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Putin to visit N. Korea as Kremlin floats possible 'strategic' treaty
Russian President Vladimir Putin will travel to North Korea on Tuesday, in a rare visit that may see Moscow sign a "strategic partnership treaty" with Pyongyang, the Kremlin said.
France cutting troops in West, Central Africa to 600: sources
France is planning to reduce its military presence in West and Central Africa to around 600 troops in line with President Emmanuel Macron's plans to limit the French military footprint in the region, three sources told AFP.
Lull in Gaza fighting despite blasts in south
Israel struck Gaza on Monday and witnesses reported blasts in the besieged territory's south, but fighting has largely subsided after a day of relative calm and as Muslims marked Eid al-Adha.
Top jobs on EU leaders' menu, with von der Leyen in pole position
EU leaders gather Monday in Brussels to thrash out over dinner how to distribute the bloc's top jobs, with Ursula von der Leyen seemingly on track for a second term heading the European Commission.
Farage says hard-right party intends to become 'real' UK opposition
Brexiteer Nigel Farage said Monday that his hard-right Reform UK party intends to use next month's general election to ultimately supplant the ruling Conservatives as Britain's main opposition party.
Philippine, Chinese ships collide near hotspot reef
Philippine and Chinese vessels collided near the Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea on Monday, with both sides accusing the other of being to blame for the incident.
Over $1 bn to be pledged for Africa vaccine sovereignty: France
More than one billion dollars will be pledged towards ramping up vaccine production in Africa at a summit held in Paris later this week, France said on Monday.
Stock markets diverge tracking US, Europe outlooks
Stock markets diverged Monday with traders assessing the Federal Reserve's plans for interest-rate cuts and Europe's political landscape before looming general elections.
France's snap election campaign starts after Macron's risky gamble
France began a frantically short election campaign Monday, with President Emmanuel Macron's centrist alliance facing an uphill struggle to avoid a new defeat at the hands of the far right.
Lull in Gaza fighting as Biden urges truce in Eid message
Israel struck Gaza on Monday and witnesses reported blasts in the besieged territory's south, but fighting has largely subsided after a day of relative calm and as Muslims marked Eid al-Adha.
China says relations with Australia back 'on the right track'
China hailed mended ties with Australia on Monday, saying relations were "on the right track" as the trading partners moved on from a bitter economic dispute despite a duel for influence in the Pacific.
Asian stocks struggle after tepid Wall St lead, euro dips further
Asian markets mostly fell Monday following last week's losses, with traders trying to assess the Federal Reserve's plans for interest rates, while the euro was weighed by political uncertainty as France prepares for a snap parliamentary election.
Philippine ship, Chinese vessel collide in South China Sea: Beijing
A Philippine ship and a Chinese vessel collided near the Spratly Islands in the disputed South China Sea on Monday, Beijing's Coast Guard said.
France begins frenetic campaign after Macron poll gamble
France on Monday began less than a fortnight of frenetic election campaigning for snap polls called by President Emmanuel Macron to combat the far right, with star footballer Kylian Mbappe warning the country was at a historic crossroads.
Nuclear arms more prominent amid geopolitical tensions: researchers
The role of atomic weapons has become more prominent and nuclear states are modernising arsenals as geopolitical relations deteriorate, researchers said Monday, urging world leaders to "step back and reflect".
Zuma's party joins S.African opposition alliance
South African former president Jacob Zuma said Sunday his new party would join an opposition alliance to coordinate resistance to the government, while maintaining its challenge to the general election results.
France braces for frenetic campaign as Mbappe warns against extremes
France was on Sunday bracing for a frenetic fortnight of election campaigning for snap polls called by President Emmanuel Macron to combat the far right, as star footballer Kylian Mbappe waded into the febrile environment with a warning not to vote for extremes.
Afghan Taliban govt says to attend next round of UN talks in Doha
Taliban authorities will attend the third round of United Nations-hosted talks on Afghanistan in the Qatari capital, a government spokesman said on Sunday, after snubbing an invitation to the previous round.
Rare day of relative calm as Gaza sees 'tactical pause' for aid
Gaza saw its first day of relative calm in months Sunday, after Israel's military said it would "pause" fighting daily around a southern route to facilitate aid flows, following repeated UN warnings of famine in the Palestinian territory.
'I'm against extremes and divisive ideas', says Mbappe
France superstar and captain Kylian Mbappe on Sunday declared himself "against extremes and divisive ideas" when asked about crucial upcoming legislative elections in the country.
Grand welcome for China's Li in Canberra ahead of tricky talks
Chinese Premier Li Qiang will receive a grand ceremonial welcome at Australia's parliament on Monday, the prelude to thorny talks expected to raise recent military confrontations and rising regional tensions.
'In seventh heaven', says Swede freed in Iran prisoner swap
A Swede freed in a prisoner swap with Iran, 33-year-old EU diplomat Johan Floderus, said in his first words since his release that he was "in seventh heaven", in a video published Sunday.
World leaders back just peace for Ukraine, eye eventual Russia talks
World leaders on Sunday backed Ukraine's independence and territorial integrity, and the need for eventual talks with Russia on ending the war -- but left the key questions of how and when unresolved.
Pope appeals for halt to DR Congo violence
Pope Francis on Sunday deplored a surge of violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the victims of which he said included many Christians who had been killed for their faith.
Israel announces daily Gaza 'pause' for aid deliveries
Israel's military said Sunday it would "pause" fighting around a south Gaza route daily to facilitate aid deliveries, following months of warnings of famine in the besieged Palestinian territory.
Israel's 'economic war' chokes occupied West Bank
Palestinian teenagers bounced on trampolines and jumped through hoops inside a towering tent on the outskirts of Ramallah, the financial hub of the occupied West Bank.
Gaza tests historic bond between UK Muslims and Labour
Gaza is a long way from the picturesque foothills of the Yorkshire Dales but the issue could swing UK general election races in northern England, with many local Muslims angry at Labour's stance.
UK election picks over 14 years of Conservative rule
Fourteen years of Conservative party rule in the UK have seen Brexit, Covid, economic turmoil and political scandals, leaving many Britons worse off and disenchanted.
Shunned by West, Russian army deserters live in fear
Russian officer Farkhad Ziganshin had prepared himself for a life of military service since a young age. He could never have imagined that one day he would become a deserter and flee the country.
Biden holds LA fundraiser as Trump courts Michigan
US President Joe Biden brushed aside jet lag Saturday, flying straight from the G7 in Italy to Los Angeles to a star-studded fundraiser set to bring millions of dollars for his election fight against Donald Trump in November.
Chinese Premier Li touts trade in rare Australia visit
Chinese Premier Li Qiang is toasting a turnaround in trade ties with Australia on Sunday with a trip to a major winegrowing region that was hit by Beijing's sanctions.
Quarter million protest in France against far right: police
Some 250,000 people took to the streets across France Saturday to protest the rise of the far right after their success in European polls prompted President Emmanuel Macron to call legislative elections, police said.
Eight Israeli soldiers killed as fighting rages in Gaza
Eight Israeli soldiers were killed in a blast in southern Gaza Saturday, the military said, in some of its heaviest losses of the war, as witnesses reported street battles between troops and Palestinian militants.
Biden jets to LA fundraiser starring Clooney, Roberts and Obama
US President Joe Biden brushed aside the jet lag Saturday, flying straight from the G7 in Italy to Los Angeles to a star-studded fundraiser set to bring millions of dollars for his election fight against Donald Trump in November.
Activists, exiled opposition slam Sweden's 'shameful' freeing of Iranian ex-official
An exiled Iranian opposition group and activists on Saturday slammed as shameful Sweden's freeing in an apparent swap for two Swedes of a former Iranian official jailed over his role in the mass executions of dissidents in 1988.
Iran, Sweden free prisoners in Oman-mediated swap
Iran and Sweden announced a prisoner exchange on Saturday that saw a former Iranian official released in Sweden in exchange for a European Union diplomat and a second Swede.
Ahmadis in Pakistan say intimidated ahead of Eid al-Adha feast
Pakistanis from the minority Ahmadi community say they are under increasing pressure from authorities and Islamist groups ahead of the Eid al-Adha celebrations on Monday.
Ukraine-sceptic Pellegrini sworn in as Slovak president
Peter Pellegrini, an ally of Ukraine-sceptic Prime Minister Robert Fico, was sworn in as Slovakia's new president on Saturday, pledging to unite the politically polarised central European country.
Ukraine summit opens in Switzerland, seeking path to peace
World leaders were joining Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Switzerland on Saturday for a summit on peace in his country, but with Russia staying away it is seen as the first step in a long process.