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EU to seek cuts in heating, cooling of buildings to save gas
The European Commission is expected next week to ask EU countries to reduce heating and cooling of public buildings and offices to cut demand for gas, according to a document seen by AFP.
Sunak heads race to become UK PM after latest vote
Former finance minister Rishi Sunak came out on top in the latest round of voting Thursday by Conservative MPs to decide Britain's next prime minister, followed by bookmaker favourite Penny Mordaunt.
Amazon offers to settle EU antitrust cases over rival data
Amazon has offered a settlement against EU charges that the online giant undermined rivals by misusing the sensitive information of independent sellers to benefit its own retail business, the EU said Thursday.
Biden talks joint investment with Israel, India, UAE
US President Joe Biden held joint investment talks Thursday with Israel, India and the United Arab Emirates, as Washington seeks to counter the global reach of China.
Russian strikes kill 20 as Zelensky urges 'special tribunal' for Moscow
Russian missiles struck Vinnytsia in central Ukraine Thursday, killing at least 20 people including three children, in what President Volodymyr Zelensky called "an open act of terrorism".
US vows to use all means to stop Iran nuclear bomb in new Israel pact
The US and Israel signed a new security pact on Thursday reinforcing their common front against Iran, as President Joe Biden pledged to use "all" American power to stop the Islamic republic from acquiring nuclear weapons.
In east Ukraine trench, soldiers dig in for 'total war'
Down a trench in Ukraine's Donbas region, Dima admits it took him time to adjust to the sounds of war, to living with fellow soldiers and to the flies everywhere.
Sri Lanka leader flees to Singapore
Sri Lanka's president arrived in Singapore Thursday, as protestors who chased him from his residence demanded he keep his promise to step down over his country's worst-ever economic crisis.
Russian strikes kill 17 in central Ukraine
Russian missiles struck Vinnytsia in central Ukraine Thursday, killing at least 17 people including a child, in what President Volodymyr Zelensky called "an open act of terrorism".
12 killed in Russian strikes in central Ukraine ahead of EU talks
Russian missiles struck the city of Vinnytsia in central Ukraine on Thursday, killing at least 12 people in what President Volodymyr Zelensky called "an open act of terrorism".
US, Israel to sign security pledge as Biden visits Jerusalem
US President Joe Biden and Israel's Prime Minister Yair Lapid will sign a security "declaration" on Thursday affirming their united front against Iran, an American official said, as Biden holds bilateral talks in Jerusalem.
Sri Lanka protesters to end occupation of official buildings
Sri Lanka's anti-government demonstrators said Thursday they were ending their occupation of official buildings, as they vowed to press on with their bid to bring down the president and prime minister in the face of a dire economic crisis.
Call to prayer merges Turkish politics with art
Cupping his hands to his ears, one of the contestants in an annual competition for Turkey's most melodious religious voice leans closer to the microphone to intone a tender call to prayer.
Sri Lanka protesters in talks to end occupation
Sri Lanka's anti-government demonstrators were in talks Thursday to hand back official buildings they seized, protest representatives said, even as they insisted the president and prime minister both quit in the face of an economic crisis.
Libyans at boiling point amid summer power cuts
Mahmud Aguil has a comfortable house in Libya's capital Tripoli, but chronic power outages in the war-battered country and roasting summer heat now force him to sleep in his air-conditioned van.
Saudi mindset shows signs of shift towards Israel
Israeli journalist Yoav Limor did not know what to expect when he travelled with a colleague this month to Saudi Arabia, a country long notorious for promoting anti-Israel sentiment in textbooks and in sermons by some imams.
Mohammed bin Salman, hard-charging heir reshaping Saudi Arabia
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has shaken up the conservative kingdom with head-spinning reforms while quashing any threats to his status since becoming de facto ruler of the world's biggest oil producer five years ago.
IMF agrees to resume Pakistan loan after fuel, tax hikes
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Thursday it had agreed with Pakistan to resume a suspended loan programme that will inject $1.17 billion into the struggling economy.
Biden to meet with Israeli leaders in Jerusalem on second day of Mideast tour
US President Joe Biden will hold bilateral talks on Thursday with Israeli officials in Jerusalem, where the two allies are expected to declare a "united stand" on common foe Iran.
Verdict due for Iranian ex-official in Sweden war crimes trial
A Swedish court will on Thursday render its verdict in the trial of Hamid Noury, a former Iranian prison official accused of war crimes during a 1988 purge of dissidents.
US Senate confirms Biden nominee Michael Barr to central bank
The US Senate on Wednesday confirmed President Joe Biden's nominee for the role of the top Federal Reserve banking cop, a key oversight role for US fiscal policy.
Stocks tumble while euro dips below $1.00 on US inflation data
Global stocks fell Wednesday and the euro dipped below $1.00 for the first time in nearly 20 years after data showed a surge in US inflation last month, convincing investors that further increases in borrowing costs are on their way.
Protesters raid Sri Lanka PM's office after president flees abroad
Protesters in Sri Lanka defied tear gas, water cannon and a state of emergency to storm the prime minister's office on Wednesday after the country's embattled president fled overseas, with the crowd demanding both men step down in the face of an economic crisis.
Russia and Ukraine near grain deal in first talks since March
Russia and Ukraine on Wednesday made substantive progress in their first direct talks since March on a deal to relieve a global food crisis caused by blocked Black Sea grain exports.
Sunak tops first round of voting for new UK Tory leader
Former finance minister Rishi Sunak led the field of Conservative MPs bidding to become Britain's next prime minister in the first ballot of Tory lawmakers Wednesday, as the race narrowed to six with the elimination of two candidates.
Israel lasers in on Iranian drone threat as Biden visits
Moments after US President Joe Biden touched down in Tel Aviv on Wednesday, the Israeli military showed him new hardware it says is essential to confronting Iran: anti-drone lasers.
ESA fully cuts Mars mission ties with Russia, angering Moscow
The European Space Agency has officially terminated cooperation with Russia on a mission to put a rover on Mars, with Russia's space chief furiously responding by banning cosmonauts on the ISS from using a Europe-made robotic arm.
Sri Lankan troops stand by as protestors occupy PM's office
Sri Lankan troops stood with their weapons lowered in the grounds of the prime minister's office Wednesday, doing nothing to halt the huge mass of people wandering through the compound, despite orders to "restore order".
Russia and Ukraine address grain crisis in first talks since March
Russia and Ukraine on Wednesday held their first direct negotiations since March in a bid to break an impasse over grain exports that has seen food prices soar and millions face hunger.
Stocks tumble, euro dips below $1.00 on US inflation data
Global stocks fell Wednesday and the euro dipped below $1.00 for the first time in nearly 20 years after data showed a surge in US inflation last month, convincing investors that further increases in borrowing costs are on their way.
Biden visits Israel on first Middle East tour as US president
US President Joe Biden on Wednesday kicked off a Middle East tour in Israel where both sides vowed to deepen the Jewish state's integration in the region as they face their common foe Iran.
Captured by Moscow, Severodonetsk now painted in Russian colours
In Severodonetsk in eastern Ukraine, signs of Russia's takeover are hard to miss.
Russia and Ukraine try to solve grain crisis in Turkey
Russia and Ukraine met UN and Turkish officials on Wednesday in a bid to break a months-long impasse over grain exports that has seen food prices soar and millions face hunger.
French enquiry blames organisers for Champions League fiasco
An enquiry by the French Senate into crowd chaos at this year's Champions League final in Paris concluded that organisers were to blame, not supporters, undermining claims by the police and Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin.
Pacific looks to international court for help on climate
Climate-threatened Pacific islands are pushing for the International Court of Justice to throw its weight behind efforts to arrest climate change, with the initiative gaining support at a key regional summit in Fiji Wednesday.
Rwandan genocide survivor group says French verdict a 'strong' message
A Rwandan genocide survivors' group said Wednesday it welcomed the jailing in France of a former top official convicted of a role in the 1994 slaughter as a "strong" message.
Film fest to frontline: Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov
It was less than a year ago that Ukrainian movie director Oleg Sentsov was presenting his latest film "Rhino" at the prestigious Venice film festival.
End of the line for Sri Lanka's 'Terminator' president
Known as "The Terminator" to family and foes alike for his ruthless crushing of Tamil rebels to end a decades-long civil war, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's rule is drawing to a close with him a fugitive and his island's economy in ruins.
UK Tories hold first round of voting for new PM
Britain's ruling Conservative party was Wednesday to winnow down the eight candidates vying to succeed Prime Minister Boris Johnson amid growing acrimony over alleged dirty tricks.