Argentina property bill protest turns to police clashes
Thousands of people protested outside the Argentine Senate on Thursday against a private property bill, with clashes breaking out between demonstrators and pol…
Politics & Governance
Published stories in Politics & Governance.
Bolivia's Rodrigo Paz defends economic plan
Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz defended his economic recovery plan Thursday in his first address to the nation since taking office nine months ago, after prote…
Mitch McConnell returns home after medical absence
US Senator Mitch McConnell said Thursday, August 6, that he had been discharged from a rehabilitation center and would continue recovering at home after nearly two months in hospital and rehabilitation. The 84-year-old Kentucky Republican, a former Senate lea…
UEFA keeps FIFA boycott threat as CAF backs Infantino
UEFA kept up its threat to boycott FIFA competitions on Thursday, while the Confederation of African Football formally backed FIFA president Gianni Infantino over his handling of a now-shelved private investment plan. European football's governing body said i…
Anthony Fauci contempt vote clears US Senate panel
A Republican-led US Senate committee voted on August 6 to hold Anthony Fauci, the former top US infectious diseases official, in contempt of Congress, advancing a Republican effort tied to scrutiny of Covid-19 pandemic decisions. The party-line vote followed…
Australia to buy US missiles for fighter jets
Australia said Thursday it will buy long-range missiles for its fighter jets from the United States in an Aus$736 million ($518 million) deal, amid concerns about pressure on US missile stockpiles. Defence Minister Richard Marles said Australia would purchase…
Trump denies US munitions shortages, threatens leakers
President Donald Trump said Thursday that the United States has large supplies of munitions and threatened prison terms for people behind reports suggesting shortages. Trump wrote on Truth Social that the United States has "massive amounts" of munitions, espe…
Mark Parton admits 'my job is boring' text
Australian politician Mark Parton admitted on Thursday that he sent a private text saying his job was boring during a meeting, after local media reported a complaint about the message. Parton leads the opposition Liberal Party in the Australian Capital Territ…
Venezuelan leftists split over Delcy Rodriguez's US ties
Venezuelan leftists are split over interim leader Delcy Rodriguez's cooperation with Washington, with activists and some Chavistas opposing her Western-backed policies ahead of US-backed political transition talks. Rodriguez, who previously served as Nicolas…
Trump-class battleships could cost $275 billion, CBO says
The US Navy's planned fleet of 15 Trump-class battleships could cost $275 billion to build, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said Wednesday. The CBO estimated that the first nuclear-powered battleship would cost about $23.4 billion in 2026 dollars.…
Mojtaba Khamenei hard to contact, Iran president says
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Wednesday that communication with Iran's supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, was “very difficult at the moment,” as Khamenei remains out of public view after being wounded in the US-Israeli strike that began the Middl…
PKK amnesty bill backed by 360 Turkish MPs
Turkey's limited amnesty bill for PKK Kurdish militants has been signed by 360 of the country's 592 MPs, giving it majority backing before a committee review and parliamentary vote. The bill, entitled “Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Integration,…
Ethiopia arrests opposition figures over terror claims
Ethiopian authorities arrested two opposition members and a lawyer close to their party, accusing them of planning terrorist acts, while defence representatives rejected the allegations as false. Yisak Wolday, head of public relations for the Ethiopian People…
Paul Biya appoints generals to security team amid absence
Cameroon's President Paul Biya has made new appointments to his personal security structure, including naming General Raymond Jean Charles Beko'o Abondo to head the presidential guard, as debate continues over the 93-year-old leader's absence from the country…
Sri Lanka blocks 24 online gambling sites
Sri Lanka has blocked access to 24 major online gambling sites as part of a crackdown on unauthorised gambling, the Digital Economy Ministry said on Wednesday. Online gambling is legal in Sri Lanka, but operators must register with the authorities and pay lic…
Meta apologises over Modi video removal in India
Meta apologised to India's information and broadcasting minister after Facebook and Instagram temporarily removed a video posted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as an Indian parliamentary panel called for Mark Zuckerberg to apologise within three days. Joel…
Sheikh Hasina return vow draws Bangladesh rebuke
Bangladesh's government rebuked ousted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina after she said she would return from exile in India in December even if she was jailed. Hasina, 78, spoke in an audio broadcast to a packed press club in New Delhi on Wednesday, the se…
New Zealand councillor joins meeting from bathroom
New Zealand councillor Jo Galer joined a Dunedin City Council meeting from a bathroom, with laundry visible behind her during a discussion on local government reform. Mayor Sophie Barker told Galer during the Monday meeting: "You might want to move your camer…
Trump Truth Social paid access draws scrutiny
Trump Media and Technology Group's paid Truth API service has drawn scrutiny from US lawmakers and market watchers because it offers subscribers rapid access to President Donald Trump's Truth Social posts before the general public sees them. The company launc…
Nigeria military salaries to rise by up to 80%
Nigeria will raise military salaries by between 30% and 80% from September, presidential media adviser Bayo Onanuga said, as the government seeks to boost morale among troops facing widespread insecurity. Onanuga said officers above colonel will receive a 30%…
India E20 petrol protest stopped by police
Police stopped Indian opposition leader Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday as he marched towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence with petitions signed by more than 200,000 people demanding a rethink of E20 petrol. E20 is petrol blended with 20 percent ethano…
Guinea opposition calls for end to 'dictatorship'
Guinean opposition parties and civil society organisations on Monday called on Guineans to “put an end to the dictatorship” as President Mamadi Doumbouya left the country on holiday. Doumbouya's office said he was travelling to Greece with his family “for a f…
Todd Blanche attorney general bid clears Senate panel
Todd Blanche's nomination to be US attorney general cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, moving President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer closer to becoming the top US law enforcement officer. The committee approved the nomination 12-10 al…
Denmark starts 11-month conscription for 1,600 youths
About 1,600 young Danes began 11 months of military service on Monday, the first intake under Denmark's extended conscription system. Princess Isabella, 19, was among the new conscripts. She joined the Guard Hussar Regiment at Antvorskov Barracks in Slagelse.…
Boris Nadezhdin says he has left Russia for France
Russian anti-war politician Boris Nadezhdin said on Monday that he had left Russia, posting a video from Paris after recent pressure on his parliamentary campaign. “I have some good news: I'm alive and free. Unfortunately, not in Russia,” Nadezhdin said in a…
Todd Blanche says Senate deal scraps $1.8bn fund
Todd Blanche, the US acting attorney general, said he had reached an agreement with senators and issued an order scrapping a $1.8 billion compensation fund that had threatened his Senate confirmation. Blanche's announcement followed a Senate Judiciary Committ…
Aung San Suu Kyi meeting is proof of life, UK says
Britain's foreign ministry called Aung San Suu Kyi's meeting with an International Committee of the Red Cross representative in Myanmar “long overdue proof of life” and repeated its call for her release. An ICRC spokesperson said Arnaud de Baecque, the organi…
Venezuela transition talks start without Machado
Venezuela's US-backed political transition talks began Thursday in Caracas without exiled opposition figure Maria Corina Machado, as interim government and opposition representatives opened dialogue on elections, political rights and earthquake recovery. The…
UK written constitution: Burnham signals support
Britain's new Prime Minister Andy Burnham has signalled support for a written UK constitution, linking the idea to his plans to devolve more power to regional authorities. Burnham said his devolution plans “point towards a new constitutional settlement” and c…
Gianni Infantino ‘wrong man’ for FIFA, Burnham says
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Friday that Gianni Infantino was the “wrong man” to lead FIFA after the launch of a plan to sell stakes in competitions to private investors. Burnham called the proposal “an outrageous suggestion” as opposition to it g…
Lee Kuan Yew home acquired by Singapore government
Singapore's government has taken possession of Lee Kuan Yew's longtime home, officials said Friday, ending a nearly decade-long family dispute over whether the property should be preserved or demolished. The Singapore Land Authority and the National Heritage…
Xenia Fedorova assets frozen after France expulsion
France froze Russian TV commentator Xenia Fedorova's assets for six months after ordering her to leave the country, while she denounced the move as censorship and political pressure. Fedorova, 45, a former journalist for Russia's state-run channel RT, wrote o…
France freezes Xenia Fedorova's assets for six months
France froze the assets of pro-Kremlin Russian commentator Xenia Fedorova for six months on Friday, days after the interior ministry ordered her to leave the country. The French finance ministry said the decree took immediate effect and used a legal mechanism…
Japan intelligence bureau meets for first time
Japan's new National Intelligence Bureau met for the first time on Friday, launching a central body for collecting and analysing information on security and public safety. The bureau was created under a bill enacted in May that upgraded an existing intelligen…
Rubio says Venezuela transition will take months
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday that he expects Venezuela's political transition to take months and weeks, not years, as delegates of interim President Delcy Rodríguez and opposition members prepare for their first round of talks in Caracas thi…
Diane Abbott readmitted to Labour after suspension
Diane Abbott has been readmitted to Britain's governing Labour Party and had the Labour whip restored after an internal process, the party said on Thursday. Labour said Joani Reid, another lawmaker, had also been readmitted to the party and to its parliamenta…
Todd Blanche scraps $1.8bn fund in confirmation deal
US acting attorney general Todd Blanche said Sunday he had reached an agreement with senators and issued an order rescinding a $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund that had stalled his Senate confirmation. The announcement came after the Senate Judiciary Co…
Winston Peters in racism row with Chinese envoy
New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters is in a racism row after telling China-born Green Party lawmaker Lawrence Xu-Nan to “go back to your own country” and rejecting criticism from Chinese ambassador Wang Xiaolong. During a Wednesday debate on New Zeala…
Assisted dying: Burnham says social care must come first
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham declined on Wednesday to say whether he would support new attempts to legalise assisted dying, saying palliative care and social care reform should come first. Burnham made the comments after relaunching his long-running pr…
Friedrich Merz vows reset after CDU reshuffle backlash
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz promised a fresh start and better communication on Wednesday after a cabinet reshuffle sparked anger inside his ruling conservative CDU/CSU bloc. “We must all reflect together on what we need to do better ... and how we can re…
Sheikh Hasina vows return to Bangladesh despite death fears
Bangladesh's fugitive former prime minister Sheikh Hasina said she was determined to return to Bangladesh by December despite fearing she could be killed, arrested or imprisoned. “I may be killed. I may be arrested. I may be sent to prison,” Hasina, 78, said…
Jay Clayton confirmed as Trump intelligence chief
The US Senate confirmed Jay Clayton as President Donald Trump's top intelligence official on Tuesday, approving him in a 51-47 vote to lead the country's intelligence agencies. All Democrats in the Senate voted against Clayton's appointment. The former securi…
Khalida Boufedeche becomes Algeria's first woman speaker
Algeria's parliament elected Khalida Boufedeche as its first woman speaker on Tuesday evening, making her the country's fourth-highest-ranking official. Boufedeche is an allergist by training and represents Algiers. She belongs to the National Liberation Fron…
Peru asks Congress for crime-fighting powers
Peru's new government asked Congress on Wednesday to approve powers for a crime-fighting plan after President Keiko Fujimori's cabinet met for the first time. A presidential statement said the 90-minute meeting produced measures to strengthen citizen security…
Uganda's NMG to reopen after Museveni lifts shutdown
Nation Media Group's outlets in Uganda will gradually resume operations after President Yoweri Museveni authorised their reopening, the company's largest shareholder Taifa Group said Tuesday. The independent media group's Ugandan outlets were forced to close…
Sri Lanka Presses Ahead With Judges' Retirement Age Hike
Sri Lanka said Tuesday it would press ahead with plans to raise judges' retirement ages, despite opposition from the country's bar association and concerns over judicial independence. Government spokesman Nalinda Jayatissa said the cabinet decided on Monday t…
Keiko Fujimori vows army crime role as Peru president
Keiko Fujimori took office as Peru's president on Tuesday and said the military would temporarily lead security operations in some areas during states of emergency as she pledged to confront crime. Fujimori, 51, won June's runoff on her fourth presidential bi…
Reform UK reports guillotine T-shirt image reposted by Green leader to police
Reform UK said on Monday that it had reported to police an Instagram image reposted by Green Party leader Zack Polanski showing a man wearing a T-shirt with a guillotine and the slogan “We’re only making plans for Nigel”. Zia Yusuf, a senior figure in Nigel F…
Hungary elects Pal Sonnevend to Constitutional Court after two-day process criticised by Amnesty
Hungary’s parliament elected university professor Pal Sonnevend as a Constitutional Court judge on Monday, two days after his nomination in a process criticised by Amnesty International and boycotted by Fidesz and KDNP. Sonnevend was elected to a nine-year te…
India’s ‘cockroach’ protesters threaten new rallies over 100 arrests as Bihar orders detainees freed
India’s youth-led “cockroach” protest movement threatened on Monday to resume nationwide demonstrations unless authorities release people detained during rallies over examination failures, as Bihar police ordered protesters held in that state to be freed. The…
UK social care: Burnham seeks plan within a year
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Wednesday he wanted recommendations for a National Care Service in England within a year, relaunching a long-running push to change care for elderly and vulnerable adults. Speaking at a care home in north London less t…
Maria Corina Machado rejects US-backed August talks with Delcy Rodriguez government
Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado said on Sunday that she would not participate in US-backed talks scheduled for August with the de facto government of Delcy Rodriguez. In a joint statement with Edmundo Gonzalez…
Burnham begins UK premiership with cost-of-living measures and looser style
New UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham used his first week in office to signal a change in policy focus and political style for the centre-left Labour government after Keir Starmer's departure. Burnham, 56, announced three early measures aimed at giving household…
Senegal president launches new party after split with Sonko
Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye launched a new party on Saturday called Kiiraay, after a high-profile split with his former mentor and ex-prime minister, Ousmane Sonko. Sonko leads the Pan-Africanist party Pastef, the party to which both men had be…
Macron says France will rebuild after southern fires
President Emmanuel Macron said Saturday that France would rebuild after fires swept parts of the country's south and forced tens of thousands of evacuations. In a post on X, Macron said: "We will rebuild, we will repair and we will be there for as long as is…
Biya's stay abroad revives debate over Cameroon's government
The lengthy absence of Cameroon's President Paul Biya, who has been in Switzerland since early June, has renewed debate over government inaction and the country's political future. As of Saturday, Biya had been away from Cameroon for 48 days. The 93-year-old…
Trump orders warning signs outside Smithsonian history museum
US President Donald Trump issued an executive order calling for temporary signs outside The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History in Washington to warn visitors about what the order describes as inaccurate historical information inside the museum.…
Uganda to require monthly community clean-up
Ugandan authorities said people in the country will be required to spend three hours cleaning their communities on the last Saturday of every month or face legal action. The first National Cleaning Day is scheduled for this Saturday from 7:00 am to 10:00 am l…
Trump attacks media and jokes about third term at rescheduled press dinner
US President Donald Trump attacked what he called the “fake news media” and again raised the idea of serving beyond the two-term limit as he spoke Friday at a…
Poland's PiS risks losing top opposition status after MPs split
Poland's Law and Justice party, known as PiS, said on Friday that it had effectively split after losing at least 30 members of parliament. If the split is officially confirmed, PiS would lose its position as the largest party in parliament and fall behind Pri…
Bangladesh president resigns, citing ill health
Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin resigned from the largely ceremonial post on Friday, citing ill health. Shahabuddin, a close ally of former premier Sheikh Hasina, confirmed he was stepping down when asked about speculation that he planned to leave b…
Hungary orders investigation into zebras linked to Orban circle
Hungary is investigating the handling of a herd of zebras that became a symbol of alleged corruption and excess under former prime minister Viktor Orban, Environment Minister Gajdos Laszlo said Friday. The animals became a recurring reference at anti-governme…
Modi image dented by India youth protests, analysts say
Analysts say India’s youth-led education protests have dented Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s image of political strength after his government accepted key demands, including the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Demonstrations led by the o…
Merz names Steffen Bilger transport minister after botched dismissal of predecessor
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz named Steffen Bilger as Germany’s new transport minister on Monday, completing a cabinet reshuffle after the attempted dismissal of his predecessor became public before a replacement had been secured. Bilger, 47, a member of M…
Ozgur Ozel forms new Turkish opposition party after quitting CHP
Ozgur Ozel resigned from Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party on 24 July with 90 other lawmakers and set up Yeni Parti, or New Party, to oppose President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The move came two months after a court removed Ozel as CHP leader and…
Turkey's Ozel leaves CHP and says he is forming Yeni Parti
Ozgur Ozel, who was ousted as leader of Turkey's main opposition CHP, said Friday that he was resigning from the party and setting up a new opposition faction. In a video posted on X, Ozel signed resignation papers and founding documents for Yeni Parti, or Ne…
Burnham opens Manchester office for English devolution plan
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham formally opened a new northern office in Manchester on Friday, saying it would support “a different way of running Britain” by shifting more government activity away from London. Burnham, who replaced Keir Starmer as prime…
Keiko Fujimori supporters in Peru look to her crime plans
Supporters of Peruvian president-elect Keiko Fujimori in neighborhoods named after her family say they are looking to her to respond quickly to crime, especially extortion. Conservative Fujimori won the presidential runoff by about 50,000 votes and has promis…
Secret Service agent assigned to JD Vance investigated over alleged leaks
A US Secret Service agent assigned to Vice President JD Vance is under investigation over alleged leaks, a Secret Service spokesman said Thursday. The investigation followed a report that Vance wanted to fly his son to a golf lesson on a military helicopter.…
Tunisia pardons former presidential candidate, reports say
Tunisia pardoned a former candidate in the 2024 presidential election who had received prison sentences totalling more than 30 years in separate cases, reports said Thursday. Ayachi Zammel was one of only two candidates allowed to run against President Kais S…
Zelensky meets US influencer Laura Loomer during Ukraine visit
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky held talks Thursday with Laura Loomer, a right-wing American influencer and confidante of US President Donald Trump, an adviser to Zelensky said. Dmytro Lytvyn, an adviser to the Ukrainian leader, confirmed the meeting.…
Italian right-wing parties back jeweller convicted of killing robbers
A criminal case involving jeweller Mario Roggero has become a political issue for Italy's right ahead of the 2027 general election. Roggero, 72, was sentenced last week to nearly 15 years in prison for killing two robbers and wounding a third after a 2021 rob…
Rotterdam mayor abseils down Euromast after turnout bet
Rotterdam Mayor Carola Schouten abseiled down the 185-metre-high Euromast on Thursday after promising before municipal elections that she would do so if turnout rose above the level recorded four years earlier. Schouten had made the pledge before the March mu…
Modi says young people's future is most important
Modi said the future of young people was the most important issue. The brief report did not give further details about the setting, policy area, or any action linked to the remark.
US House narrowly passes $1.15 trillion defense policy bill
The US House of Representatives narrowly passed an annual defense policy bill on Wednesday that would authorize a record $1.15 trillion for the Pentagon, while the Iran war continues. The 2027 National Defense Authorization Act passed the lower chamber by 216…
Thousands protest austerity measures in Buenos Aires after World Cup
Thousands of people demonstrated in Buenos Aires on Wednesday against President Javier Milei's austerity measures, after public attention in Argentina shifted back from the World Cup. Before the tournament, pensioners calling for higher payments and better ac…
Merz nominates Thorsten Frei to lead CDU/CSU lawmakers
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz nominated Thorsten Frei to lead the CDU/CSU alliance in parliament after Jens Spahn stepped down from the post following criticism over his use of a surrogate mother in the United States. Merz said Frei, who is chief of the ch…
Hungary prosecutor general to resign after pressure from prime minister
Hungary's prosecutor general Gabor Balint Nagy said Wednesday that he would step down after pressure from Prime Minister Peter Magyar, who had called him a "puppet" of former nationalist leader Viktor Orban. Nagy, who was appointed last year under Orban, said…
Orban accuses Hungary prosecutors of using graft case to seize Fidesz data
Hungary's former prime minister Viktor Orban accused prosecutors of using a corruption investigation as a pretext to seize databases belonging to his Fidesz party. The prosecutor's office told AFP it had no other option than to seize the data after what it de…
Burkina Faso junta leader warns rivals as power-struggle rumours grow
Ibrahim Traore, the head of Burkina Faso's military junta, sought last week to reject speculation about a power struggle at the top of the government, warning that he intended to remain the west African country's sole leader. The rumours have been fuelled by…
Indonesia cuts free meal programme budget by more than $2 billion
Indonesia has further cut the budget for President Prabowo Subianto's flagship free meal programme by more than $2 billion, officials said, in a move expected to reduce access to the scheme. National Nutrition Agency secretary Lili Khamiliyah told a news conf…
Rahul Gandhi released after detention during India education protests
India's opposition leader Rahul Gandhi has been released after being detained outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence during protests over the education system. The demonstrations continued into Wednesday and were led by the social media-driven Cockr…
Profile outlines role of Andy Burnham’s wife Marie-France van Heel
Marie-France van Heel, the Dutch-born wife of new UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, is expected to face more public attention even though spouses of British prime ministers do not have official positions. Early reports said she may avoid moving to Downing Stree…
Peru victims' relatives reject Keiko Fujimori's legitimacy to govern
Relatives of people killed by Peruvian state violence and civil society organizations rejected president-elect Keiko Fujimori's legitimacy to govern on Tuesday, citing fears of democratic backsliding and judicial impunity. The groups signed a declaration oppo…
Chile's Congress approves most of Kast economic reform package
Chile's Congress on Tuesday approved most provisions of an economic reform package backed by hard-right President Jose Antonio Kast. The opposition strongly contested the measures, arguing that they disproportionately favor wealthy people. The changes include…
Finland prime minister survives confidence vote over Helsinki project
Finland's Prime Minister Petteri Orpo and his government survived confidence votes over their handling of a plan to develop the Garden Helsinki complex, a large project anchored by a 19,000-seat stadium. The opposition had accused Orpo's government of a lack…
French environment minister stays after attempted resignation over pesticide bill
France's environment minister, Monique Barbut, said she would remain in her post as long as she could act on key issues such as climate change, hours after resigning over parliament's approval of a bill allowing the restricted return of two banned insecticide…
UK prime minister to work weekly from planned Manchester office
Britain's new Prime Minister Andy Burnham will spend at least one day a week working from No. 10 North as part of a plan to move some government operations from London to Manchester, his spokesperson said Tuesday. Burnham, the former mayor of Greater Manchest…
Germany and Azerbaijan seek closer energy cooperation
Germany and Azerbaijan said on 21 July 2026 that they want to deepen cooperation on energy exports to Europe, with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev calling for new European funding for gas pipeline projects. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz received Aliyev…
Canada weighs response after Trump threatens new tariffs
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Tuesday that Canada was looking at all options after US President Donald Trump made plans to impose new 50 percent tariffs on many Canadian goods in 30 days. Carney said he and Trump had agreed to intensify discussi…
French lawmakers approve right-wing politician as ombudsman
On 21 July 2026, French lawmakers approved Francois-Noel Buffet, a right-wing senator and former junior minister, to lead the country's top rights watchdog, despite criticism from activist groups. Lawmakers from both houses of parliament backed Buffet, a memb…
Canada joins GCAP fighter jet programme as observer
Canada has joined the Global Combat Air Programme as an observer, Britain's defence ministry announced. The programme, launched by Britain, Italy and Japan in 2022, aims to develop a supersonic sixth-generation stealth fighter by 2035 to replace the Eurofight…
US warns Nicaragua after Ortega says elections will end
The United States warned that it would not stand by after Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega said there would be no more elections in the country, raising fears among critics of a faster move toward one-party rule. Ortega, a former leftist guerrilla who has b…
Spain advances draft ban on smoking and vaping in outdoor public spaces
Spain's minority left-wing government approved a draft law on Tuesday that would ban smoking and vaping in outdoor spaces including bar terraces, parks and beaches. The draft law would also ban minors from consuming tobacco and would block the advertising, pr…
EU cancels Venice Biennale grant over Russia presence
The European Union said it had definitively cancelled a two million euro, or $2.3 million, grant to the Venice Biennale because Russia is taking part in the contemporary art event. European Commission spokesman Thomas Regnier said cultural events funded by Eu…
French parliament backs bill allowing two bee-harming pesticides
France's parliament backed a bill authorising farmers to use two pesticides described in the report as harmful to bees, despite opposition from environmentalists and left-wing politicians. The measure covers acetamiprid and flupyradifurone. The insecticides h…
Hungarian prosecutors raid Fidesz servers in corruption investigation
Hungarian prosecutors raided data servers used by Viktor Orban's Fidesz party as part of an investigation into alleged corruption. Fidesz said in a Facebook statement that investigators from the prosecutor's office arrived without warning at the data centre h…
Colombian anti-corruption activist enters Senate in elephant costume
Luis Carlos Rua, a Colombian anti-corruption activist known as White Elephant, was sworn in as a senator on Monday while wearing a plush white elephant costume in the ceremonial hall of Colombia's Congress. Rua, 34, studied electrical engineering and later wo…
Ousted Turkish opposition leader Ozel says he will start new party
Turkey's ousted opposition leader Ozgur Ozel said Tuesday that he would form a new political party, two months after a disputed court ruling removed him from his position as leader of the Republican People's Party, or CHP. Ozel, who led the CHP for nearly thr…
Burnham reshapes UK cabinet with new roles for senior Labour figures
Andy Burnham was due on Tuesday to hold his first meeting with a sharply reshaped cabinet after removing some senior figures and giving new roles to others. Burnham gave top posts to several politicians who helped his path to power and removed senior figures…
Rahul Gandhi detained during New Delhi education protests
Indian police detained opposition leader Rahul Gandhi during youth-led protests in New Delhi calling for education reforms, after he called for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to resign. The demonstrations, led by the fast-growing Cockroach Janta Party online mo…
Petition supports Turkish governor dismissed after cycling tights row
A Turkish governor removed from office after controversy over images of him cycling in sports tights has received support from thousands of people calling for him to be reinstated. Mehmet Fatih Cicekli, governor of Turkey's northeastern Ardahan province, was…
UK government says it will remove VAT from household electricity bills in October
Britain's new Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced on Tuesday that the government will remove value added tax from UK domestic electricity bills from October. Burnham described the move as immediate action to reduce energy taxes, leave people with more money…
India exam leak bill clears parliament after protests
India's upper house of parliament passed a bill on Thursday to increase penalties for leaking exam papers, clearing both chambers after weeks of youth-led prot…
HRW says US likely had role in attacks on fishing vessels off Ecuador
Human Rights Watch said Tuesday that the United States likely played a role in attacks on three fishing vessels off Ecuador earlier this year that left at least eight people missing. The rights group also criticized alleged torture during Ecuador's US-backed…
Solomon Islands says US Coast Guard patrol deal will be signed in Honiara
The Solomon Islands will sign an agreement allowing the US Coast Guard to patrol its waters with local police aboard, Prime Minister Matthew Wale said during a visit to Washington. A Solomon Islands statement said the ship rider agreement will be signed in th…
Wes Streeting appointed UK defence secretary
Britain's new Prime Minister Andy Burnham named former health minister Wes Streeting as defence secretary late Monday, the government said, as ministerial appo…
Ed Miliband named UK foreign secretary after long political comeback
Ed Miliband, a former leader of Britain's centre-left Labour Party, was appointed foreign secretary on Monday, marking a high point in his return to senior politics after resigning as Labour leader following the party's 2015 general election defeat. Miliband…
Shabana Mahmood reappointed as UK interior minister
20 July 2026: The UK government said Shabana Mahmood had been reappointed as interior minister.
John Healey returns to UK government in Treasury role
British political veteran John Healey has returned to government to run the finance ministry, weeks after resigning as defence secretary over a defence funding dispute. Healey, 66, is a long-serving member of the ruling centre-left Labour Party and has been a…
Burnham sets out electricity VAT cut and cost-of-living focus
Andy Burnham told his first cabinet meeting on Tuesday that his government would focus on lowering living costs, after announcing a cut to value-added tax on h…
Ugandan bishop who supported LGBTQ rights dies at 94
Bishop Christopher Senyonjo, a rare public supporter of LGBTQ rights in Uganda, has died at the age of 94. Rights groups in Uganda paid tribute to him on Monday after his death on Sunday. Senyonjo was one of the few public figures in Uganda to speak in suppor…
Finland withdraws provisional funding support for contested Helsinki venue
Finland's Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said on Monday that the government had withdrawn its provisional 35-million-euro support for Garden Helsinki, a planned 19,000-seat sports and culture venue in the Finnish capital. Orpo spoke after meeting parties in the…
Zelensky welcomes Burnham pledge of continued UK support
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated Andy Burnham on becoming Britain's new prime minister on Monday and said he was encouraged by Burnham's pledge of continued support. Zelensky said in a post on X that he appreciated that support for Ukraine…
US report accuses Cuba of spy and influence campaign
A US State Department report released Monday accused Cuban spies of reaching senior levels of government in Washington and supporting what it called left-wing terrorism in the United States. The report, titled "Cuba: The Capital of 21st Century Communism," wa…
Larry the cat marks another Downing Street leadership change
Larry the cat, officially the Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office, was set to share 10 Downing Street with a seventh prime minister as Andy Burnham prepared to replace Keir Starmer. Larry's X account, @Number10cat, posted: “Politicians come and go; cats are pe…
Starmer says Britain is stronger and fairer as he leaves office
Keir Starmer left Downing Street on Monday, saying Britain was stronger and fairer as he stepped down as prime minister to make way for Andy Burnham. In a farewell speech outside No. 10 in central London, Starmer told reporters that he was confident Britain w…
Trump says US will help new British prime minister after call
US President Donald Trump said Monday that he had a “very good” conversation with Britain's new Prime Minister Andy Burnham and said the United States would su…
Judit Polgar declines proposal to become Hungary's president
Hungarian chess figure Judit Polgar said on Monday that she would not accept Prime Minister Peter Magyar's proposal to become Hungary's president. Magyar, described in the report as a pro-European conservative, had put forward Polgar as a non-political figure…
Indian police fire tear gas at students marching over exam problems
Indian police fired tear gas on Monday, 20 July 2026, to stop thousands of protesters from marching on parliament in New Delhi. The protesters, most of them young students, were demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and wider refo…
Ortega says Nicaragua will not hold elections that let opponents take power
Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega said on Sunday that opponents should not expect elections that could allow them to take office, as he spoke at an event in Managua marking the 47th anniversary of the Sandinista revolution. Ortega, 80, has been in power sinc…
Trump says new Qatari-gifted Air Force One will be sent for upgrades
US President Donald Trump said Sunday that his new Qatari-gifted Air Force One jet would be sent away for about a month to be “maxed out,” after reports raised security concerns about the aircraft following a trip to Turkey. Trump took his first flight on the…
US Vice President JD Vance announces birth of fourth child
US Vice President JD Vance announced Sunday that his wife had given birth to their fourth child, a son. Vance, 41, said in a post on X that Usha Vance and the baby were happy and healthy, and that their other children were overjoyed to meet their little broth…
Iraqi prime minister plans Iran visit after US trip
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi is due to visit Iran at the end of this week after returning from a one-week visit to the United States, Iraqi state media reported Sunday. Iraq's national news agency INA quoted the foreign ministry as saying Zaidi is expect…
Wife says Indian hunger striker is being held illegally in hospital
The wife of Indian hunger strike activist Sonam Wangchuk accused the government of using medical care as a cover for illegal detention after police took him to…
Burnham expected to keep much of UK foreign policy steady
Andy Burnham is expected to broadly maintain Keir Starmer's position on major UK foreign policy issues if he becomes the UK's next prime minister, including close ties with Kyiv and efforts to improve relations with the European Union after Brexit. The sharpe…
Rubio urges Cuba to release more than 700 political prisoners
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged Cuba on Saturday to immediately release more than 700 people he described as unjustly detained political prisoners. Rubio made the call as Cuban dissident artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara arrived in Miami after five y…
Kenya presidency website restricted after reported cyberattack
Kenya temporarily restricted access to the presidency's website on Saturday after local media reported a cyberattack that included a ransom demand. The reports said hackers changed the site's homepage with messages critical of President William Ruto. They als…
Hungary’s president says he will sign amendment ending his term
Hungarian President Tamas Sulyok said on Saturday, July 18, that he will sign a newly passed constitutional amendment that would end his term as head of state. Sulyok, described as an ally of nationalist former leader Viktor Orban, criticised the amendment in…
Brazil court blocks Milei visit to Bolsonaro under wider visit ban
Brazil's top court denied a request by Argentine President Javier Milei to visit former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, who is under house arrest. Milei is expected to attend the Liberal Party convention in Sao Paulo on July 25. Bolsonaro's son Flavio, a…
Greek minister says police will solve 2010 Athens bank arson case
Greece's police minister, Michalis Chrysochoidis, said authorities will solve a 2010 bank arson case in Athens that killed three people, including a pregnant woman, during an anti-austerity protest. Chrysochoidis told Ta Nea daily that the case was watertight…
Jens Spahn quits CDU leadership role over US surrogacy controversy
Jens Spahn, a prominent figure in German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's centre-right CDU, resigned as chairman of the party's faction in parliament on Saturday amid controversy over his use of a surrogate mother in the United States, despite Germany's ban on the…
Jens Spahn resigns CDU parliamentary leadership post over surrogacy controversy
Jens Spahn, chairman of the CDU faction in Germany's parliament, resigned his leadership post Saturday, party sources said, amid controversy over his use of a surrogate mother in the United States despite Germany's ban on the practice. Spahn wrote in a letter…
Delhi police take fasting activist Sonam Wangchuk to hospital
New Delhi police forcibly moved activist Sonam Wangchuk to a hospital on Saturday because of health concerns after a 20-day hunger strike against India’s examination system. Wangchuk, 59, began fasting on 28 June. He is demanding the resignation of Education…
Mexico's Sheinbaum says she will attend World Cup final after Trump invitation
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Friday that she will travel to the United States to attend the World Cup final this weekend just outside New York after an invitation from US President Donald Trump. Sheinbaum announced the trip after not attending mat…
Trump questions England tactics after World Cup semi-final defeat
US President Donald Trump on Friday questioned England's tactics in their World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina. Speaking at a reception in New York alongside FIFA president Gianni Infantino, Trump referred to England captain Harry Kane, saying he had play…
Brazil human rights council urges UN and FIFA action on World Cup racism
Brazil's top human rights body urged the United Nations and FIFA on Friday to act against racism linked to the 2026 World Cup, citing racist slurs and hate speech aimed at players including French footballer Kylian Mbappe. Brazil's National Human Rights Counc…
Cuban dissident artist Otero Alcantara reaches US after prison term
Cuban dissident artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara flew to exile in the United States on Saturday after serving a five-year sentence in Cuba. He landed in Miami after a short flight from Havana, according to a video shared by his friend, activist Anamely Ramo…
Nigel Farage to face 33 opponents in Clacton by-election
Nigel Farage will face 33 other candidates in a snap by-election in Clacton, eastern England, after nominations closed for the August 13 vote. Tendring District Council, which will run the contest, said Farage and 33 opponents will be on the ballot. The counc…
Lawyers say Chad opposition figures held in poor prison conditions
French lawyers for eight jailed Chadian opposition figures said Friday that the men are being held in deplorable prison conditions and that their health is rapidly worsening. The eight men, who are critics of President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, were sentenced…
Manganese and military base to lead France-Gabon talks
Manganese processing and the future of a French military camp in Gabon will be the main issues when Gabon's President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema visits France, officials from both countries said on Friday. Oligui Nguema is due to travel from Monday for a th…
Slovak defence ministry headquarters renovation draws criticism over cost
Slovakia's defence minister, Robert Kalinak, is facing criticism after unveiling a renovated 27-storey headquarters for his ministry in Bratislava. The renovation of the former communist-era barracks cost 53 million euros, or $61 million. The tower is popular…
Switzerland joins NATO ammunition procurement partnership
Switzerland has joined a NATO-linked partnership for joint ammunition procurement, saying the move could reduce costs and shorten delivery times. The Swiss Federal Office for Defence Procurement, Armasuisse, said on Friday that Switzerland was now taking part…
House Democratic split over Israel aid widens before US midterms
More than 100 Democrats in the US House of Representatives voted this week to cut military aid to Israel, showing a widening split inside the party before November's midterm elections. The measure was introduced by conservative Kentucky congressman Thomas Mas…
Ukrainian outlets publish banned corruption investigation into official's brother
Eight Ukrainian news outlets defied a court ban on Friday and published a corruption investigation into the brother of a senior law enforcement official. The investigation by Slidstvo.Info and the Anti-Corruption Action Center, known as AntAC, claimed to have…
France and Germany seek closer defence cooperation after fighter jet project collapse
France and Germany sought to show unity on defence after the collapse of a joint fighter jet project, with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz saying German troops would join a French military nuclear exercise this year. Merz spoke alongside French President Emm…
Merz says Germany will work with whoever France elects in 2027
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Friday that he would extend a hand to whoever becomes France's next president in 2027. Merz spoke alongside French President Emmanuel Macron after a joint French-German government meeting near Cologne. The source said…
Germany to join French military nuclear exercise, Merz says
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Germany will take part in a French nuclear exercise later this year, after representatives from the German and French governments met near Cologne. Speaking at a press conference alongside French President Emmanuel Macron…
Jens Spahn resigns CDU leadership post after surrogacy controversy
Jens Spahn, a senior figure in German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's centre-right CDU, resigned his leadership post after criticism over his use of a surrogate mo…
Weekly offbeat roundup covers football diplomacy, AI companions and election jokes
On 17 July 2026, a weekly offbeat news roundup highlighted several unusual stories from different countries. Ahead of an England-Argentina World Cup semi-final in Buenos Aires, the British embassy posted a mock internal memo on Instagram telling staff how to…
Burnham promises hope as Labour leader before becoming UK prime minister
Andy Burnham vowed on Friday to restore hope to people in Britain as he formally became leader of the ruling Labour Party and prepared to become the next UK pr…
Moldovan man held in Germany over alleged drone spying at Munich defence site
German prosecutors said a 37-year-old Moldovan man has been arrested on suspicion of espionage after allegedly flying a drone over a defence contractor's facility in Munich. The Munich public prosecutor's office said Friday that the man allegedly flew the dro…
Russian court fines Boris Nadezhdin after medical episode in court
A Russian court fined anti-war politician Boris Nadezhdin 1,000 rubles, about $13, for displaying "extremist symbols" after a hearing in which paramedics carried out a cardiogram on him in court because of very high blood pressure. Nadezhdin, 63, is one of th…
Israel's parliament votes to dissolve ahead of October elections
Israel's parliament voted to dissolve itself early Friday, clearing the way for elections on October 27 in which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will seek another term. The vote was supported by 62 of the Knesset's 120 members. It followed a final legislati…
Polish president vetoes bill to create civil partnership rights
Poland's conservative President Karol Nawrocki vetoed a bill on Friday that would have legalised civil partnerships, including for same-sex couples, according to a statement he announced. The bill was proposed by Prime Minister Donald Tusk's centrist governme…
Japan changes imperial succession rules but keeps male-only throne
Japan's parliament changed the imperial succession law on Friday but kept rules that prevent women from becoming emperor, despite polls cited in the report showing broad public support for female succession. The future of the imperial family currently depends…
Japan passes law criminalising public damage to national flag
Japan enacted a law on Friday making it a crime to publicly damage, remove or deface the national flag in a way that causes significant discomfort or revulsion to others. The offence can be punished by up to two years in prison or a fine of up to 200,000 yen,…
Profile details Burnham's rise as he becomes UK prime minister
Andy Burnham, 56, replaced Keir Starmer as UK prime minister on Monday, three days after becoming leader of the ruling Labour Party at his third attempt. Spea…
Japan keeps male-only throne rule in succession law changes
Japan's parliament changed the imperial succession law on Friday but kept the rule that prevents women from becoming emperor, despite polls cited in the report showing broad public support for female succession. The future of the imperial household currently…
Trump says he spoke with Canada PM and raises wildfire damages
US President Donald Trump said he spoke Sunday at the World Cup final with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and raised the issue of wildfire smoke that has…
Macky Sall returns to Senegal for talks with successor on UN bid
Former Senegalese president Macky Sall met President Bassirou Diomaye Faye in Dakar on Friday during his first return to Senegal since leaving office in April 2024. Sall, who led Senegal from 2012 to 2024, is campaigning to become the next United Nations secr…
Zelensky names Yevgeniy Khmara as acting defence minister
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday that he had appointed Yevgeniy Khmara, a career intelligence official, as acting defence minister. Zelensky announced the decision in a Facebook post. He said Khmara had gained extensive and, in many respec…
Chile Senate approves Kast-backed economic reform package
Chile's Senate approved a package of economic reforms backed by right-wing President Jose Antonio Kast, sending the bill to the lower chamber of Congress for further approval. The reforms include several tax cuts, including a gradual reduction in company levi…
Dutch court upholds block on US firm's cloud company purchase
A Dutch court upheld a government decision to block the acquisition of cloud services company Solvinity by US IT infrastructure firm Kyndryl over concerns that sensitive data could be accessed by the US government. The Dutch government announced at the end of…
Peru president-elect Fujimori calls for reconciliation after narrow win
Peru's conservative president-elect Keiko Fujimori called on Wednesday for political reconciliation after receiving her presidential credentials from the electoral body in Lima. Fujimori, 51, won the June 7 presidential runoff by a very narrow margin over lef…
Ukraine parliament approves Sergiy Koretsky as prime minister
Ukraine's parliament has approved the appointment of Naftogaz boss Sergiy Koretsky as the country's new prime minister. The appointment is part of a government reshuffle ordered by President Volodymyr Zelensky. The Ukrainian leader has not fully explained the…
Thailand weighs suspending nearly 6,000 officials over exam scandal
Thousands of Thai civil servants face possible suspension over an exam cheating scandal, authorities said, as investigators widened a probe that has already led to three arrests. The scandal began in June, when investigators said they had concluded that offic…
Takaichi cabinet approval falls below 50 percent in Japan poll
Approval for Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's conservative government fell below 50 percent for the first time since she came to power in October, according to a Jiji Press poll published Thursday. The survey put support for Takaichi's cabinet at 49 p…
UK brings British Steel into full public ownership
The British government said on Thursday it had taken British Steel into full public ownership to protect steel production in the UK, after taking control from Chinese firm Jingye. The company's plant in Scunthorpe, northern England, was described as the count…
US backs estimated $1.96 billion arms sale to Saudi Arabia
The US State Department said it had approved an estimated $1.96 billion weapons sale to Saudi Arabia to support the kingdom's air defenses amid escalating conflict in the Middle East. The department said the proposed sale would support US foreign policy and n…
US intelligence nominee questioned over election and journalist subpoenas
US senators questioned Donald Trump's nominee for director of national intelligence on Wednesday about subpoenas he issued to journalists and about the 2020 election during a tense confirmation hearing. Jay Clayton had been due to testify before the Senate In…
Elon Musk says Marine Le Pen is France's last hope after she resumes campaign
Elon Musk expressed support on Wednesday for France's far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen after she decided to run despite a fraud conviction. Musk reposted a picture of Le Pen on his social media platform X and wrote that she was "France's last ho…
London police arrest man over alleged threat as reports name Farage as target
London police said on Wednesday that they had arrested a man in his 20s on suspicion of sending threatening communications, while media reports named Reform UK leader Nigel Farage as the target. The Metropolitan Police said the arrest in London on Tuesday was…
Croatian parliament calls for greater Croat representation in Bosnia
On 15 July 2026, Croatia's parliament passed a symbolic resolution calling for greater Croat representation in Bosnia, adding pressure on the neighbouring country before national elections due later in the year. The resolution targets Bosnia's power-sharing s…
US House Republicans set out $95 billion pre-election spending framework
US House Republicans unveiled a $95 billion spending framework on Wednesday as they try to pass measures on defense, farming aid and voting rules before midterm elections that could cost them control of Congress. The plan would provide $73 billion for the mil…
Macron gives Starmer France's highest honour before UK leadership change
Britain's outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer has received France's highest honour in recognition of his work on European security and Ukraine. President Emmanuel Macron's office said Macron presented Starmer with the Legion d'honneur on Monday in Paris, whe…
EU condemns Serbian minister's comments on Kosovo
The European Union condemned comments by Serbian Public Administration Minister Snezana Paunovic after she said she would have carried out ethnic cleansing in Kosovo if she had been in power during the 1998-1999 war. Paunovic, who was born in Kosovo, made the…
Venezuela interim government and some opposition figures plan democracy talks
Venezuela's interim government will launch formal talks with some opposition members next month, assembly speaker Jorge Rodriguez announced Tuesday, more than six months after the US toppling of longtime leader Nicolas Maduro. Rodriguez said on Telegram that…
Russian anti-war politician says Kremlin wants to crush his campaign
Russian politician Boris Nadezhdin said on 14 July 2026 that the Kremlin wants to crush his campaign for September parliamentary elections after he was detained the day before. Police have summoned Nadezhdin to court on Friday on administrative charges of dis…
Colombia president-elect seeks military-base swearing-in
Colombia's right-wing president-elect Abelardo de la Espriella said on Monday that he wants to be sworn in at a military facility in the south of the country, despite opposition from outgoing President Gustavo Petro. Petro ordered on Sunday that no military e…
EU opens second area of membership talks with Ukraine
The European Union opened a second area of membership negotiations with Ukraine on Tuesday, as Kyiv seeks faster progress in its bid to join the bloc. EU Europe ministers meeting in Brussels with their Ukrainian counterpart opened talks on security, defence a…
Analysts say Turkey's failed 2016 coup reshaped the state
The failed coup of July 15, 2016 and the state response that followed have become a turning point for Turkey, analysts said. The coup attempt lasted less than 24 hours, but its effects are still visible ten years later. On the night of the coup, a rogue milit…
Anti-monarchy activists protest inside Buckingham Palace over Andrew and Epstein
Anti-monarchy activists in Britain staged a protest inside Buckingham Palace to draw attention to what they called unanswered questions about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. Demonstrators from the group Republic unfurled a large…
Russian police arrest Kremlin critic Boris Nadezhdin before September vote
Russian police arrested Boris Nadezhdin, an anti-war Kremlin critic who planned to run in lower-house elections in September. Nadezhdin, 63, became widely known in Russia in 2024 when he gathered support to run against President Vladimir Putin in that year’s…
Sri Lanka Tamil and Muslim parties form alliance seeking more autonomy
Sri Lanka’s Tamil-speaking minority parties launched a united front to seek a new constitution granting greater autonomy, reviving long-standing grievances two decades after the end of the country’s ethnic war. The alliance brings together six parties represe…
Macron calls for more European defence industry projects
French President Emmanuel Macron urged more European defence industry partnerships on Monday after France and Germany abandoned a joint fighter jet programme last month because of disagreements between the companies involved. In a speech to the military, Macr…