World

Brazil's Justice Minister Lewandowski resigns

BRASILIA, Jan ‌8 (Reuters) - Brazil's Justice ‌Minister Ricardo Lewandowski resigned ‌from his role, a letter released by the ministry ‍showed on Thursday.

World

Somalia, US relations hit new low as Washington pauses aid to government

WASHINGTON, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Relations between Somalia and ‌the U.S. hit a new low after Washington said it would pause further assistance that benefits the government in Mogadishu amid a ‌dispute over the fate of tons of food aid.

World

Direct flights resume between Israel, Belarus after nearly 4-yr hiatus

JERUSALEM, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Direct flights between Israel and Belarus resumed on Thursday after nearly four years, with a flight departing Minsk International Airport and landing at Ben Gurion International Airport outside Tel Aviv.

World

Interview: Global capital flows to emerging markets, China's appeal rises: expert

BELGRADE, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Global capital flows are undergoing a structural reorientation toward emerging markets, a shift that is reshaping the international investment landscape and reinforcing China's position as a key destination for long-term foreign capital, an expert told Xinhua recently.

World

France to vote against Mercosur trade deal, Macron says

PARIS, Jan 8 (Reuters) - ‌French President Emmanuel Macron said on ‌Thursday that France would vote against ‌the signing of the free trade agreement with the Mercosur bloc of South American nations on Friday.

World

Yemen's Saudi-backed presidential council sacks defence minister, Saba says

Jan ‌8 (Reuters) - Yemen's Saudi-backed ‌presidential leadership council ‌has dismissed Defence Minister Mohsen al-Daeri ‍in the internationally ‍recognised ‌government, the state news ‍agency ​Saba reported on ⁠Thursday.

World

German industrial orders rise more than expected in November

BERLIN, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Germany's industrial orders rose more than expected in November 2025, official data showed Thursday, offering a rare positive signal for Europe's largest economy amid a prolonged slowdown.

World

Urgent: Venezuela announces release of a large number of prisoners

CARACAS, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Venezuela's National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez said Thursday that the government is carrying out the release of "a significant number of Venezuelan and foreign people."

World

Venezuela's top lawmaker says significant number of prisoners, including foreigners, to be freed

Jan 8 (Reuters) - ‌Venezuela's top lawmaker ‌Jorge Rodriguez said ‌on Thursday that a significant number of both foreign and ‍Venezuelan prisoners will ‍be freed ‌in the coming hours.

Cricket

Cricket-India's Varma out for three weeks after surgery for groin issue

Jan 8 (Reuters) - India ‌batter Tilak Varma will be out for ‌nearly three weeks after undergoing surgery for ‌a groin issue, the Indian cricket board (BCCI) said on Thursday.

World

Riga Airport turns climate-neutral in 2025 as passenger traffic stays flat

RIGA, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Riga Airport said on Thursday it became the first climate-neutral airport in the Baltics in 2025, as passenger traffic remained flat and air cargo volumes increased despite subdued aviation growth.

Nation

Erdogan expresses concern over Dr M's health, says Anwar

ISTANBUL: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has expressed concern over the health of former Malaysian prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad during a meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in conjunction with the latter's official visit to the country.

Nation

Tengku Permaisuri Selangor graces opening of 'Majlis Puisi Dirgahayu Tuanku'

SHAH ALAM: Tengku Permaisuri Selangor, Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin graced the opening of the "Majlis Puisi Dirgahayu Tuanku" poetry recital, organised by Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) through the Institution of Malay Rulers Chair and UiTM Office for the Empowerment of the Nobility on Thursday (Jan 8).

Nation

Turkiye visit has strengthened bilateral, economic ties, says Anwar

ISTANBUL: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim says his official visit to Turkiye has strengthened and further enhanced bilateral relations and economic cooperation between the two countries.

Football

Soccer-Spurs forward Kudus out until April due to thigh injury

Jan 8 (Reuters) - ‌Tottenham Hotspur forward Mohammed Kudus ‌will be out until April with ‌a quad injury he suffered during Sunday's draw with Sunderland, manager Thomas Frank said ‍on Thursday.

World

One dead in floods in Albania as rain and snow grip Balkans

FIER, Albania, Jan 8 (Reuters) - ‌A man was found drowned on Thursday in the Albanian ‌city of Durres and emergency teams worked around the clock ‌to evacuate dozens of people from flooded houses hit by heavy rainfall.

Nation

Anwar receives courtesy call from ex-Gunners star Ozil, Erdogan's son in Istanbul

ISTANBUL: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Thursday (Jan 8) received a courtesy call from former renowned international footballer Mesut Ozil and Necmeddin Bilal Erdogan, the son of the Turkish President, on the final day of his official visit to Turkiye.

World

Russia frees French researcher Vinatier in prisoner exchange

MOSCOW/PARIS, ‌Jan 8 (Reuters) - Laurent Vinatier, a French researcher serving a three-year prison sentence in Russia for violating Moscow's foreign ‌agent laws, has been freed as part of a prisoner exchange, French and Russian officials said on Thursday.

Brunei

‘Prosecutors vital in upholding justice’

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: Prosecutors play a central role in upholding justice, said Attorney General and Public Prosecutor Datin Seri Paduka Nor Hashimah Muhammed Taib.

Technology

France's armed forces ministry awards Mistral AI framework agreement

Jan ‌8 - France's Ministry of the Armed ‌Forces has awarded a framework agreement to ‌artificial intelligence company Mistral AI, it said on Thursday.