to sign an order Thursday aiming to dismantle the Department of Education, fulfilling a long-held goal of American conservatives.
Israelis return to streets in anger over Netanyahu's policies
Blowing foghorns and beating drums, thousands of Israelis on Wednesday took over the winding Jerusalem street outside the prime minister's residence to protest what they see as Benjamin Netanyahu's bid to weaken democracy.
Trump's US government erases minorities from websites, policies
From erasing the stories of Navajo "code talkers" on the Pentagon website to demolishing a "Black Lives Matter" mural in Washington, President Donald Trump's assault on diversity across the United States government is dismantling decades of racial justice programs.
Argentina's Milei wins Congress green light for new IMF loan
Argentina's Congress on Wednesday gave President Javier Milei the green light to reach a new IMF loan agreement, on top of the $44 billion Buenos Aires already owes the lender.
US Fed flags rising economic uncertainty and pauses rate cuts again
The US Federal Reserve paused interest rate cuts again on Wednesday and warned of increased economic uncertainty as it seeks to navigate an economy unnerved by President Donald Trump's stop-start tariff rollout.
Trump vows peace but faces hard realities as war rages
Donald Trump began his second term vowing to be a peacemaker.
Trump floats US takeover of Ukraine nuclear plants
Donald Trump told Volodymyr Zelensky Wednesday that the United States could own and run Ukraine's nuclear power plants as part of his latest bid to secure a ceasefire in Russia's invasion of its neighbor.
Venezuelans watch in horror as Trump sends family to El Salvador
Mervin Yamarte's family in Venezuela thought the 29-year-old -- arrested by US authorities amid President Donald Trump's migrant crackdown -- would be put on a deportation flight home. But the plane never arrived.
Turkey detains president's main election rival, sparking protests
Turkish police detained Istanbul's powerful mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, Wednesday over graft and "terror" allegations, prompting outrage from the opposition which slammed it as a politically-motivated "coup".
Little light on DR Congo truce terms shed after surprise summit
Few details on a possible ceasefire in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo had come to light on Wednesday, the day after Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame held surprise talks in Doha.