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Lula says if Trump hikes tariffs, Brazil will reciprocate
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Thursday that if US counterpart Donald Trump hiked tariffs on Brazilian products, he would reciprocate -- but that he would prefer improved relations over a trade war.
Russian drone barrage kills eight in east Ukraine
A Russian drone attack on a residential block killed eight people including three elderly couples in the eastern Ukrainian city of Sumy, prosecutors said on Thursday.
Israel releases Palestinian prisoners after hostages freed
Buses carrying freed Palestinian prisoners left an Israeli prison on Thursday, after chaos during the release by Gaza militants of three Israeli hostages and five Thais led to a brief delay in the process.
Stock markets rise on ECB rate cut, healthy corporate results
US and European stock markets rose Thursday as the European Central Bank cut interest rates again and companies posted healthy earnings.
Tears of joy for Thai hostages freed in Gaza
The families of Thai farm workers held for over a year in Gaza cheered and wept with relief Thursday as they were freed in a hostage-prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas.
Rwanda-backed M23 pledges to 'march all the way to Kinshasa'
The Rwanda-backed M23 armed group vowed Thursday to "continue the march of liberation" to the DR Congo capital Kinshasa, as its fighters made further advances in the mineral-rich east of the country.
Russian drone barrage kills three elderly couples in east Ukraine
A Russian drone attack that targeted cities across Ukraine killed three elderly couples in a Soviet-era residential block in the eastern city of Sumy, prosecutors said.
Israel halts prisoner release after Gaza hostages freed
Israel on Thursday suspended the planned release of Palestinian prisoners after Gaza militants freed three Israeli hostages and five Thais amid chaotic scenes.
UK unveils 'counter-terror style' police powers to stop migrants
The UK government introduced legislation Thursday designed to give law enforcement officials "counter-terror style powers" to break up gangs bringing irregular migrants across the Channel in flimsy boats.
France hands over last base in Chad amid withdrawal
The French army has handed over its last base in Chad in a military ceremony in the capital N'Djamena, the general staffs of both countries announced Thursday.
Syria, Qatar discuss reconstruction during emir's visit
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said discussions with a Qatari delegation in Damascus Thursday included reconstruction in the war-torn country, during the first visit by a head of state since Bashar al-Assad's ouster.
Gaza militants hand over eight more hostages
Palestinian militants on Thursday freed three Israeli hostages and five foreigners captured in the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel as the third hostage-prisoner exchange of the Gaza ceasefire got under way.
Top Palestinian militant to be freed in Israel prisoner exchange
Zakaria Zubeidi, a former leader of a Palestinian militant group jailed for attacks that killed several Israelis, is to be released Thursday as part of the Gaza ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.
Top Palestinian militant freed in Israel prisoner exchange
Zakaria Zubeidi, a former leader of a Palestinian militant group jailed for attacks that killed several Israelis, was released Thursday as part of the Gaza ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.
EU vows 'action plan' for beleaguered auto sector
The EU promised Thursday an "action plan" to help the bloc's beleaguered auto sector as it held talks with industry leaders who have sounded the alarm over emissions fines and Chinese competition.
Victory for mafia waste victims in Italy's 'Land of Fires'
Europe's top rights court on Thursday ruled that Italy had failed to protect nearly three million people living in a region blighted by toxic waste dumped by the mafia and gave the government two years to fix the situation.
Philippines to remove US missile system if China ends 'coercive behaviour'
President Ferdinand Marcos said Thursday his government will remove a US missile system from the Philippines if Beijing ends its "aggressive and coercive behaviour" in the contested South China Sea and ceases claiming Filipino territory.
Koran burner shot dead in Sweden
A man who repeatedly burnt the Koran in 2023 in Sweden, sparking outrage in Muslim countries, has been shot dead, media reported Thursday as police confirmed a man died in a shooting the day before.
Hamas hands over woman hostage as third exchange begins
Palestinian militant group Hamas on Thursday handed over Israeli woman hostage Agam Berger, a soldier, as a third hostage-prisoner exchange got under way, an AFP journalist reported.
Fury over prices in Croatia sparks growing retailer boycotts
Fed up with paying ever increasing prices at grocery stores and shopping outlets, Croatians have begun channeling their anger into a nascent boycott movement targeting retailers that shows signs of spreading across the Balkans.
Israel cuts ties with UN aid agency supporting Palestinians
Israel will cut ties with the UN agency for Palestinian refugees on Thursday following accusations it provided cover for Hamas militants, a move likely to hamper delivery of its vital services after 15 months of war in Gaza.
Israel, Hamas poised for third hostage-prisoner exchange
Israel and Hamas were set to carry out their third hostage-prisoner exchange on Thursday, with three Israelis and five Thai captives slated for release as part of a ceasefire deal aimed at ending the Gaza war.
Afghan women cricketers reunite in first game after fleeing Taliban
Afghanistan's women cricketers on Thursday played their first game since fleeing the Taliban three years ago, a charity match in Australia that captain Nahida Sapan said she hoped would spark "a movement for change".
Asian markets diverge in thin trade, with AI impact in focus
Asian equities were mixed in another holiday-thinned trading day Thursday, with investors digesting broadly positive tech earnings that came days after the upheaval caused by China's DeepSeek explosion onto the global AI scene.
DR Congo leader says troops mounting 'vigorous' response to M23 advance
DR Congo's President Felix Tshisekedi insisted Wednesday that his troops were mounting a "vigorous" military response as Rwanda-backed fighters advanced in the east of the country.
'Uncertainty never ends' as deal to free Cuba prisoners unravels under Trump
Just two weeks ago, Cubans celebrated the anticipated release of jailed protesters in a deal struck under US then-president Joe Biden. Now hope is waning for hundreds still behind bars after Donald Trump scrapped the agreement.
Salvadoran town hopes Trump brings 'good times' for bitcoin
Bitcoin enthusiasts seeking to turn a mountain town in El Salvador into a cryptocurrency haven hope that US President Donald Trump's return to the White House will boost their cause.
Scalded by Colombia row, Latin America treads carefully with Trump
Latin American leaders have canceled a summit to discuss Donald Trump's migrant crackdown, as the region weighs the risks of openly confronting the firebrand US president.
Trump's environment pick confirmed, drawing cheers from industry
President Donald Trump's nominee to head the US Environmental Protection Agency was confirmed by the Senate on Wednesday, drawing cheers from the fossil fuel industry and sparking alarm among green groups.
Trump commerce pick says favors broad tariffs, vows tough China stance
Donald Trump's commerce secretary nominee told his US Senate confirmation hearing Wednesday he favors "across-the-board" tariffs targeting countries rather than products, while signaling a hawkish China stance.
Trump unveils plan to detain 30,000 migrants at Guantanamo
US President Donald Trump unveiled a surprise plan Wednesday to detain thousands of undocumented migrants in Guantanamo Bay -- distracting from spiraling confusion after the White House withdrew a shock order to freeze federal funds.
Powell says US Fed in no hurry to cut rates after pause
The US Federal Reserve is in no "hurry" to adjust interest rates again, the central bank's chair Jerome Powell said Wednesday, after policymakers voted to pause rate cuts in the first decision since Donald Trump's White House return.