World

Salome Zurabishvili was a French diplomat before entering the turbulent politics of her ancestral homeland, where she was elected Georgia’s first woman leader in 2018 and became the beacon of Tbilisi’s EU aspirations.The Georgian president, 72, has increasingly become embroiled in a fierce feud with the ruling Georgian Dream party as it turned increasingly illiberal, …

Salome Zurabishvili: defiant champion of Georgia’s EU dream Read More »

The Miss Netherlands beauty pageant is being scrapped after 35 years, organisers said on Thursday, transforming into a new platform dealing with mental health and sharing positive stories.”Times have changed and we are changing with the times,” the organisers of the pageant said in a statement.Instead of running the competition, director Monica van Ee has …

‘No longer of this time’: Miss Netherlands pageant scrapped Read More »

Gaza’s civil defence agency reported that Israeli air strikes on Thursday killed at least 33 people, including 12 guards securing aid trucks in southern parts of the Palestinian territory.The latest bloodshed came just hours after the UN General Assembly called for an immediate ceasefire in the devastated territory.Seven guards were killed in a strike in …

Gaza rescuers say Israeli strikes kill 33 Read More »

Gaza’s civil defence agency reported that Israeli air strikes on Thursday killed at least 33 people, including 12 guards securing aid trucks in southern parts of the Palestinian territory.The latest bloodshed came just hours after the UN General Assembly called for an immediate ceasefire in the devastated territory.Seven guards were killed in a strike in …

Gaza rescuers say Israel kills 33 in morning strikes Read More »

The United States was pushing Thursday for an “inclusive” transition in Syria from president Bashar al-Assad’s brutal rule, after the country’s new leaders pledged to protect minority rights.Assad fled Syria after a lightning offensive spearheaded by the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group and its allies, which brought a sudden end to five decades of …

US hoping for ‘inclusive’ transition in Syria Read More »

Dutch police said Thursday that they had arrested a fourth suspect in connection with the deadly explosion that flattened an apartment block in The Hague, killing at least six people.A wedding boutique is believed to have been the target of Saturday’s massive blast at the flat complex in a residential neighbourhood in which four others …

Fourth suspect held in deadly Dutch building collapse Read More »

French President Emmanuel Macron was expected Thursday to name a new prime minister a week after MPs toppled the government, with politicians across the spectrum holding their breath while he conducts a day visit to Poland.Macron had promised to name a replacement government chief within 48 hours after meeting party leaders at his Elysee Palace …

Suspense mounts as Macron expected to name new French PM Read More »

In the small town of Dedovsk, just outside Moscow, pensioner Zinaida Kudriavtseva is struggling to pay the bills.Russia has been gripped by a cycle of rising prices since it launched its military offensive on Ukraine almost three years ago.Driven by an explosion in state spending on the conflict, inflation has surged, hitting hardest those who …

Russians suffer rising costs of Ukraine conflict Read More »

Waving colourful glow sticks, singing parody songs and sporting elaborate outfits, demonstrators in Seoul this week calling for President Yoon Suk Yeol’s departure have highlighted South Korea’s unique and creative protest culture.From mutual aid efforts to ensure protesters stay well fed to old-school exercise routines, AFP takes a look at what has been popular at …

K-pop, carols, free food at South Korea impeachment protests Read More »

An investigation into alleged rape and sexual assault in Stockholm which Swedish media said targeted Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe has been closed due to insufficient evidence, the Swedish prosecutor said Thursday.Mbappe, the 25-year-old Frenchman who is one of the highest-profile players in world football, visited the Swedish capital October 9-11 with a group of …

Sweden ends rape investigation allegedly targeting Kylian Mbappe Read More »