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US appears to backtrack as Trump Gaza plan sparks global outcry
US President Donald Trump's administration appeared to backtrack Wednesday after his proposal to take over Gaza sparked uproar, with the UN chief warning against "ethnic cleansing" in the Palestinian territory.

Merkel urges parties to calm pre-election 'turmoil'
Germany's former chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday urged politicians to dial back tensions ahead of elections this month after her centre-right CDU party sparked uproar by accepting the far right's support.

Guatemala promises surge in deportation flights, courting Rubio
Guatemala's leader promised Wednesday to allow a surge of deportation flights from the United States as he won a show of support from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a boost after simmering tensions in the Central American country.

Pentagon says 10 'high-threat' migrants being held at Guantanamo
Ten "high-threat illegal aliens" have arrived at Guantanamo and are being held at the notorious American base in Cuba, the Pentagon said Wednesday, without providing details on their alleged offenses.

French PM survives no-confidence vote
French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou on Wednesday survived a no-confidence vote in parliament, winning some breathing space after less than two months in office but still facing an uncertain future.

M23, Rwandan troops launch fresh DR Congo offensive
The M23 armed group and Rwandan forces launched a new offensive on Wednesday in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, days before the Rwandan and Congolese presidents are due to attend a crisis summit.

Following Trump, Argentina quits World Health Organization
Argentina said Wednesday it will pull out of the World Health Organization, following in the footsteps of the United States and citing similar complaints over the UN body's management of the Covid-19 pandemic.

WHO worker aims to raise $1 bn to cover US pullout
When the World Health Organization's top donor the United States announced its withdrawal, one employee launched an online fundraiser to plug the gap -- and her efforts have already raised more than $100,000.

Tesla sales fall in Germany as Musk backs far right
Tesla sales plunged in Germany last month, official data showed Wednesday, after billionaire owner Elon Musk waded into the country's election campaign by vocally backing the far right.

US trade gap swells as Trump renews scrutiny of deficits
The US trade gap swelled last year to its second-largest on record, government data showed Wednesday, as deficits come under the spotlight with President Donald Trump's return to the White House.

M23, Rwanda troops launch fresh east DR Congo offensive
The M23 and Rwandan forces on Wednesday launched a new offensive in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, seizing a mining town in South Kivu province, as they resumed their advance towards the regional capital Bukavu.

International backlash after Trump proposal to take over Gaza
Many global leaders expressed opposition Wednesday after US President Donald Trump said he wanted to take control of the Gaza strip and "permanently" resettle Palestinians in other countries.

US trade gap swells in 2024 as deficits under fresh scrutiny
The US trade gap swelled last year to nearly $920 billion, according to government data released Wednesday, as deficits come under the spotlight with President Donald Trump's return to the White House.

Rubio sees Guatemala leader keen to please US
Secretary of State Marco Rubio was seeking cooperation on migration Wednesday in Guatemala, whose leader, an anti-corruption advocate, is eager to please the new US administration to bolster his standing at home.

EU seeks new import fee on e-commerce packages
The European Commission announced Wednesday it would seek to impose new fees on e-commerce imports, as part of efforts to tackle a surge of "harmful" products into the bloc -- the bulk of them from China.

Stocks, dollar drop as tariff tensions intensify
Stock markets mostly fell, the dollar slid and and gold hit a record high Wednesday over fears about a trade war between superpowers China and the United States.

Kremlin calls Zelensky's readiness for Putin talks 'empty words'
The Kremlin on Wednesday dismissed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky saying he was ready for direct talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin as "empty words".

Trump bid to take over Gaza, move Palestinians faces backlash
President Donald Trump's shock proposal for the United States to take over the Gaza Strip and resettle its people faced a resounding rejection from Palestinians, Middle East leaders and governments elsewhere on Wednesday.

Bid to sell Suu Kyi's Myanmar mansion flops for third time
Myanmar's junta failed in an attempt to auction Aung San Suu Kyi's lakeside mansion on Wednesday, with no bids submitted for the former democracy leader's home -- the third time the sale has flopped.

China slams US 'suppression' as trade war deepens
Beijing accused the United States Wednesday of "suppression" after its postal service said it was suspending parcels from China and Hong Kong, a move that could hit e-commerce giants Temu and Shein.

Philippine House votes to impeach VP Sara Duterte
Philippine lawmakers on Wednesday voted to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte, who has fallen out spectacularly with the country's leader, paving the way for a Senate trial that could see her removed from office.

Iraq's famed 'hunchback' of Mosul rebuilt brick by brick
The leaning minaret of Mosul in northern Iraq has been restored using its original brickwork, years after it was reduced to rubble under Islamic State group rule.

Stock markets stutter as traders weigh China-US trade flare-up
Equity markets stumbled Wednesday and gold hit a new record as investors kept tabs on China and the United States after they exchanged tariffs, sparking fears of another debilitating trade war between the economic superpowers.

Hamas rejects Trump proposal to take over Gaza, move Palestinians
Palestinian militant group Hamas lashed out Wednesday at President Donald Trump's shock proposal for the United States to take over the Gaza Strip and resettle Palestinians in other countries, seemingly whether they want to leave or not.

US Postal Service says suspending parcels from China
The US Postal Service (USPS) said Tuesday it was temporarily suspending inbound parcels from China and Hong Kong, shortly after President Donald Trump's imposition of fresh tariffs targeting Beijing.

Myanmar junta bid to sell Suu Kyi mansion flops for third time
Myanmar's junta failed in its attempt to auction Aung San Suu Kyi's lakeside mansion on Wednesday, with no bids submitted for the former democracy leader's home -- the third time the sale has flopped.

Australia bans DeepSeek AI program on government devices
Australia has banned DeepSeek from all government devices on the advice of security agencies, a top official said Wednesday, citing privacy and malware risks posed by China's breakout AI program.

Asian markets stutter as traders weigh China-US trade flare-up
Asian markets stumbled Wednesday and gold hit a new record as investors kept tabs on China and the United States after they exchanged tariffs, sparking fears of another debilitating trade war between the economic superpowers.

Trump says US will take over Gaza, create 'Riviera of the Middle East'
President Donald Trump revealed an extraordinary plan Tuesday for the United States to take over the Gaza Strip, resettle Palestinians in other countries -- seemingly whether they wanted to leave or not -- and turn the territory into "the Riviera of the Middle East."

Trump says US will 'take over' Gaza as he welcomes Netanyahu
President Donald Trump made an extraordinary proposal for the United States to "take over" the Gaza Strip, as he hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for crucial talks on the truce with Hamas.

Leaders 'should respect' wishes of Palestinians to stay in Gaza: Palestinian UN envoy
World leaders and people should respect Palestinians' desire to remain in Gaza, the Palestinian envoy to the United Nations said Tuesday, after US President Donald Trump said he believed people from the territory should be resettled elsewhere "permanently."

Trump hosts Netanyahu for pivotal Gaza ceasefire talks
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Donald Trump at the White House Tuesday for crucial talks on the truce with Hamas, as the US president suggested permanently resettling Palestinians from war-battered Gaza.