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Trump trade threats overshadow European defence meet

The threat of a transatlantic trade war loomed large Monday over a gathering of European leaders aimed at boosting the continent's defences in the face of an aggressive Russia.

EU leaders vow to hit back if Trump triggers trade war

EU leaders meeting in Brussels Monday warned there would be no winners in a trade war with the United States, insisting they would hit back if President Donald Trump imposes tariffs.

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Trump administration plans mass immigrant arrests next week: incoming official

US immigration authorities will carry out mass arrests of undocumented immigrants across the country on Tuesday, a top border official in the incoming administration of Donald Trump has said.

Russian attack kills four in Kyiv

A Russian strike killed four people in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, city officials said on Saturday, in what the country's foreign minister called a "heinous" attack with ballistic missiles.

South Korea's president in court as investigators seek to extend detention

Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was in court for the first time Saturday for a crucial hearing that will decide whether to extend his detention as investigators probe his failed martial law bid.

Impeached South Korean president arrives for arrest warrant hearing

Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol arrived at court for the first time Saturday to attend a hearing that will decide whether to extend his detention as investigators probe his failed martial law bid.

In Brazil, disinformation deals Lula a bruising defeat

An avalanche of disinformation about a new economic measure proved so tricky for Brazil's government to navigate that they backtracked entirely this week in a rout egged on by the opposition.

South Korea court to decide on extending president's detention

A South Korean court will weigh Saturday whether to extend the detention of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, after investigators arrested him over a failed martial law bid.

Israeli government approves Gaza ceasefire deal

Israel's cabinet voted to approve a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal on Saturday, the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, ending days of uncertainty about whether the truce would go into effect this weekend.

39 dead in Colombia guerilla violence, govt suspends peace talks

At least 39 people have been killed in violence involving leftwing guerillas near Colombia's restive border with Venezuela, authorities said Friday, prompting the government to suspend high-stakes peace talks with the group.

US Treasury to take 'extraordinary measures' to avoid debt default

The US Treasury Department will start taking "extraordinary measures" next week to avoid risking a default on government debt, Secretary Janet Yellen said Friday, days before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.

Canada vows 'Trump tax' on US in response to tariffs: minister

Americans will be hit by a "Trump tariffs tax" if the US president-elect increases customs duties on Canadian products, the Canadian foreign minister said Friday, pledging a hard-hitting response in any trade war.

US offered infrastructure incentive for DRC-Rwanda peace deal: official

The United States offered to extend its signature African investment project into the troubled east of the Democratic Republic of Congo as an incentive for a peace deal, but Rwanda has backed away, a senior US diplomat said.

At VW home base, Germany's Scholz vows to revive economy

Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Friday laid out his vision to secure the future of Germany's ailing economy at a campaign event in the historic home base of the crisis-hit auto titan Volkswagen.

Israeli cabinet convenes to vote on Gaza ceasefire deal

Israel's cabinet convened on Friday to vote on a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal that should take effect this weekend, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said.

30 killed in Colombia armed violence, govt suspends rebel peace talks

Thirty people have been killed in violence between rival leftwing groups near Colombia's restive border with Venezuela, authorities said Friday, prompting the government to suspend peace talks with one guerilla group.

Trump readies for triumphant, but icy, inauguration

Donald Trump will complete an extraordinary comeback on Monday when he is sworn in for a second term as US president -- although his inauguration will be moved indoors due to an arctic blast.

Trump inauguration moved indoors due to extreme cold

Donald Trump confirmed that his inauguration as US president on Monday will move indoors due to expected freezing weather, undercutting the Republican's hopes for a grandiose spectacle to kick off his second term.

Trump inauguration to be moved indoors due to cold

Donald Trump said Friday that his inauguration as US president on Monday will be moved indoors due to expected freezing weather.

Biden grants clemency to 2,500 people, most ever in a day

President Joe Biden on Friday commuted the sentences of nearly 2,500 people convicted of non-violent drug offenses in what the White House called the largest single-day act of clemency in US history.

Trump homeland security pick calls border 'number one' threat

US Homeland Security secretary nominee Kristi Noem said Friday weaknesses at the southern border are the country's "number one threat" as she set out her vision for the department that will oversee Donald Trump's promised immigration crackdown.

Over 230,000 flee eastern DR Congo violence since January 1: UN

More than 230,000 people have fled surging violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo since the start of the year, the United Nations said Friday, labelling it one of the world's "most alarming" humanitarian crises.

Russia, Iran harden military and trade ties in new pact

Russia and Iran signed a new treaty on Friday underpinning their economic and military cooperation, in what both sides cast as a major milestone in their relations.

Trump, Xi speak by phone, vow improved ties despite threats

Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke by phone on Friday, days before the incoming US president returns to the White House, with both leaders vowing to take a positive approach to improving ties between the rival countries.

Macron announces aid conference to rebuild Lebanon

France's president said Friday that Paris will soon host an aid conference to help rebuild Lebanon after the Israel-Hezbollah war last year, as he visited Beirut in a show of support for Lebanon's new leaders.

Musk backing for European far right 'endangers democracy': Scholz

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Friday said US tech billionaire Elon Musk is threatening European democracy with his attacks on political leaders and support for the far right.

Displaced Gazans awaiting truce so they can go home

In a sprawling tent city in central Gaza, Palestinians displaced by war to other parts of the territory are all waiting for one thing: a ceasefire so they can go home.

US president-elect Trump holds phone talks with Chinese leader Xi

Chinese President Xi Jinping held phone talks Friday with US president-elect Donald Trump, Chinese state media reported.

Trump's economic plans could cause inflation: IMF chief economist

Donald Trump's economic plans risk reigniting US inflation, International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief economist Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas told AFP, a few days before the president-elect returns to the White House.

French patrol aircraft threatened by Russian military: minister

A French maritime patrol aircraft was the object of an "intimidation attempt" this week by the Russian military over the Baltic Sea, France said Friday, calling the incident "unacceptable".

Russia, Iran to harden military and trade ties in new pact

Russia and Iran are poised to sign a new treaty on Friday to cement their military and economic ties, a pact between two of the world's most heavily sanctioned nations that is likely to alarm the West.

Israeli security cabinet approves Gaza ceasefire deal

Israel's security cabinet approved in a vote on Friday a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal that should take effect this weekend, the prime minister's office said.

Russia sentences Navalny lawyers to years behind bars

Russia on Friday sentenced three lawyers who had defended Alexei Navalny to several years in prison for bringing messages from the late opposition leader from prison to the outside world.

EU 'ready' to restart Gaza border mission after ceasefire deal

The EU is prepared to redeploy a monitoring mission to the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt after a ceasefire deal to end Israel's war in the territory, the bloc's top diplomat said Friday.

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