Russian drones hit SOCAR oil depot in Ukraine's Odesa region
A Russian drone attack on Ukraine’s southern Odesa region has damaged an oil depot belonging to Azerbaijan’s state oil company, SOCAR, and left fo...
French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou survived two no-confidence motions on Wednesday, ensuring the adoption of the 2025 budget after months of political uncertainty. The vote follows Bayrou’s use of a constitutional provision to bypass parliament, a move that split the left-wing opposition.
Bayrou’s decision to force the budget through without a vote triggered opposition backlash but ultimately secured approval as the Socialist Party broke ranks with its left-wing allies and refused to support the no-confidence motion.
France has faced political instability since President Emmanuel Macron’s snap elections last summer, which left parliament divided into three opposing blocs. Bayrou’s predecessor, Michel Barnier, was ousted after attempting the same constitutional maneuver.
The budget includes €52 billion ($54.2 billion) in savings, preserving spending for healthcare and education, and marks a smaller adjustment than Barnier’s rejected proposal, which sought €60 billion in tax increases and cuts.
While Bayrou has stabilized the government for now, his administration still faces a fractured parliament and the risk of future no-confidence votes, including one over migration reform. Meanwhile, France remains out of compliance with EU fiscal rules, with a deficit projected at 5.4% next year.
The budget approval reassured markets, with French bond yields narrowing against German bonds. However, Moody’s recently downgraded France’s credit rating, citing concerns over long-term fiscal stability.
The world’s biggest dance music festival faces an unexpected setback as a fire destroys its main stage, prompting a last-minute response from organisers determined to keep the party alive in Boom, Belgium.
According to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), a magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck the Oaxaca region of Mexico on Saturday.
China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will send an upgraded ‘version 3.0’ free-trade agreement to their heads of government for approval in October, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Saturday after regional talks in Kuala Lumpur.
A resumption of Iraq’s Kurdish oil exports is not expected in the near term, sources familiar with the matter said on Friday, despite an announcement by Iraq’s federal government a day earlier stating that shipments would resume immediately.
Chinese automaker Chery has denied an industry-ministry audit that disqualified more than $53 million in state incentives for thousands of its electric and hybrid vehicles, insisting it followed official guidance and committed no fraud.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko stated in an interview published on Friday that he has no intention of seeking another term in office and dismissed claims that he is preparing his son to take over leadership.
China’s President Xi Jinping told Russian leader Vladimir Putin that Beijing will continue promoting peace talks on Ukraine, regardless of how the situation unfolds.
Drone attacks continue to haunt communities around Kyiv. Overnight, Russian forces launched another wave of drones at the Kyiv region, hitting the Bucha district. Fires broke out and several homes were damaged. Local authorities say three women, aged 16, 56, and 80, were injured.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Friday that a pause in the conflict in Ukraine may be approaching, following a conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is working urgently to mend strained ties with Mexico, after relations collapsed late last year when Canadian officials indicated a preference for pursuing a U.S. trade deal without Mexico.
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