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Ukraine’s foreign minister called Russia’s top diplomat Sergei Lavrov a “war criminal” Thursday as they both attended an international meeting in Malta, the latter’s first visit to an EU country since the 2022 invasion.Ukraine’s Andriy Sybiga also accused Moscow of being “the biggest threat to our common security” as both ministers sat at the same …

Accusations and walkouts as Ukraine, Russia ministers clash at Malta Read More »

President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday sought a new prime minister to prevent France from sliding deeper into political turmoil after Michel Barnier’s government was ousted in a historic no-confidence vote in parliament.Poised to be contemporary France’s shortest-serving premier, Barnier met Macron at the Elysee Palace to submit his resignation, after the defeat in parliament on …

France’s Macron seeks new PM after no-confidence defeat Read More »

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced Thursday her participation at a summit of South America’s Mercosur bloc, saying a controversial free-trade deal between the EU and the group was within reach.”Touchdown in Latin America,” she wrote on social media platform X before the meeting in Montevideo. “The finish line of the EU-Mercosur agreement …

Von der Leyen heads to EU-Mercosur summit for trade deal Read More »

Ukraine’s foreign minister called Russia’s top diplomat Sergei Lavrov a “war criminal” Thursday as they both attended an international summit in Malta, the latter’s first visit to an EU member since the 2022 invasion.Ukraine’s Andriy Sybiga also accused Moscow of being “the biggest threat to our common security” as the two foreign ministers sat on …

Ukraine, Russian diplomats trade barbs at Malta summit Read More »

Georgia’s prime minister vowed Thursday to “eradicate” the country’s “liberal-fascist” opposition, escalating the government’s bitter campaign against its rivals as mass pro-EU protests enter their second week.Tbilisi has been rocked by turmoil since the governing Georgian Dream party, which critics accuse of creeping authoritarianism and of leading the country back into Russia’s orbit, claimed victory …

Georgian PM vows to ‘eradicate’ opposition amid pro-EU protests Read More »

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol clung to power Thursday, with his party announcing they will oppose an impeachment motion after his short-lived imposition of martial law stunned the world.Yoon suspended civilian rule late Tuesday and deployed troops and helicopters to parliament only for lawmakers to vote down the measure and force him into a …

South Korean president clings to power after martial law U-turn Read More »

Bitcoin broke $100,000 for the first time Thursday after Donald Trump nominated cryptocurrency backer Paul Atkins to head the US securities regulator, reinforcing optimism the incoming president will deregulate the sector.The digital unit has enjoyed a blistering rally since the November 5 election of Trump, who pledged to make the United States the “bitcoin and …

Bitcoin leaps over $100,000 as traders cheer Trump pick Read More »

President Lai Ching-te spoke Thursday to Republican US House Speaker Mike Johnson, the Taiwanese leader’s office said as he visited the American territory Guam during a Pacific tour that has angered China.Taiwan calls itself a sovereign nation, but Beijing insists the democratic island is part of its territory and opposes any official exchanges with it.Lai’s …

Taiwan’s Lai has call with US House Speaker Johnson Read More »

Syrian government forces were locked in heavy fighting around the central city of Hama on Thursday, trying to halt an advance of Islamist-led rebels, a war monitor said.The fighting around Hama follows a rapid offensive by the rebels, who in just days captured large chunks of territory, including Syria’s second city Aleppo, from President Bashar …

Syria forces battle to stop rebel advance on key central city Read More »

The Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers attended an OSCE summit in Malta on Thursday, with Sergei Lavrov making his first visit to an EU member since his country’s 2022 invasion of its neighbour.Neither the Russian diplomat or his Ukrainian counterpart, Andriy Sybiga, commented as they arrived for the meeting of the Organization for Security and …

Russia FM to Malta in first EU trip since Ukraine invasion Read More »