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Trump pauses Mexico tariffs as last-ditch Canada talks continue

US President Donald Trump paused tariffs on Mexico for one month after last-minute talks Monday -- but there was no breakthrough yet in negotiations with Canada on an issue that has sparked fears of a global trade war.

Musk says Trump 'shutting down' US aid agency

Elon Musk, the world's richest person and President Donald Trump's controversial close advisor, said Monday the giant USAID humanitarian agency will be "shutting down" as part of his radical -- and critics say unconstitutional -- drive to shrink the US government.

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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.

France's Macron in Lebanon to back new leadership

France's President Emmanuel Macron was in Lebanon on Friday, where he was due to meet his newly-elected counterpart and offer support to leaders seeking to open a new chapter in their country's turbulent history.

Residents of Canada, US border towns fear Trump creating divisions

A shared library, sports fields and fire stations. The American border town of Derby Line and its Canadian twin Stanstead have been living in harmony for more than two centuries, but their bonds are being tested by US President-elect Donald Trump.

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

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

Aid agencies ready Gaza push but warn of mammoth obstacles

An Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal expected to take effect on Sunday has sparked hope for life-saving aid to reach Palestinians, but aid agencies warn of obstacles from destroyed infrastructure, massive need and collapsed law and order.

South Korea investigators seek to extend President Yoon's detention

South Korean prosecutors asked a court Friday for a new arrest warrant for detained President Yoon Suk Yeol as he again refused questioning by investigators probing his failed martial law bid.

Israeli security cabinet meets on ceasefire deal

Israel's security cabinet met Friday to vote on a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal that should take effect this weekend.

Israeli security cabinet to finalise ceasefire deal

Israel's security cabinet was set to meet Friday to approve a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal that should take effect this weekend.

Trump says ceasefire 'would've never happened' without his team

US President-elect Donald Trump said Thursday the ceasefire and hostage release agreement between Israel and Hamas would have never been reached without pressure from him and his incoming administration.

South Korea's Yoon refuses questioning again

Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Friday again refused investigators' efforts to question him over his failed martial law bid, as the deadline on his detention neared.

US trade envoy finds China's shipbuilding policies warrant 'urgent action'

The US Trade Representative said Thursday that its probe into China's practices in the shipbuilding, maritime and logistics sectors found that Beijing's undermining of fair competition warranted "urgent action."

Russia and Iran to sign 'partnership' pact

Russia and Iran will sign a "comprehensive strategic partnership" treaty on Friday during a visit to Moscow by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, cementing ties between two of the world's most heavily sanctioned countries.

Israeli cabinet to meet on ceasefire after PM says hostage deal finalised

Israel's security cabinet was set to meet Friday after final details of a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal were ironed out, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said, with the United States "confident" the truce would begin as planned this weekend.

North Korea warns of stronger action over South's drills with US, Japan

North Korea condemned on Friday joint military drills between South Korea, Japan and the United States held this week, threatening to respond by exercising its right to self-defence "more intensively".

South Korea's Yoon refuses questioning again as warrant deadline nears

Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Friday again refused investigatgors' efforts to question him over his failed martial law bid, as the deadline on his detention neared.

600 police on duty for Israeli club's 'high-risk' Paris basketball clash

Hundreds of Paris police officers were deployed on Thursday for a basketball match classified as "high-risk" due to the participation of an Israeli team.

Canada ex-central banker Mark Carney launches PM bid

Mark Carney, the former governor of Canada's central bank, on Thursday launched his bid to succeed Justin Trudeau as Liberal Party leader and prime minister, immediately becoming a frontrunner in the race.

Israeli cabinet to vote on ceasefire, as US 'confident' deal will go ahead

Israel's cabinet was set to vote Friday on a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal, an official said, with mediator the United States "confident" the accord would take effect as planned.

US blacklists Sudan army chief as Blinken regrets failure to end war

The United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on Sudan's army chief days after blacklisting his main rival, as outgoing Secretary of State Antony Blinken voiced regret at his failure to end the brutal war.

Fate of two child hostages grips Israel after Gaza deal

The fates of a baby and his four-year-old brother, taken hostage by Hamas on October 7, 2023, have been on everyone's mind in Israel since the announcement of a Gaza ceasefire.

US 'confident' Gaza truce will go ahead as Israel launches new strikes

The United States said Thursday it was "confident" that a fragile Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal would take effect on time, even as Israel carried out new air strikes ahead of a cabinet vote on the accord.

EU's ex-tech chief joins Bank of America as advisor

The EU's influential former tech enforcer Thierry Breton will join Bank of America's advisory council, he told AFP on Thursday, a move denounced by one lawmaker as flouting a lobbying ban.

French PM survives first no-confidence vote in parliament

French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou on Thursday survived his first vote of no confidence in parliament after the motion, brought by the leftist opposition, failed to gain traction on the far right.

Oligarchs already own much of US - can they buy democracy?

They increasingly own everything from access to space to how we get news on Earth and now outgoing President Joe Biden warns America's new breed of Donald Trump-allied oligarchs could gobble up US democracy itself.

'Impossible' to protect all undersea infrastructure: NATO commander

NATO members face an "impossible task" trying to protect their vast network of critical undersea cables and pipelines from sabotage, the head of the alliance's centre for securing the infrastructure said Thursday.

Wall Street stocks rally loses steam

Strong bank earnings failed to sustain a rally on Wall Street, but stocks in Europe and Asia pushed higher.

US Treasury nominee says Trump can usher in 'economic golden age'

Donald Trump's nominee for Treasury chief spoke Thursday of ushering in "a new economic golden age," as he faced grilling by lawmakers about the incoming US administration's economic agenda.

US could cut interest rates 3 or 4 times this year: Fed official

The US Federal Reserve could cut rates three or four times this year if inflation data cooperates, with a first cut possible before July, a senior bank official said Thursday.

European carmakers warn against EU-US trade war

Europe's biggest automakers called on the European Union Thursday to avoid a "trade conflict" with the United States, days before Donald Trump officially returns as president.

The Japan Times - Politics (English)