Macron seeks new PM
PARIS, Dec 05 (AFP): President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday sought a new prime minister to prevent France from sliding deeper into political turmoil after Michel Barnier's government was ousted in a historic no-confidence vote in parliament.Poised to be contemporary France's shortest-serving premier, Barnier met Macron at the Elysee Palace to...
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Korean ruling party opposes Yoon impeachment
SEOUL, Dec 05 (Reuters): South Korea's parliament introduced a motion on Thursday to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol over a botched attempt to impose martial law, while the defence minister blamed for advising the move and ordering troops to the parliament resigned.Lawmakers from the opposition Democratic Party planned to put...
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Israel committed genocide in Gaza
GAZA, Dec 05 (Reuters): Amnesty International accused the state of Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza war in a report published on Thursday, an allegation Israeli leaders have repeatedly denied.The London-based human rights group said it reached the conclusion after months of analysing incidents and statements of...
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Syria forces battle to stop rebel advance on key city
BEIRUT, Dec 05 (AFP): Syrian government forces were locked in heavy fighting around the central city of Hama on Thursday, trying to halt an advance of Islamist-led rebels, a war monitor said.The fighting around Hama follows a rapid offensive by the rebels, who in just days captured large chunks of...
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Japan grants Philippines funding to boost naval capabilities
MANILA, Dec 05 (AFP): Japan on Thursday granted the Philippines 1.6 billion yen ($10.6 million) aimed at beefing up its naval capabilities, a day after Manila said the China Coast Guard had "harassed" its government vessels.The funds, part of a Japanese regional security assistance programme, will provide more rigid-hulled inflatable...
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N Korea-Russia defence treaty comes into force
SEOUL, Dec 05 (AFP): A landmark defence pact between North Korea and Russia, signed by its leaders in June, has gone into effect after the two sides exchanged ratification documents, North Korea's official KCNA news agency said Thursday.The formalization of the treaty comes as the United States and South Korea...
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Brain stimulation can help injured people walk better
PARIS, Dec 05 (AFP): Scientists said Monday that electrically stimulating a particular region in the brain could help people with injured spinal cords walk more easily, with one patient describing how the technique allowed him to conquer his fear of stairs.The new technique is intended for people with spinal cord...
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