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Israeli forces launched deadly strikes on Lebanon and Gaza on Monday, pressing their offensive against militants after Egypt’s president proposed a two-day truce in the Israel-Hamas war.There was no comment from either Israel or Hamas on the plan unveiled Sunday by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, but Israeli media said spy chief David Barnea was …

Israel presses Gaza and Lebanon assaults as Egypt touts truce plan Read More »

Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba vowed Monday to stay in office despite his gamble of snap elections backfiring, with his party’s ruling coalition falling short of a majority for the first time since 2009.Ishiba called Sunday’s election days after taking office on October 1, but voters angry at a slush fund scandal punished his Liberal …

Japan PM vows to stay on despite election debacle Read More »

Actor Gerard Depardieu on Monday asked for a delay to the start of his trial on sexual assault charges, saying his health prevented him from attending the proceedings, with numerous other complaints and a possible second court case already lying in wait.The actor is the highest-profile figure to face accusations in French cinema’s version of …

French screen legend Depardieu asks for delay to sexual assault trial Read More »

Every rainy season for the past 12 years, floods have swept through 67-year-old Idris Egbunu’s house in central Nigeria.It is always the same story — the Niger River bursts its banks and the waters claim his home for weeks on end, until he can return and take stock of the damage.The house then needs cleaning, …

Climate change-worsened floods wreak havoc in Africa Read More »

Actor Gerard Depardieu’s Paris trial for allegedly sexually assaulting two women during a film shoot begins Monday, with numerous further complaints and a possible second court case already lying in wait.Depardieu, 75, is expected to appear at the criminal court hearing starting at 1:30 pm (1230 GMT), his lawyer Jeremie Assous said.The actor is the …

French screen legend Depardieu faces sexual assault trial Read More »

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has proposed a two-day truce in Gaza and limited hostage exchange aimed at securing “a complete ceasefire” after more than a year of war between Israel and Hamas.The proposal made on Sunday includes exchanging four Israeli hostages held in Gaza for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, and would be followed …

Egypt proposes two-day Gaza truce in hope of full ceasefire Read More »

Republican Donald Trump led a headline-grabbing New York rally on Sunday with nonstop attacks on Kamala Harris, but Democrats sought to capitalize on crude insults from some of his allies’ opening speeches.Trump took to the stage at the iconic 20,000-seat Madison Square Garden arena to deliver a closing message in the exceedingly tight race for …

Trump’s New York rally attacks Harris, draws criticism Read More »

Lithuania’s centre-left opposition won a clear victory in Sunday’s parliamentary election, preliminary results showed, after a campaign dominated by concerns about the cost of living and social inequality.The Social Democratic Party came first with 52 seats in the 141-seat parliament and is now hoping to build a coalition.The ruling conservative party finished a distant second …

Centre-left opposition triumphs in Lithuania election Read More »

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba faced the prospect of minority rule Monday after his gamble of snap elections backfired with the ruling party’s worst election result in 15 years.Ishiba, 67, called Sunday’s election days after taking office on October 1, but voters angry at a slush fund scandal punished his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which …

Japan PM under pressure after debacle election Read More »

The elite of world football will gather in Paris on Monday for the Ballon d’Or ceremony, with Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior the leading candidate for the men’s award and Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati the hot favourite to win her second-successive crown.The men’s shortlist for the 2023/24 edition of the prestigious individual award is the first …

Vinicius favourite for Ballon d’Or in post-Messi/Ronaldo era Read More »