World


French PM Francois Bayrou widely expected to lose vote of confidence today

Paris, Sep 8 (UNI) François Bayrou, the Prime Minister of France, is set to face a vote of no confidence in the National Assembly today, which he is widely expected to lose. This will mean that French President Emmanuel Macron will be hunting for a fifth prime minister in less than two years if Bayrou gets sacked.
Bayrou’s fate was sealed after he unveiled his plan for a confidence vote late last month, when leaders from the far-left France Unbowed, far-right National Rally and center-left Socialist Party all announced they would vote to bring down the government.
Bayrou is delivering what’s known as a d´eclaration de politique générale (general policy statement), a speech traditionally given at the outset of a prime minister’s tenure to lay out an incoming government’s platform and priorities. The longtime centrist is using this one to make the case for his unpopular 2026 budget.
More News

WHO declares Ebola outbreak in Congo, Uganda a global health emergency

17 May 2026 | 2:12 PM

Geneva, May 17 (UNI) The World Health Organization (WHO) on Sunday declared the Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus strain in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), citing confirmed cross-border transmission, rising suspected deaths and fears that the outbreak could spread rapidly across the region.

see more..

Armed gunmen abduct over 45 school children in coordinated school attacks in Southwest Nigeria

17 May 2026 | 1:15 PM

Abuja, May 17 (UNI) Armed gunmen stormed three schools in Nigeria’s Oyo State and abducted more than 45 school children in a coordinated daylight assault that has triggered panic across the southwest region and renewed fears over the country’s worsening insecurity.

see more..

Lebanon–Israel agree to extend ceasefire by 45 days: US State Dept

17 May 2026 | 1:42 AM

Washington, May 16 (UNI) The US says Lebanon and Israel have agreed to extend their current ceasefire for another 45 days following two days of talks hosted by Washington, even as the IDF and Hezbollah continue to engage in cross-border clashes on an almost daily basis.

see more..

Pakistan to raise USD $7 17bn in new revenues, capped power subsidies, phase out zone incentives for FY27

17 May 2026 | 12:01 AM

Islamabad, May 16 (UNI) Pakistan has committed to a sweeping new round of tax increases, higher petroleum levies and fiscal tightening measures under its agreement with the International Monetary Fund, with the Fund projecting federal revenues of PKR17.145 trillion (US$61.43 billion) for the 2026-27 fiscal year, reports Dawn.

see more..

Trump increasingly irritated by Iran's refusal to budge from demands amid approaching midterms and surging fuel prices

16 May 2026 | 10:33 PM

Washington, May 16 (UNI) Amid Iran's refusal to budge from its initial position, US President Donald Trump is growing increasingly frustrated with the lack of progress in negotiations, as the war has dragged on far beyond its expected duration, leading to surging fuel prices in the country, supply shortages, and mounting political pressure on the Trump administration ahead of the US midterm elections.

see more..