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Exit poll suggests centrists win Dutch vote, beating far right
Dutch voters appeared to have shunned far-right leader Geert Wilders in favour of a centrist party, exit polls suggested Wednesday, after a snap election watched closely in Europe where extremists are gaining ground.
Jihadist fuel blockade makes life a struggle in Mali's capital
In Bamako's business district, hundreds of cars and motorcycles sit stranded day and night on a boulevard, waiting for one of three side-by-side petrol stations to finally have fuel.
Paramilitary chief vows united Sudan as his forces are accused of mass killings
The head of the Rapid Support Forces paramilitaries vowed on Wednesday Sudan would be unified by "peace or through war" and expressed sympathy after reports of mass killings by his group in the newly captured El-Fasher.
Trump, Xi to meet seeking truce in damaging trade war
Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping will seek a truce in their tit-for-tat trade war on Thursday, with the US president predicting a "great meeting" but Beijing being more circumspect.
Divided US Fed backs second quarter-point rate cut of 2025
The US Federal Reserve on Wednesday announced its second consecutive quarter-point rate cut to bolster the flagging labor market, in a move that highlighted the growing division in its ranks.
'Cruel' police raids help, not hinder, Rio's criminal gangs: expert
Heavy-handed police raids like the one that claimed dozens of lives in Rio de Janeiro Tuesday have only ever bolstered the drug gangs they are meant to curtail, according to Brazilian organized crime expert Carolina Grillo.
S. African president eyes better US tariff deal 'soon'
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said Wednesday that his country has advanced to "text-based" negotiations with Washington towards securing a better tariff deal -- and hoped one would materialise "soon".
Winter Olympics - 100 days to go to 'unforgettable Games'
With 100 days to go until the 2026 Winter Olympics organisers are crossing their fingers that every venue will be ready for the athletes and fans who will descend on northern Italy come February.
Israel hits another Gaza target after deadliest night since truce
Israel said it struck an arms dump in Gaza on Wednesday, hours after the deadliest night of bombing since the start of a US-brokered truce, warning it would continue to operate to take out perceived threats.
US says not withdrawing from Europe after troops cut
The United States said Wednesday it will pull out some troops from NATO's eastern flank but denied the move amounted to an American withdrawal from Europe, as analysts warned it could embolden Russia.
WHO urges Sudan ceasefire after alleged massacres in El-Fasher
Sudan's warring factions should halt fighting in which hundreds of civilians have been reported killed, including 460 in a hospital, since paramilitaries captured El-Fasher, the World Health Organization (WHO) urged Wednesday.
Russia sends teen who performed anti-war songs back to jail
A Russian court sent an 18-year-old street musician who performed anti-war songs back to jail on Wednesday after finding her guilty of two more offences, her lawyer told AFP.
Dutch vote in snap election seen as test for Europe's far-right
The Dutch headed to the polls Wednesday for a knife-edge election, with all eyes on the performance of the far-right, which is riding high in many top European countries.
Jihadist fuel blockade makes daily life a struggle for Bamako residents
In Bamako's business district, hundreds of cars and motorcycles sit stranded day and night on a boulevard waiting for one of three side-by-side petrol stations to finally have fuel.
Funds for climate adaptation 'lifeline' far off track: UN
Wealthy countries are failing to meet their promised targets to provide a funding "lifeline" to help poorer nations prepare for worsening climate calamities, the UN warned Wednesday.
Sudan govt accuses RSF of attacking mosques in El-Fasher takeover
Sudan's army-aligned government accused paramilitaries on Wednesday of attacking civilians in mosques during their recent takeover of the western city of El-Fasher, where satellite images show evidence of "continuing mass killing", Yale researchers say.
Protests erupt as Tanzania votes without an opposition
Hundreds protested on Wednesday in Tanzania's largest city, tearing down banners of President Samia Suluhu Hassan and burning a police station, as the East African country went to the polls in elections where the main challengers have either been jailed or barred from standing.
Romania says US will cut some troops in Europe
Washington has told Romania and allies it will reduce some US troops deployed on NATO's eastern flank, Romania's defence ministry said Wednesday, a move a NATO official swiftly downplayed to AFP.
Israel hits dozens of targets as Gaza sees deadliest night since truce
Israel said it had carried out strikes on dozens of Hamas targets following the death of a soldier, with Gaza experiencing its deadliest night of bombing since a US-brokered truce went into effect earlier this month.
BBC says journalist questioned and blocked from leaving Vietnam
A Vietnamese BBC journalist has been blocked by authorities from leaving the country for "several months", the broadcaster said, heightening concerns about press freedoms in the nation.
US aid flows to Nigeria anti-landmine efforts - for now
When the United States suddenly moved to dismantle its foreign aid system earlier this year, the UN's landmine safety and removal project in Nigeria braced for impact.
Low turnout as Tanzania votes without an opposition
There were few voters at polling stations in Tanzania's biggest city on Wednesday as the main challengers to President Samia Suluhu Hassan were either jailed or barred from running.
Dutch vote in test for Europe's far right
The Dutch headed to the polls Wednesday for a snap election seen as a litmus test for the strength of the far right, which has made powerful gains across Europe.
Fugitive ex-PM says Bangladesh vote risks deepening divide
Bangladesh's fugitive ex-leader Sheikh Hasina warned Wednesday that holding elections without her party -- the first since her overthrow -- was "sowing the seeds" of further division in her country.
On board the Cold War-style sealed train from Moscow to Kaliningrad
As the Moscow-Kaliningrad train approached Lithuania, the car attendant beckoned to passengers in Russian: "I'm closing the entire carriage, the toilets are out of action."
Gaza's civil defence says at least 50 killed in Israeli strikes
Gaza's civil defence agency told AFP Wednesday dozens of Israeli strikes overnight killed at least 50 people in the Palestinian territory, hours after US President Donald Trump said "nothing" would jeopardise the ceasefire agreement he helped broker.
Trump said 'not allowed' to run for third term, 'too bad'
President Donald Trump said Wednesday he is "not allowed" to run for a third term, acknowledging the limits laid out in the US Constitution.
Trump expects 'great meeting' with Xi
US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he expected a "lot of problems" to be solved with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in their talks on dialling down their hugely damaging trade war.
Trump expects 'great meeting' with Xi in South Korea
US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he expected a "lot of problems" to be solved with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in their talks on dialling down their hugely damaging trade war.
Trump says 'nothing' will jeopardise Gaza ceasefire after Israeli strikes
US President Donald Trump said Wednesday "nothing" would jeopardise the ceasefire in Gaza, after Israel carried out air strikes on the Palestinian territory accusing Hamas of violating the truce, which the militant group denied.
Pakistan says peace talks with Afghanistan 'failed'
Pakistan said Wednesday that negotiations for a lasting truce with Afghanistan had "failed to bring about a workable solution", warning it would take steps to protect its people.
As US blows up drug boats, Venezuelan oil sets sail
While the American military blows up boats it claims are transporting drugs from Venezuela, observers say tankers shipping Venezuelan oil in violation of a US embargo continue to navigate the very same Caribbean waters undisturbed.