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Ukraine plans to buy up to 100 Rafale warplanes and air defense systems from France
PARIS (AP) — Ukraine on Monday signed a letter of intent to buy up to 100 Rafale warplanes, drones, air defense systems and other key equipment from France over the next 10 years, as part of efforts to strengthen the country's long-term security. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who signed the document with French President Emmanuel Macron, called it “a historic deal” at a joint news conference at the Elysee presidential palace. The letter is a preliminary commitment of Ukraine stating i
Nov. 18, 2025 -
US colleges see 17% drop in newly enrolled international students, report finds
NEW YORK (Reuters) -- The number of newly enrolled international students at US colleges and universities dropped by 17 percent this autumn following new restrictions on student visas and other Trump administration policies, according to a report released on Monday. Among the schools citing declines in new enrollments, 96 percent said visa application concerns were a factor, and 68 percent cited travel restrictions, according to the nonprofit Institute of International Education, which collected
Nov. 18, 2025 -
Former Bangladesh leader Hasina sentenced to death for crackdown on uprising that ousted her
DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Bangladesh’s ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and one of her close aides were sentenced to death Monday over her crackdown on a student uprising last year that killed hundreds of people and led to the toppling of her 15-year rule. The International Crimes Tribunal based in Dhaka, the capital, passed sentence on Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan for their involvement in the use of deadly force against protesters. Hasina and Khan, who fled to India last y
Nov. 18, 2025 -
UN approves Trump administration plan for Gaza's future
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The Trump administration’s blueprint to secure and govern Gaza won strong approval at the UN on Monday, a crucial step that provides international support for US efforts to move the devastated territory toward peace following two years of war. The US proposal that passed the UN’ most powerful body authorizes an international stabilization force to provide security in Gaza, approves a transitional authority to be overseen by President Donald Trump and envisions a possible fu
Nov. 18, 2025 -
Climate talks run into night as COP30 hosts seek breakthrough
BELEM, Brazil (AFP) -- COP30 hosts Brazil on Monday extended negotiations into the night at the UN climate talks as they pushed for a rapid compromise among countries very much at deep odds. Following a difficult first week, Brazil set a deadline for nations to finalize "a significant part" of the negotiations by Tuesday evening for approval the following day. "It's super difficult as you know ... but all involved thought that it's worth a try" said COP30 President Andre Correa do Lago in the ra
Nov. 18, 2025 -
Trump leaves military action against Venezuela on the table but floats possible talks
WASHINGTON (AP) — US President Donald Trump on Monday did not rule out military action against Venezuela despite bringing up a potential diplomatic opening with leader Nicolas Maduro, who has insisted that a US military buildup and strikes on alleged drug boats near his South American country are designed to push him out of office. Trump reiterated that he “probably would talk to” Maduro, but underscored that he is not taking off the table the possibility of military action on Venezuelan territo
Nov. 18, 2025 -
Louvre shuts gallery over ceiling safety fears
PARIS (AFP) -- The Louvre Museum said Monday that it was closing one of its galleries as a precaution after an audit revealed structural weaknesses in some of the beams in the building. The Campana Gallery, which houses nine rooms dedicated to ancient Greek ceramics, will be closed while investigations are conducted into "certain beams supporting the floors of the second floor" above it, a statement said. The announcement has no link to the recent robbery at the world‘s most visited art gallery,
Nov. 18, 2025 -
'Stranded, stressed' giraffes in Kenya relocated as habitats encroached
NAIVASHA, Kenya (AFP) -- Coaxed and tugged by rangers, a blindfolded giraffe totters into the specialized vehicle that will transport it away from an increasingly hostile environment to a new home in Kenya's eastern Rift Valley. Such relocations are a last resort when human activities or climate change threaten the survival of wildlife or peaceful coexistence with humans, say conservationists. But the complex operations, overseen by Kenya Wildlife Service, are becoming more and more frequent in
Nov. 18, 2025 -
Ecuadorian drug gang leader captured in Spain years after faking his death
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — One of Ecuador's most wanted drug traffickers was captured Sunday, years after he faked his death and moved to Spain. Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa said that Wilmer Chavarria, also known as “Pipo,” was captured in the Spanish city of Malaga in a joint operation with Spanish police. In a message on X, Spain's National Police posted a photo of Chavarria wearing a black and green track suit as he was escorted by police officers toward a patrol car. Chavarria is believed
Nov. 17, 2025 -
Russia says its forces advance in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region
MOSCOW (Reuters) -- Russia said Sunday its forces had moved forward sharply in Ukraine's southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, taking two settlements as part of a major push aimed at taking control of the entire Zaporizhzhia region. With a smaller army than Russia's, Ukraine has been grappling with how to bolster defences in the Donetsk region while keeping the rest of the front stable under intense artillery and drone attack from highly mobile Russian units. Since advancing into the Dnipropetrovsk
Nov. 17, 2025 -
Israeli leader insists there can be no Palestinian state, ahead of UN vote leaving that door open
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Sunday to oppose any attempt to establish a Palestinian state, a day before the UN Security Council planned to vote on a US-drafted resolution on Gaza that leaves the door open to Palestinian independence. Netanyahu has long asserted that creating a Palestinian state would reward Hamas and eventually lead to an even larger Hamas-run state on Israel’s borders. But as the US attempts to push forward with its Gaza ceasefire pro
Nov. 17, 2025 -
Iran's foreign minister says nation is no longer enriching uranium at any site
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s foreign minister said Sunday that Tehran is no longer enriching uranium at any site in the country, trying to signal to the West that it remains open to potential negotiations over its atomic program. Answering a question from an Associated Press journalist visiting Iran, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi offered the most direct response yet from the Iranian government regarding its nuclear program following Israel and the US' bombing of its enrichment sites in June duri
Nov. 17, 2025 -
Chile's presidential race headed to tense runoff between communist and hard-right candidates
SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — Chile is headed to a tense presidential runoff after a first-round vote Sunday set up a showdown between a member of the Communist Party and an ultraconservative veteran politician, sharply polarizing the country between the political left and right. Jeannette Jara, 51, the communist former labor minister and candidate of Chile’s center-left governing coalition, claimed more than 26 percent of valid ballots with over 80 percent of the vote counted, failing to pass the 50 p
Nov. 17, 2025 -
Headwinds for Trump in persuading Saudi crown prince to agree to normalize ties with Israel
WASHINGTON (AP) — US President Donald Trump has not been subtle about how badly he wants to see Saudi Arabia and Israel normalize relations. He has talked up his push to extend his first term Abraham Accords — the project that formalized commercial and diplomatic ties between Israel and a trio of Arab nations — as key to his plan for bringing long-term stability to the Middle East as the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza continues to hold. The normalization push is expected to b
Nov. 17, 2025 -
US House speaker says Trump has 'nothing to hide' in Epstein files
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- US House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson said on Sunday he believed the approaching vote on releasing Justice Department files related to Jeffrey Epstein should help put to rest allegations that President Donald Trump had any connection to the late sex offender's abuse and trafficking of underage girls. "They're doing this to go after President Trump on this theory that he has something to do with it. He does not," Johnson, the Republican leader in the House, said
Nov. 17, 2025