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Germany’s conservative opposition heaped pressure on Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s crisis-hit government Thursday to allow for speedy elections by calling a confidence vote next week rather than next year.Christian Democrats (CDU) chief Friedrich Merz made the demand after Scholz’s three-party coalition imploded on Wednesday, just as the world was digesting news that Donald Trump is headed …

Germany’s Scholz under pressure to call early vote after coalition collapses Read More »

Israel conducted air strikes on Hezbollah’s main bastion in south Beirut on Thursday, with one raid hitting an area near Lebanon’s only international airport.The pre-dawn raids came after Hezbollah claimed a slew of attacks on Israel, including a missile strike targeting a military base near Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport.Also on Wednesday, the health ministry …

Israel strikes Hezbollah’s main bastion in Lebanon Read More »

Australia’s prime minister on Thursday vowed to ban children under 16 from social media, saying the pervasive influence of platforms like Facebook and TikTok was “doing real harm to our kids”.The tech giants would be held responsible for enforcing the age limit and face hefty fines if regulators notice young users slipping through the cracks, …

Australia moves to ban children under 16 from social media Read More »

Germany enters a period of political uncertainty Thursday after its fragile three-party ruling coalition collapsed on the same day Donald Trump won the US election.Chancellor Olaf Scholz — who announced a January confidence vote, likely followed by snap elections in March — will seek to reassure his European partners at a summit in Budapest.Scholz said …

Uncertainty looms for Germany after Scholz coalition collapses Read More »

Israel launched fresh strikes on south Beirut early Thursday, hours after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US president-elect Donald Trump spoke about the “Iranian threat”.The Israeli premier was one of the first world leaders to congratulate Trump, calling the re-election “history’s greatest comeback”.Over the phone on Wednesday, the pair “agreed to work together for Israel’s …

Israel strikes Lebanon after discussing ‘Iranian threat’ with Trump Read More »

Hurricane Rafael knocked out power to all of Cuba on Wednesday as it slammed through the cash-strapped island, which was still reeling from a recent blackout and a previous deadly storm.Rafael strengthened to a major Category 3 hurricane as it made landfall on the Caribbean island of 10 million people.It hit in western Artemisa province, …

Hurricane Rafael triggers nationwide blackout in Cuba Read More »

Ireland meet New Zealand on Friday at Lansdowne Road in a rematch of last year’s epic Rugby World Cup quarter-final which dashed Irish dreams of lifting the trophy.The world number one side have bounced back from the devastating 28-24 defeat by retaining their Six Nations title and tying a two-Test series in South Africa.The All …

Irish face All Blacks in rematch of World Cup thriller Read More »

European leaders converge on Budapest Thursday for two days of high-level talks that will seek to rise to the challenges posed by Donald Trump’s return to the White House — but also risk exposing the continent’s fault lines.The leaders of the European Union will be joined by others from the United Kingdom to Turkey, as …

Europe seeks footing as Trump storms back to power Read More »

Donald Trump’s crushing presidential victory heralded a new era of uncertainty in the United States and the world Wednesday, as defeated Kamala Harris gave a defiant concession speech while vowing to help his transition to power.An emotional Vice President Harris told tearful supporters in a speech in Washington to “not despair,” urging them to “keep …

Harris gives defiant concession after stunning Trump win Read More »